Our Medicinal Roots: Ginger & Turmeric

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The traditional medicine systems of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands are diverse, regional, and personal. In the Philippines, home remedies are passed down across generations to provide sustenance and enhance overall vitality, as well as treatments for common ailments like ulcers, fever, and muscle tension.

As the first generation of my bloodline to be born on Turtle Island, my existence is a tale of Indio-genius* survival arts — a life aboveground and below. At school, I learned how to act the model minority I was expected to be. At home, my family worked hard to meet those standards, and my english was always prioritized over my own mother tongues. But our Indigenous ways slipped through the cracks of assimilation education, and I also learned about social responsibility and Kapwa, our ecological and spiritual interconnectedness with all beings; when I was young my grandparents offered childcare for working parents in the neighborhood, when I was older I helped my aunties (who were really just my neighbors) make food for their catering business, and in the summer my grandfather would show me how to be kind to pollinators in his garden between Eggplant and Bittermelon vines.

One of the first herbal remedies that I was taught as a child was fresh Ginger tea. Whether I caught a cold or had an upset stomach, my mom's voice would ring in my ear: Take Ginger tea

What I've learned as an albolaryo/herbalist is that my story is common among people with ancestral connection to tropical land and culture. Exchanging stories about Ginger and home remedies we grew up with, it's clear that when we deepen into our traditional medicine ways we reclaim powerful parts of ourselves and our communities that colonialism seeks to flatten and erase. Despite the distance across oceans and the conditions of separation manufactured by capitalism, our kinship with the land remains strong. The plants help us to dig deep, re-member, and reclaim our roots.

*Indio-genius is a term coined by artist Kidlat Tahimik

Let's talk about Ginger

Above: Fresh chopped Ginger in a bowl

Luya/Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a thick, buff-colored rhizome. From their roots, they grow long stems with lancelot leaves, and green and yellow flowers that attract a variety of pollinators. Native to the understory of tropical forests in Southeast Asia, Ginger was introduced to the west over 2000 years ago and has long been cultivated in many parts of the world for food and medicine.

Ginger is pungent, dry, spicy, and hot.

As a common food ingredient, Ginger is nutrient dense. They contain potassium, magnesium, sodium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, B vitamins, proteins, fats, antioxidants, calcium, capsaicin, and iron.

Their medicine also supports digestion by stimulating appetite and relieving acid reflux and indigestion, including bloating, cramps, and stuck gas. Ginger is anti-nausea, and in small amounts taken in food or candied form can ease morning sickness, motion sickness, and discomfort of stomach flu.

Ginger is helpful in times of viral outbreak, especially when the respiratory and digestive systems are involved. With strong antimicrobial properties, they can be taken for prevention and at the onset of cold, cough, flu, andbronchial/respiratory congestion. The fresh root has been shown to be more a potent antiviral than dried.

The spiciness of Ginger is further supportive for cold extremeties, chills, and fever, especially as a hot tea. It enhances circulation of the blood to cold extremities, making Ginger a potent aphrodisiac that is both grounding and energizing to the nervous system. Improving circulation to the brain, Ginger can support memory, focus, and learning. By stimulating the movement of blood, Ginger can be combined in small amount with other herbs to enhance their effect.

Ginger is pain relieving, and used both internally and topically to relieve cramps, migraines, sore muscles, spasming/tension, and overall inflammation.

Working in communities of Indigenous Black and Brown people from diverse backgrounds, I learned that Ginger isn't for everyone! They have a spicy heat that is especially intense when dried, so if you aren't used to Ginger, start small.

Ginger reminds us of our own spicy nature, which is potentially good medicine for people pleasers. We're not for everyone either! Ginger helps us stay connected with our power, brings success, and amplifies our magic! Meditate with a Ginger plant, flower essence, or a cup of tea (see the ritual below) to tap into this potent vibrational medicine.

Caution: Because Ginger is stimulating and moving to the blood, avoid high doses in pregnancy, especially when dried. Ginger can be irritating for someone who already runs hot and dry! If that's you, try mixing Ginger with moistening and cooling plants like Coconut or Marshmallow.

Let’s talk about Turmeric

Luyang dilaw/Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a close relative of Ginger in the Zingiberaceae family. Theyshare many of the same properties. Turmeric is native to South India and Southeast Asia and, like Ginger,their bright yellow-orange rhizome is widely brought into food and medicine, as well as textiles.

Turmeric is bitter, pungent, dry, and warm.

As tea and in foods, Turmeric root relieves bloating, moves stuck gas, aids in digesting proteins, and improves overall metabolism -- especially when combined with Black Pepper to enhance absorption. Turmeric supports liver and skin health by moving and purifying blood.

By improving blood circulation and stretching the ligaments, Turmeric can enhance the beneficial effects of bodywork and exercise.

Turmeric is a natural antibiotic that strengthens digestion and modulates inflammation, which is especially helpful for folks with chronic illness. Turmeric is an ally in wound care, and can be taken internally to heal ulcers. They can also be applied topically as a paste or salve for sprains, pain, and bruising. Used this way, Turmeric will stain the clothes and skin.

The bright yellow root is a great example of how the color of our food can be medicine too. The color of Turmeric shows the presence of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that converts to Vitamin A in the body. And at least as long as they have been grown for food and medicine, Turmeric has been cherished as a plant for dyeing fabric. How brilliant, to have clothing infused with a skin healing plant! It's a long way from the microplastics that make up the fabrics of fast fashion today.

The energy of Turmeric brings alignment between self and source, reminding us that we are part of something larger. Energetically and physically, Turmeric is cleansing and invites effortless flow.

Caution: Like their cousin Ginger, Turmeric is stimulates movement of the blood, so avoid high doses in pregnancy. Avoid large amounts if taking blood thinners, or if you have blood-clotting disorder. Turmeric can be irritating for someone who already runs hot and dry! If that's you, try mixing Turmeric with moistening and cooling plants like Coconut or Marshmallow. You could also heat Turmeric into a fat like Ghee, which is moistening and additionally makes the health benefits of Turmeric more available to the body.

Make Salabat/Ginger tea

To make a strong herbal tea with thick roots like Ginger and Turmeric, we boil them. This preparation is also called a decoction. Salabat/Ginger tea can be drunk for a boost of energy and to support the immune system, clear congestion and inflammation, or alleviate indigestion after a rich meal. These measurements are approximate and yield about 1 quart of tea.

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp fresh Ginger, minced

• 2-3 tsp fresh Turmeric, minced

• 4-5 C Water

• Optional add-ins: sprinkle of Black Pepper, citrus, panotsa or honey

Directions:

• Add roots and water to a covered pot. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a gentle simmer for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and serve hot. Add citrus and sweetener, if using, to taste.

• Enjoy 1-3 cups of Salabat per day.

Try an herbal tea ritual

With intention and presence, brewing a simple herbal tea can become potent ritual that strengthens our connection with ourselves and the plants. The ritual can be done anywhere, but a comfortable and quiet environment is a good place to start.

While your tea steeps or cools to a drinkable temperature, you can begin your ritual by greeting the earth and your body with a stretch and a prayer. Then holding your tea in hand, move through the senses: Note what you smell in the steam rising from your cup. Note the colors and textures you find in each sip. Note the taste. Breathe slow into your abdomen, inviting the plant medicine deeper into your being. If you have time, stay here a while.

Reflection and journaling questions:

• What do you feel in your body when you drink this tea?

• Are there memories or stories that you associate with this plant?

• What more do you want to know about this plant?