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totally agree, fran, if i had to choose one plant in terms of general usefulness, it'd be ginger.

did you know that externally it is good for muscle pain too?

~Government budget deficits are not nearly as dangerous as the deficits we have created in vital and complex natural systems.~ Naomi Klein.

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Sat Nov 14th, 2009 at 12:44:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Yes, I know about the muscle pain, but I have been more successful for, that making sort of a poultice with castor oil and a heating pad on top.
by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sat Nov 14th, 2009 at 12:49:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]
the biggest blessing i learned with ginger is the kidney compress, to boost the immune system, relax the lower back, and increase circulation in the kidneys. i bet teh google has details!

~Government budget deficits are not nearly as dangerous as the deficits we have created in vital and complex natural systems.~ Naomi Klein.
by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Sat Nov 14th, 2009 at 12:54:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Do you warm up the ginger for the compresse?
by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sat Nov 14th, 2009 at 12:57:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]
you take a piece as big as your thumb, dice, then simmer in water till colour turns a bit golden.

then spread a dry towel over kidneys, wring out as best as you can another towel dipped into the ginger water, then lay it over the dry towel, covered by a third -dry- towel. the heat should be as warm as is comfortable, no more. adjust through layers of dry towel against skin. recipient should lay face down and relax.

after 5 mins, redip the towel, and repeat twice more. if you want the most power out of it, leave the pan simmering, otherwise let each dip be a bit less warm, that's ok.

after 20 mins the area should be bright red from circulation.

a similar compress can be used topically on a sore shoulder or hip. ginger contains painkilling properties, as well as tonic-stimulant to lazy systems, be they bronchial, digestive or muscular.

some freshly expressed juice can be mixed with unguent or oil and rubbed in the afflicted area.

fresh juice added to a bath, or a few drops of ginger essential oil, are great, for breathing in the steam, or for sore joints.

magic stuff, the candied version is dynamite too.

~Government budget deficits are not nearly as dangerous as the deficits we have created in vital and complex natural systems.~ Naomi Klein.

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Sat Nov 14th, 2009 at 02:02:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Thanks melo for the extensiv information. and yes candied ginger is magic stuff - love it. :-)
by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Nov 15th, 2009 at 04:49:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]
my pleasure, fran. it works really well for childrens' ear infections, oddly enough. a little freshly squeezed ginger juice can even be dropped into the ear canal itself.

of course most folks here probably know how good ginger tea is for knocking out colds and sore throats in the early stages, especially with honey and lemon or lime, if you're in the caribbean area!

~Government budget deficits are not nearly as dangerous as the deficits we have created in vital and complex natural systems.~ Naomi Klein.

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Mon Nov 16th, 2009 at 08:06:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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