Journey From East to West

By the first century CE, ginger had made its way to the Mediterranean. It was among the first oriental spices to reach the region, possibly brought by the Phoenicians and later traded by Arab or Persian merchants using Red Sea trade routes.

The Romans and Greeks valued it for its therapeutic qualities. Greek physician Dioscorides recommended ginger in his De Materia Medica, highlighting its benefits for digestion. The Greeks wrapped ginger in bread and consumed it as a digestive aid, while the Romans mistakenly considered it a type of pepper.

Ginger was inscribed as ζηγγίβερις (a phonetic spelling of the Greek word) in Dioscorides’ “De Materia Medica.” Source: Morgan Library, New York.

deeply integrated into traditional Chinese medicine

In traditional Chinese medicine and folklore, ginger is regarded as a “yang” herb, associated with warmth, vitality, and life force. It is believed to harmonize the balance of “yin” and “yang” within the body, thereby promoting overall health and wellbeing.

Chinese sailors historically chewed ginger to prevent seasickness, and it was widely used in ancient China to alleviate conditions such as arthritis and kidney problems.

Illustration of Lei Gong preparing medicines(1591). Source: wikimediacommons

Popular exotic spice since medieval times

Historically, ginger was one of the most prominent spices in medieval Europe. The wealthy were able to enjoy roasted meats accompanied by flavourful dipping sauces, such as yellow sauce made with ginger and saffron, or green sauce featuring a blend of ginger, cloves, cardamom, and fresh herbs. It was widely used to flavour beer during the Middle Ages, and it was so highly valued in 13th and 14th century England that a single pound of the spice was reportedly worth as much as a sheep.

Holy Women buying spices from merchant in the “Egmont Breviary.” Source: New York, Morgan Library

Festival dedicated to ginger in Japan

Shōga Matsuri, or Ginger Root Festival take place every September, notably at the Shiba Daijingu Shrine in central Tokyo and Ninomiya Shrine in Akiruno. During the festivities, vibrant portable mikoshi shrines are paraded to pay homage to Shinto deities.

Meanwhile, lively open-air stalls brim with fresh ginger roots, where vendors enthusiastically proclaim, “protects against evils” and “eating ginger keeps colds at bay,” enticing festival-goers and potential buyers alike.

Japanese paper lanterns in a festival. Source: pixabay

Potential medicinal benefits of ginger

Bioactive compounds in ginger, especially gingerol is known to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. It may also have beneficial effects on obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and osteoarthritis. Future research is exploring ginger’s healing properties in reducing symptoms of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, migraines, epilepsy, pain management, and cancer.

The recommended amount is up to 1-2g a day, but it is always best to consult a healthcare expert before trying any new foods.

Health benefits of ginger. Source: Promdam and Panichayupakaranant(2022)

REFERENCES

1. Kemper, K.J., 1999. Ginger (Zingiber officinale). Longwood Herbal Task Force, 3(1), pp.1-18.

2. Bode, A.M. and Dong, Z., 2011. The amazing and mighty ginger. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition.

3. Promdam, N. and Panichayupakaranant, P., 2022. [6]-Gingerol: a narrative review of its beneficial effect on human health. Food Chemistry Advances, 1, p.100043.

4. Spence, C., 2023. Ginger: The pungent spice. International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science, p.100793.

5. The Wicca Garden: A Modern Witch’s Book of Magickal and Enchanted Herbs and Plants (2001)

6. https://www.traditioninaction.org/religious/d044_Michel.htm
7. https://sramdin20.medium.com/ginger-b38cdc18cf71
8. https://archive.org/details/gingerbreadboy1975gald/mode/2up
9. https://www.ovid.com/journals/jama/abstract/00005407-200411170-00041~gingerism
10. https://books.google.de/books/about/Sweet_Invention.html?id=gN6ySQnUnfwC&redir_esc=y