Make Your Own Herbal Medicine: Ginger Tincture
Published by Ginger, Zingiber officinale, has been used as a traditionally as a natural remedy in Asian, Indian, and Arabic medicine since ancient times. It has been used as an excellent treatment for indigestion, nausea, gas, colic and congestion. It also has antiseptic effect that makes it beneficial for gastro-intestinal infections. It can also improve the circulation and, thus, help lower blood pressure. It also serves as a body cleanser by promoting the toxin removal through the skin and kidney filtration. Furthermore, ginger can promote sweating, hence, it can also be used to lower temperatures of febrile individuals. Other indications for ginger include chest ailments, rheumatism, neuralgia, toothache, malaria, headaches, influenza, sore throat and mild asthma, nausea and vomiting and motion sickness. This article will teach you how to make ginger tincture.
Ingredients:
Ginger, 1 cup
Gin or Vodka, 5 cups
*The amount of ingredient you would use depends on the volume of tincture you want to make. What is important is that there is 5 parts of gin for every one part of ginger.
Procedure:
1. Select good quality ginger. Wash them thoroughly to remove soil and dirt.
2. Chop the ginger. If you are too lazy to use a knife, you can use a food processor or a coffee grinder. You make keep the skin/peel of the ginger but, if you want, you can also remove it.
3. Put the ginger in a clean container with a cover, a wide-mouthed bottle would be preferable. Then, pour the gin or vodka into the container.
4. Cover the container tightly. Make sure that the gin/vodka will not leak.
5. Shake the mixture for about five minutes every day for two weeks.
6. After 2 weeks, strain the ginger pieces using a strainer or cheesecloth.
7. Your ginger tincture is now ready to use. Just add 1 teaspoon of the mixture to 1 cup of hot water and drink as needed.
When storing the tincture, make sure to label the container properly so your housemates would know what it is. You may also put the date of preparation on the label. This ginger herbal tincture has a long shelf-life and it may last for several years.
Ginger tincture has few side effects. The most common include gas, bloating, heartburn, and nausea. These effects are most often associated with powdered ginger. However, caustion must me observe for those with gallbladder diseases, diabetes, heart problems, and bleeding or blood clotting disorder, and those who are pregnant and taking any medications, you should consult your doctors first before using the ginger tincture to ensure that it will not harm your health.
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