Ginger

　　Spice up your life with this golden wonder

　　By Vanessa Mulquiney

　　It comes powdered, encapsulated and candied - as well as in its natural, root-like form. But while ginger (jiang) may have many guises, its reputation as one of nature's most effective and versatile medicinal plants remains unchanged. Think of it as nature's wonder drug: cheap, easy to find and recommended by Confucius.

　　Ginger in China

　　The Chinese have embraced ginger's benefits for centuries and used it both as a spice in cooking and for its medicinal qualities. Even the great sixth century B.C. philosopher and teacher Confucius reserved a permanent place at his dinner table for the plant, a fact preserved for posterity in his Analects, which state: "He was never without ginger when he ate." The example set by the sage Confucius seems to have stuck: To this day, ginger remains one of the most essential ingredients in Chinese cuisine.

　　Today, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) experts tout ginger as one of the most reliable natural remedies used to aid digestion, soothe tired muscles and settle upset stomachs - and that's just the beginning. "Without ginger, there would be no TCM," says Stefan Brinkop, a TCM practitioner at Beijing's Vista Clinic. "It's a precious, all-around talent that can be used for many aliments."

　　Nature's Medicine

　　Try these ginger remedies to get rid of little health annoyances.

　　Poor Digestion

　　"The spleen and stomach have a close relationship in TCM, and both need to work well in order to receive food and nourish the body," says Brinkop. The prescription: To aid digestion, follow a large meal with a cup of ginger tea by placing a few thinly sliced pieces of fresh ginger in a cup of hot water. "A good guideline is 2 to 3 cups a day, but one cup may be enough for some people," Brinkop says. "Your body will tell you [how much it needs]. If you begin to feel hot and sweaty, stop."