The native land of this plant is India, but today it is successfully cultivated in China (Ceylon), Japan, South-East Asia, Central America. The best conditions for the growth of ginger will be a warm, slightly humid climate and a small height (no more than 1.5 m above sea level). Today, ginger is grown as a house and garden plant, using for this purpose special boxes and flower pots.
Ginger has only one valuable part - the root. But it has a number of useful medicinal properties and can be used in cooking. Depending on the type of plant, there are 2 types of root:
- white ginger;
- black ginger.
They differ only in processing technology. Bengal (white) ginger is cleaned using a brush, then scalded with boiling water and rinsed in a solution of sulfuric acid (2%) or bleach. At the end of all these procedures, the root of the ginger is dried in the sun. Barbados (black) ginger does not require cleaning, it is immediately washed and dried. Due to the fact that black ginger is not cleared, its taste and smell is more intense, pungent, tart.
Ginger oil: application
Ginger oil is extracted from the crushed raw material by means of steam distillation technology. The oil content in the root is low (1-3%), therefore more than 50 kg of roots, pre-dried, are required to draw 1 liter of oil. The best ginger oil is the Malabar Coast of India.
Ginger oil: composition
Ginger oil contains a huge amount of minerals and vitamins. In the oil there are potassium, zinc, phosphorus, iron, sodium, calcium, vitamins A, C, group B. These useful elements have a health-improving effect on our body.
Useful properties of ginger oil
Ginger oil has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic effect. These abilities are considered to be the main ones when listing properties of this essential oil. Ginger oil is actively used in the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system, ODA (stretching, arthrosis, arthritis). This oil helps to concentrate attention, improve memory, get rid of doubts and fears, apathy, reduce aggression, and also gives self-confidence. Oil eliminates headaches, migraine, nausea, resulting from nervous disorders.
Ginger oil is an aphrodisiac, known since ancient times. It is able for a long time to maintain sexual desire, eliminate female frigidity. In the XIX century in Europe, produced "harem candies", which were based on ginger.
Application of ginger oil in cosmetology
Skin and hair care
This essential oil is a part of many creams, tonics, face masks. After using the oil, blood circulation improves, some defects are eliminated, and besides, the skin rejuvenates. Ginger oil is ideal for use in the treatment of problem skin. It promotes inhibition of inflammatory processes associated with bacterial and viral infections, premenstrual rashes and herpes. Oil tones up the upper layers of the epidermis, helps reduce pores and normalize the water balance of the skin.
Ginger oil is also useful for hair care. Since it strengthens the roots of the hair, the hair itself, eliminating the problem of hair loss and alopecia.
A hair mask using ginger can be prepared at home. Rub a ginger root on a shallow grater and combine it with any vegetable oil (olive, sunflower, castor, etc.). Apply the mask to the roots of the hair and leave it for 20-25 minutes. At the end of time, rinse your head with any shampoo.
The root of ginger will help to get rid of such a problem, known to many women, as "orange peel", because it has an excellent warming and moisturizing effect. In addition, ginger oil promotes the treatment of scars on the skin and prevents the appearance of stretch marks and striae.
Ginger oil can be added to baths, to massage oil, and also to do with its use of inhalation. It is useful to add oil to all kinds of cosmetic products for hair, body and face (shower gels, shampoo, cream, tonics, etc.) to enrich them with useful properties. Add ginger oil to the preparation at the rate of one drop of oil per 5 ml of the base.
Cooking oil at home
Self-cooking oil is recommended for its addition in culinary products, as well as for outdoor use.
The oil can be added to salads, soups, meat dishes or when preparing sauces. Slice the ginger slices and heat in the required vegetable oil. It is better to use for such purposes vegetable oil: olive, corn, peanut. Fry ginger until you have a darker shade.
To make ginger oil for external use, cut ginger and fill it with any vegetable oil, depending on your taste and wishes. Put the resulting composition for three weeks in a dark place, before passing it into a glass jar or bottle. Glassware is recommended to use in order to avoid the release of harmful substances by packagings that can significantly change the properties of ginger oil. At the end of the three-week period, the resulting ginger oil is recommended to be used as an anti-cellulite or warming massage, for rubbing the spine and lower back, for the treatment of joints, and for reducing edema on the legs.
Ginger oil: Contraindications
Oil is not recommended for pregnant women, nursing mothers, as well as for those who have diseases of the stomach and digestive system.