Common Name:
Wild Ginger (Snake Root)
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Brief Description:
On a cold winter day there is no Carolinian plant species
that can warm up your insides like wild ginger can. It is a spicy and aromatic herb, which means
that it is great for treating symptoms associated with cold and stagnation (or
those associated with Canadian winters!), such as cold extremities, bloating,
bad breath, gas and malaise.
The name ‘wild ginger’ itself can be a bit misleading, since
wild ginger and common ginger (Zingiber officinalis) are not related plant
species. However, one sniff of wild
ginger root will have you convinced that they are of the same family. Some wild food foragers claim that wild ginger
rhizomes can be used as a substitute for Zingiber in cooking.
Wild ginger is also diaphoretic, which means that it can be
used to maximize fever. Adding a couple
of table spoons of powdered ginger root to a bath can help speed recovery from
the common cold.
Wild ginger is an erect perennial, growing up to 4-12 inches
high. Each plant bears a pair of large velvety, heart-shaped leaves. Growing at
ground level in the crotch between 2 leafstalks is a single darkish, red-brown
to green-brown flower. The flower is usually hidden at ground level in solitary
below the leaves.
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Parts Used: Root
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Edible Uses: Carminative to flavour stir fries, soups etc.. Candied ginger root was traditionally used on
long journeys to combat digestive upset from eating spoiled foods.
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Medicinal Uses:
Used in the treatment of nausea and digestive upset. Native Americans and traditional herbalists use wild ginger rhizome to regulate menstruation and irregular heartbeat. (in other words, to treat a “damp-cold uterus”). Wild ginger is also known to be diaphoretic (inducing, and maximize fevers). |
Body System’s
Treated: Digestive tract, female reproductive tract, cardiovascular system,
immune system.
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Harvesting Notes:
Pick without destroying the perennial, and push back any loose soil once done. You can harvest many times a year, but autumn is best. Dry/crush the root to maximize its flavour. |
Safety/Cautions/Interactions:
Leaves may be poisonous and cause dermatitis in some people
(skin irritation).
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The Complete Natural Guide to the 50 Most Common Medicinal
Herbs
motherearthliving.com
Christine Dennis, Registered Herbalist. 2010 Herbal Field Experience. Course notes.
Rosalee de la Foret. Learning Herbs. Taste of Herbs Course Notes, 2013.
Richard Vuskinic, ND. Clinical Pearls, 2015.
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Chronicles of a 1 acre forest garden along the Thames River in London Ontario.
Friday, January 9, 2015
FOOD FOREST MEDICINE Monograph #6: Wild Ginger
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