What's So Special About Ginger?

INGREDIENT:

Ginger 

WHAT IS THE FANCY LATIN NAME?

Zingiber officinale 

WHY DO WE LOVE GINGER?

The welcoming warmth of ginger paired with its Latin seal of officinale approval for use in herbal medicine invites all sorts of uses in aromatherapy, skincare, and home remedies. 

WHERE DOES GINGER COME FROM?

Ginger can be found all over the world today but originated in China and Southeast Asia. Its role in promoting gut health made it highly regarded in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine since good digestion is one of their shared basic rules for promoting longevity and good health. Over time, ginger and its medicinal properties found their way to the Mediterranean via traders from India. 

IS GINGER ACTUALLY A ROOT?

Ginger is often mistaken as a root, but it’s actually an underground continuation of the plant's stem called a rhizome. Ginger’s family, Zingiberaceae, comprises some of the oldest known spices in the world including turmeric and cardamom. So, cooking with all three creates a delicious family reunion!

WHAT ARE THE AROMATHERAPY BENEFITS OF GINGER?

Ginger is an uplifting oil, often comforting and mildly energizing. It's useful to reduce nausea and indigestion, and can even be taken internally by adding a drop or two to a smoothie or to your water. 

WHAT ARE THE SKINCARE BENEFITS OF GINGER?

Ginger has a gently warming effect on the skin, making it an amazing choice for a massage oil or butter; we have used it in our Ginger Body Mousse and Sandalwood Ginger Body Mousse. It has anti-inflammatory properties, and could be helpful when applied in the proper dilution to arthritic joints. 

FUN FACTS ABOUT GINGER

  • To warm your chilled bones on a winter’s day, create a warming ginger bath! Just grate six ounces of ginger root and add it to a gallon of boiling water. Let that steep for one hour before straining then add to your bathwater. 

  • Our ginger essential oil of choice is derived from fresh ginger rather than dried to capture its true and lively scent. It takes approximately 330 pounds of fresh rhizomes to produce 35 ounces of essential oil. It must be used in a proper dilution on the skin, as it is in our seasonal Craft Series creations.

  • Ginger rhizomes are called “hands”, which is just adorable. 
     

With love and the warmth of spicy ginger from us to you,

 

 

 

 

 

 

The information contained in this post is for educational interest only and is not intended to represent claims for actions of ginger. This information is not intended to be used for diagnosis or treatment of any physical or mental illness or disease.

OUR WELLNESS + SKINCARE EXPERT

Sarah Villafranco, MD

Dr. Sarah Villafranco attended Georgetown University Medical School, and went on to complete her residency in emergency medicine at George Washington University. She moved to Colorado, where she practiced as a board-certified emergency medicine physician at Aspen Valley Hospital, Snowmass Clinic, and Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs, CO. After losing her mother to pancreatic cancer, she took a local soap making class, and fell in love with the chemistry and artistry of making soap. Sarah went into research mode and was alarmed to learn how many potentially harmful ingredients were in most skincare products on the market. She knew she could make better, safer products that were as effective (if not more so) than conventional products. After a few years of research and development, Sarah stepped away from the emergency room to launch Osmia Skincare in April of 2012. She remains a licensed physician in Colorado, and now helps people find healthier, happier skin as CEO of the brand.