Ginger

Ginger is a very old cultivated plant, it has been grown for thousands of years in India and China. Ginger is believed to be native to India, but because it has been grown for so long, we do not know exactly where it came from.

Ginger is a perennial herb and it is the plant's underground stems that are used as a spice and in dietary supplements. 

Ginger as a medical herb

Besides being used as a spice, ginger has traditionally been considered beneficial for digestion, and it has been used to treat bad stomach, diarrhea and nausea.

Studies have shown that ginger is effective against nausea caused by anesthesia or by motion sickness. Ginger contains many antioxidants, and some studies suggest that ginger can relieve pain and stiffness with people suffering from osteoarthritis. However, the rheumatism association states that more and more long-term quality studies are needed.

Grow your own ginger

It is not difficult to grow ginger in the windowsill. You just have to buy a fresh ginger tuber and put it in a pot with soil, and it won't be long before it starts to shoot.

Fact box:

• Greenhouse location: Tropican house
• Danish name: Ingefær
• Latin name: Zingiber officinale
• Family: Ginger family / Zingiberaceae
• Natural habitat: India