You've seen it in your local grocery store-that knotty, beige-colored root that looks somewhat like a cross between a turnip, a potato, and a carrot. But have you ever tried it, or even given it a second thought? The fact of the matter is, ginger root has been used for culinary and medicinal purposes for thousands of years, and it looks like this root plant is here to stay.
A Short History of Ginger
Although native to Southeast Asia, ginger root can be found sprouting all over the world. It can be found in the United States, India, China, and the tropics, to name but a few places where this root plant originates. As a spice, the use of ginger root dates back at least 4,400 years; as a medicinal herb, it "only" dates back to the past 2,000 years. Similar to other plants that have long been known for their medicinal and nutritional value, such as the high-protein weed stinging nettles, and the common dandelion, the use of ginger likely stretches far back into prehistory.
The plant's name, Ginger, has a variety of origins, from the Middle Earth (gingivere) as well as Sanskrit (srngaveram), which translates to 'horn root.' Although ginger was well known by the Romans, the root and spice all but disappeared after the fall of the Roman Empire, not returning to popularity until Marco Polo visited the Far East.
Uses of Ginger
It was discovered some 2,000 years ago that ginger root contained several medicinal purposes and health benefits, some of which are still being practiced to this day. Often used as a means to treat digestive problems, relieve heartburn, or even alleviate symptoms of the common cold, ginger has many versatile uses.
