This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at LUC chapter.

When I think of ginger it conjures up warm memories of baked goods, Asian food, and my favorite soda – ginger ale. I never thought about it much outside of the culinary realm until I recently bought a small bottle of the essential oil, and now I’m obsessed. With the cold weather coming at us in Chicago, I’m definitely in the market for something that spices up the air and energizes me to stay productive.

Aromatherapy

Diffusing ginger oil for aromatherapy is said to have a balancing and grounding effect. If you’re looking for a midday pick-me-up, ginger is also good at stimulating an emotional boost. If you’re looking for an earthy, warming blend, doTERRA suggests mixing a few drops of ginger oil with cinnamon, cassia, wild orange, or ylang ylang oils.

Image taken from doTERRA webpage

Health Benefits

Ginger has soothing properties, which makes it great for relieving nausea. My mom used to give my brothers and I ginger ale when we had an upset stomach—and while it’s no Pepto Bismol, I have to admit the combination of ginger and the carbonation really helped. Ginger oil can also be used to ease arthritis, migraines, and the common cold. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it useful for muscular pains and joint discomfort. Plus, since it’s rich in antioxidants, ginger oil promotes healthy liver function, and in some cases has been proven to heal liver cancer and hepatic cirrhosis.

Food & Beverages

I love all things ginger. From ginger turmeric lattes, to Indian food, to ginger snap cookies…it’s an ingredient that always serves as a welcome spike of warmth and spice. I’ve even been known to snack on crystallized dried ginger. It’s a wonderfully versatile element because it’s neither sweet nor savory—it simply elevates whatever recipe it’s used in and adds an extra rich flavor. Perfect for fall and winter cooking!Image by Taylor Kiser on Unsplash

Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

Image by Jennifer Pallian on Unsplash

Fun Facts:

The word ginger comes from the ancient Sanskrit singabera, meaning ‘shaped like a horn’
Ginger is in the same family as turmeric and cardamom
The scientific name for ginger is zingiber officinale.
Ginger is popularly known as the “oil of empowerment”
India cultivates the most ginger, followed by Nigeria, China, Nepal, Indonesia & Thailand