Hour 71 Ayurveda – Medicinal Herbs II

Ginger and Ajwain

3. Fresh Ginger (Ardraka) – Zingiber officinale

• Qualities (Gunas): Heavy, sharp, pungent, hot, and dry.
• Potency (Veerya): Hot.
• Post-digestive effect (Vipaka): Pungent.
• Effect on Doshas: Balances Kapha and Vata, increases Pitta.

Therapeutic Uses:

• Effective in managing wet cough and congestion.
• Remedy for Wet Cough:
  • 3-4 drops of fresh ginger juice mixed with 1 teaspoon of honey.
  • Administer thrice a day before meals.
  • Note: Avoid in dry cough due to its dry nature.

4. Dry Ginger (Shunthi) – Zingiber officinale

• Qualities (Gunas): Pungent, hot, sharp, light, and unctuous.
• Potency (Veerya): Hot.
• Post-digestive effect (Vipaka): Sweet.
• Effect on Doshas: Balances Vata and Kapha.

Therapeutic Properties:

• Potent digestive stimulant and carminative.
• Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and immunity-boosting.
• Liquefies fat, promotes detoxification, and improves metabolic health.
• Acts as an aphrodisiac and enhances voice clarity.

Therapeutic Uses:

• Remedy for Dry Cough:
  • 2 pinches of dry ginger powder with 1 teaspoon ghee, thrice a day before meals.
• Other Remedies:
  • Loose Motions Relief:
    • Boil 3 pinches of dry ginger powder and 10 g Khus Khus roots in 500 ml water for 15 minutes. Consume the water.
  • Constipation Relief:
    1. Mix 5 g dry ginger powder, 10 g jaggery, and 4 pinches of rock salt. Consume ½ teaspoon.
• Herbal Tea:
  • Prepare with 3 pinches of dry ginger powder, 6 pinches of coriander seed powder, and 2 cardamom pods boiled in 200 ml water. Add 3 g palm jaggery.
  • Benefits: Clears congestion, combats cold, cough, fever, headache, and improves digestion.

Key Difference Between Fresh and Dry Ginger:

• Fresh ginger targets Kapha imbalances with its pungent Vipaka.
• Dry ginger balances all three Doshas due to its sweet Vipaka.

5. Carom Seeds (Ajwain) – Trachyspermum ammi

• Qualities (Gunas): Pungent, bitter, hot, sharp, and light.
• Potency (Veerya): Hot.
• Post-digestive effect (Vipaka): Pungent.
• Effect on Doshas: Pacifies Vata and Kapha, increases Pitta.

Therapeutic Properties:

• Carminative: Relieves gas, bloating, and indigestion.
• Digestive stimulant: Enhances secretion of digestive juices.
• Antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic.
• Provides pain relief in abdominal cramps and joint pain.

Remedies :

1. Indigestion and Bloating Relief:
   • Add 10 g carom seeds to 40 ml hot water. Let it infuse for 30 minutes.
   • Macerate, filter, and consume 10 ml after meals, three times daily.
   • Note: For nausea, reduce dosage to 5 ml or avoid.