Benefits of Ginger and Garlic

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Two of the most popular of home remedies, have for centuries been ginger and garlic. On closer inspection, it is revealed why they work so well. When used to remedy a cold or a flu, they are considered by many to be better options than over the counter remedies.

Ginger in particular is widely used as a seasoning, and has also been used as a medicine for generations. It was even effective when used against the dreaded Black Plague during the middle ages. Today it is used in the treatment of such ailments such as the simple cold or a sniffle, and can alleviate the sympoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

There is plenty of well documented evidence indicating the effectiveness of ginger against headaches. When taken for alleviating a migraine, ginger can reduce the pain by blocking prostaglandins, which are the chemicals that are responsible for causing the swelling in blood vessels, which cause the migraines. It is this anti-inflammatory property of ginger that can relieve the discomfort of headaches, colds and flu.

If suffering from congestion and stuffiness, ginger can be used to block the production of substances that cause this. It also contains compounds, called gingerols, which are natural cough suppressants.

People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis can benefit from the use of ginger, as it reduces joint swellings. Ginger has been known to erase the symptoms in 50% of people suffering from osteoarthritis who used it as a remedy, and in 70% of those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. It's no secret that the health implications of drugs like Celebrex and Vioxx are cause for concern. Ginger is believed by many to be a much safer, and considerably more cost-effective alternative.

The way that ginger works can be compared to the way that aspirin works, in that they both thin the blood. Thromboxane compounds clump blood platelets and constrict blood vessels. What ginger does is dissolve the clumped blood platelets. This results in the reduction of blood clots and helps reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.