The Healing Food From Gilligan's Island

The first thing that comes to my mind when you say "ginger" is Gilligan's Island, where "Ginger" was played by Tina Louise. The second thing that I remember is ginger ale, which was my mother's cure for whatever ailed you. If you told Mom you didn't feel good, a bottle of ginger ale would appear, as if by magic. It certainly didn't cure everything, but it was the best part of any illness.

Although Mom didn't know it, she was on to something.

Ginger goes back a long way in Western Civilization. Pythagoras, a noted Greek philosopher and math wiz, used it for digestion. The Roman military kept it handy on long marches. Henry the VIII, of Merrie Olde England thought it would cure plague (it didn't). Ginger has an even longer history in the East, where it is considered an integral part of medicine.

Ginger is, by far, the best remedy for motion sickness. It was tested against Dramamine and won handily. The incredible thing is that you only need about a 1/4 teaspoon, 20 minutes before getting in a car, or boat. That isn't very much and it might cost an entire family fifty cents.

Ginger also does yeoman's work, if you suffer from headaches, or migraines, by helping to keep the pain and nausea away. Researchers in Denmark have found that ginger may short circuit impending migraines, by blocking the production of prostaglandins, substances that cause pain and inflammation in blood vessels in the brain.

Ginger can also help with rheumatoid arthritis, or osteoarthritis.The best way to help here is to brew a mild tea, by puuting three or four slices of fresh ginger in a cup of boiling water.

Ginger is also good for your blood and has a chemical makeup somewhat similar to aspirin.

In the food culture of New Orleans, they often talk about the "trinity," which is a combination of onion, green pepper and celery, which are all good for you. This "trinity" is the base for almost
all gumbos and jambalayas. In India, the "trinity" is garlic, ginger and onion. Indian yogis and chefs suggest that this is the foundation of good health. There is no question that adding ginger
to your diet is a good idea.

If you combine a little ginger with pharmaceutical grade fish oil, you should get a very nice synergystic effect. It's almost like adding another janitor to your "in house" cleaning crew: