The effectiveness of Ginger in our indigenous medical system and our remedies has been proved often.
Though the Sanskrit name of Ginger is "SINGARA", it has been commonly called "MAHAUSHADHA" by early Sanskrit writers. The raw ginger is called "ARDRAKA" and by 20 other epithets while dry ginger is called "SUNTI" and by 24 other epithets. The Dravya Guna Niganduwa, the encyclopedia of tropical plants and drugs used in Ayurvedic medicine describes it as an ingredient in medicine for constipation, nausea, asthma, colic, palpitation of the heart, tympanitis etc. It also warns patients who suffer from skin diseases, anemia, kidney infection and high fever against using ginger.
A very efficacious medicine for acute colic, diarrhea followed by vomiting is the substance obtained by crushing together ginger, garlic and a piece of the bark from the "Drumstick" tree (Murunga pothu) with a small quantity of Buddha Raja Kalke. Sometimes diarrhea and vomiting makes the patient catch a chill and feel faint.
A home remedy at such a time is rubbing crushed ginger on the palms and soles of the feet and also tieing a little of it on the two big toes. Another remedy for this condition is : Corriander, ginger, iriveriya, kalanduru and beli root (3 kalan or 1 1/2 oz. of each) boiled down in 8 cups of water to one cup and administered twice a day. Yet another remedy which is also effective for amaeobiosis is ginger, kalanduru, atividayan and kelindasal in equal quantities roasted and made into a powder and poured like coffee. This is a safe medicine even for infants with diarrhea when given in small doses of 2-4 teaspoonfuls at a time.
Today there are many cases of fever and with its first sign we rush to the dispensary or the hospital without paying any heed to our local simple remedies. Take 3 kalans (1 1/2 oz.) of each of the following: ginger, Katuwalbatu, batumul and dewadara and 8 cups of water. Boil down to one cup and take twice daily.
Some people may think it is cumbersome preparing a decoction; ingredients are still obtainable in many shops even within the city. Boiling it is the same as making a soup; there is nothing special about it. What you have to do is boil down the 8 cups of water to one cup preferably on a slow fire.
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