From the TCM perspective, food is medicine. But not all foods are viewed in the same light. Certain foods carry a healing essence that innately support a certain organ function. Understanding the properties of these foods can be very beneficial in your path toward healing.

Ginger is the number one food prescribed by TCM practitioners to relieve stomach discomfort, food allergies, and metabolic function disorders like IBS, acid reflux, and excess weight. Its warm essence can also help lessen arthritis pain, reduce inflammation, treat common colds, and get stagnating Qi flowing. As the seasons shift, weather fluctuations are common. Ginger’s warming essence helps the body maintain its balance during this transition.

Ginger can be added to many foods—whether sweet or savory. Follow these tips to incorporate ginger in your diet:

Ancient Ginger Tea: Boil slices of fresh ginger in hot water. Add brown sugar and fresh lemon juice. Drink it before you go to bed. You’ll feel so much better in the morning!

Savory Dishes: Add fresh ginger slices to chicken noodle soup or julienne fresh ginger and garlic and sauté with broccoli or green beans.

Sweet Dishes: Hollow out a few apples and set them in a baking dish with 1/2 cup of water. Grate fresh ginger into a mixture of raisins, cinnamon, and honey. Fill the apples with this mixture and bake at 350F for about 30 minutes.

Topical Heat Pack: If the taste of ginger is too strong for you, fill a cotton sock with dried ginger, peppercorns, cinnamon, sea salt, and cloves. Tie the sock tightly to seal in the herbs. Place in the microwave on low heat for about 20 seconds, until the pack is warm, not scalding hot. Use the heat pack anywhere you have pain or discomfort, or place the warmed pack on your stomach to warm your body from the outside-in.

Grand Master Lu talks about the benefits of ginger in the video below:

Keep Exploring!

Ginger is on our eating-for-healing food list in our popular Dragon’s Way Qigong® program. Want to learn more? Find an instructor in your area.

Our 7-day Liver Qi ReSet begins March 19, 2023! Learn to flow harmoniously with Nature, as Grand Master Lu challenges all participants to reach new levels of health and healing. Register today!