Growing up, we never had soda in the house unless someone was sick and then my mother would only buy ginger ale. Her mother gave it to her when she was sick and she passed it on to us. For years I thought that it was just a special treat only for the sick. Over the years I’ve learned that it wasn’t just a treat it was actually to help us feel better. From what my family can remember, my grandmother had a number of uses for ginger in her frugal living journal and even grew it herself.

Did you know?

• When you buy ginger you should look for pieces that have the least amount of branching.
• Ginger should be stored in a cool, dry place.
• Fresh ginger only keeps for 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator.
• To store ginger for a longer period of time, you should peel it and cover it with vodka. *the infused vodka makes a great martini. 
• You can freeze ginger for 3 months.
• If the skin is wrinkled, the ginger will be hotter and more fibrous.
• You can easily peel ginger by tilting a spoon to its side and scraping down the root.
• Ginger looks like toes and is good for your feet. There’s an old wives tale that says “If a fruit, vegetable, flower or nut reminds you of a body part then it’s probably good for that part of your body.” (ex. walnuts look like a brain, tomatoes look like a heart)

Health
Always consult a doctor before using ginger as a treatment.

1. Aches – to soothe, soak your feet in a ginger-mustard bath. Add 2 teaspoons of freshly ground ginger and 1 tablespoon of mustard powder to warm water.
2. Chills – to relieve, soak your feet in a ginger-mustard bath. Add 2 teaspoons of freshly ground ginger and 1 tablespoon of mustard powder to warm water.
3. Colds – to relieve symptoms, soak your feet in a ginger-mustard bath. Add 2 teaspoons of freshly ground ginger and 1 tablespoon of mustard powder to warm water.
4. Colds – to relieve symptoms, drink a glass of ginger tea (recipe below).
5. Congestion – to relieve, drink a glass of ginger tea (recipe below).
6. Constipation – to relieve, drink a glass of ginger tea (recipe below).
7. Cramps – to relieve, drink a glass of ginger tea (recipe below).
8. Cuts and Scrapes – to clean and disinfect, dab the area with a thin slice of fresh ginger before bandaging.
9. Diarrhea – to treat, drink a glass of ginger tea (recipe below).
10. Dry Mouth – to relieve, chew on a piece of fresh ginger.
11. Ear Ache – to relieve, drink a glass of ginger tea (recipe below).
12. Fatigue – to relieve, soak your feet in a ginger-mustard bath. Add 2 teaspoons of freshly ground ginger and 1 tablespoon of mustard powder to warm water.
13. Flatulence – to relieve, drink a glass of ginger tea (recipe below).
14. Headache – to relieve, drink a glass of ginger tea (recipe below).
15. Heartburn – to relieve, drink a glass of ginger tea (recipe below).
16. Hot Flashes – to relieve, drink a glass of ginger tea (recipe below).
17. Indigestion – to relieve, drink a glass of ginger tea (recipe below).
18. Morning Sickness – to relieve, drink a glass of ginger tea (recipe below).
19. Motion Sickness – to relieve, drink a glass of ginger tea (recipe below).
20. Muscles – to relieve aches, rub muscles with a homemade ginger massage oil. To make your own, place 1 cup olive oil in a small saucepan, add an inch of thinly slices of fresh ginger, than add 10 dried rosebuds. Heat on low for 30 minutes.
21. Nausea – to calm, drink a glass of ginger tea (recipe below).
22. Scars – to reduce appearance, rub a sliver of ginger on the area, two times a day until it fades.
23. Stress – to relieve, soak in a warm bath with ginger bath salts. To make the bath salts, mix together 3 teaspoons grated ginger, ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ cup Epsom salt in a small container than add to your bathwater.

1. Acne – to control, rub the area with a thin slice of fresh ginger.
2. Age Spots – to lighten, rub a little fresh ginger on the area, repeating daily.
3. Blemishes – to control, apply ginger juice to the affected area.
4. Cellulite – to reduce the appearance of dimples, massage the area with homemade ginger massage oil. To make your own, place 1 cup olive oil in a small saucepan, add an inch of thinly sliced, fresh ginger, than add 10 dried rosebuds; heat on low for 30 minutes.
5. Hair – to moisturize, apply ginger tea after shampooing. To make the tea, steep fresh ginger in hot water, allow to cool before using.
6. Hair loss – to remedy, massage your scalp with a mixture of  1 tablespoon finely grated ginger and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Allow the mixture to remain on hair for 30 minutes before shampooing.
7. Hair – to stimulate growth, massage your scalp with a mixture of  1 tablespoon finely grated ginger and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Allow the mixture to remain on hair for 30 minutes before shampooing.
8. Hair – to reduce brittleness, after shampooing, rinse hair with ginger tea. To make the tea, steep fresh ginger in hot water, allow to cool before using.
9. Hair – to keep color from fading, after shampooing, rinse hair with ginger tea. To make the tea, steep fresh ginger in hot water, allow to cool before using.
10. Skin – to invigorate, wash with a body scrub made from 2 teaspoons grated ginger, ¼ cup olive oil, ½ cup sugar and lemon zest.
11. Skin Tone – to even out, drink a glass of ginger tea daily (recipe below).
12. Wrinkles – to minimize, drink a glass of ginger tea daily (recipe below).

Ginger Tea

1. Peel ginger and slice thinly.
2. Boil the ginger in water for 10-20 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and add honey and lemon.

I never would have guessed that there were so many household tips for using ginger. 
* If, by some small miracle, you worked at Amway in Ada, MI in the 1980’s and were the person my mother loaned the notebook to, please Contact Me. The notebook is a small (aprox. 6″x9″) black leather, 3-ring binder, and contains hand drawn patterns (teddy bear), recipes and household tips and tricks. It would mean so much to my family to have it back.