Lots of common garden herbs and spices are not only useful for flavouring and spicing up dinner, but many have also been used for over hundreds of years in medicinal practices. Popular ingredients based on their health properties include turmeric, thyme and ginger.

Simon Bandy, General Manager of the nutritional supplements brand Health Plus which has been family run for more than 25 years says:

“Ginger is a strange knobbly root that originated in Asia. It not only tastes great in food and drinks but it has so many benefits too. The natural oil from ginger – gingerol – is the main bioactive compound, responsible for much of its properties.”

Here, Simon talks about the benefits of ginger from consuming it to using it for massage:

Improve circulation Ginger has blood thinning properties and is known as a vasodilator – meaning that it helps to open up blood vessels and allows more blood to pass through, thus improving circulation around the body.

Warm up and relax with massage Ginger can also help to warm you up on a cold day and is great if you are suffering from cold hands and feet due to poor circulation.

Aids good digestion Medical studies have shown that ginger speeds up the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine, and lessens discomfort during digestion. It is also well-known for relieving nausea from travelling, pregnancy or post-operatively.

Ease pain As a naturally anti-inflammatory, ginger can be very useful to those who suffer from arthritis, joint pain, menstrual cramps, and some types of headaches.

Recover from coughs and colds We often reach for the hot honey and lemon if suffering from a cold, but adding a generous slice of anti-viral ginger to the mix will help to ease the symptoms and lessen the duration of the virus.

Lower blood sugars Although this area of research is relatively new, good results are showing that ginger may also have powerful anti-diabetic properties. Larger studies will be needed for more conclusive research however.

Simon concludes:

“Although it can be habitual to reach for the pharmacy potions when feeling poorly, it is often the natural, cupboard essentials that can offer relief without unwanted side-effects. And if you don’t usually have ginger in the house, keep a bottle of tincture or supplements in the cabinet.”