Shunti or Ardraka or Ginger (Zingiber officinale) belonging to the family Zingiberaceae is a branched perennial herb of aromatic rhizome is one of the most common spices used since centuries for its versatile medicinal actions. Ardraka is the wet form of ginger while Shunti is its dried form. Shunti is useful for the treatment of various gastrointestinal, pulmonary, cardiovascular and sexual disorders. Dioscorides, listed ginger as an antidote to poisoning, as a digestive, aphrodisiac and as being warming to the stomach in his treatise “De Materia Medica”. Records suggest that ginger was highly valued as an article of trade and in 13th and 14th century England, one pound of ginger was worth the same as a sheep. In 2165 B.C., Death of Chinese Princess Tai, buried with cinnamon, galangal, ginger, and pepper displays the importance of this drug. Marco Polo observed ginger cultivated in China and India in his work. Shunti has therapeutic activities such as antiemetic, stomachic, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac, antibacterial, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective etc properties. Shunti has been used to treat a wide range of ailments including dyspepsia, diarrhoea, nausea, asthma, respiratory disorders, toothache, gingivitis and arthritis. It has pungent smell and slight bitter taste. It is widely distributed in tropical Asia. In India, it is cultivated mainly in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra etc. Different types of Indian ginger are available like Cochin ginger (light brown or yellowish grey), Calicut ginger from Malabar (orange or reddish brown, resembling African ginger) and Kolkata ginger (greyish brown to greyish blue).
Shunti is a multifaceted drug which is used in various health conditions.
- In indigestion daily intake of Shunti powder or juice is good enough to keep sickness away. Decoction of dried ginger stimulates digestive fire quickly. Also consuming a piece of fresh ginger with a pinch of salt before having food is very useful in increasing depleted digestive power.
- Hot decoction of Shunti powder promotes digestion, alleviates cough, asthma, colic and heart diseases.
- Intake of Ardraka juice mixed with old jaggery along with goat’s milk alleviates all types of edema.
- Keeping Lukewarm ginger juice and rock salt in mouth is beneficial in anorexia.
- As kitchen remedies also Ardraka & Shunti are widely used all over the World especially in India.
- Applying warm ginger paste with turmeric to the affected area twice a day will relieve muscle sprains.
- In Sore throat condition drinking boiled water with cinnamon, ginger & one teaspoon of honey is recommended.
- For persistent cough a tea made with half teaspoon of ginger powder, a pinch of clove with a pinch of cinnamon powder and honey will bring relief.
- In Asthma, a teaspoon of fresh ginger juice mixed with a cup of fenugreek decoction and honey to taste acts as an excellent expectorant in the treatment of asthma.
- Applying paste of ginger powder in forehead will reduce headaches.
Ginger show strong antioxidant potential. Many metabolic disorders and age-related diseases are associated with oxidative stress, use of ginger either in food or as medicine combat or delay the associated oxidative stress. Studies confirm its digestive stimulant and sialagogue action so that one can use it along with food to sustain digestive process. Because of its anti-microbial effect, it keeps gut healthy. As it possesses glucose and cholesterol lowering effect it is indicated to diabetic as well as cardiac patients.
