Soonth (Zingiber Officinale)

Sonth or dry ginger is a very well-known medicine is Ayurveda. It is good for the whole body. Dried ginger oral intake improves body immunity to fight infections and promotes longevity. It is aromatic, pungent, sweet and hot in potency. It decreases vata, kapha and increases Pitta in the body. It is good for the heart, head, respiratory system and digestive system. Since dry ginger is hot and balances vata inside the body, so it is used in vata diseases such as joint pain, arthritis, and also in respiratory diseases

Studies have shown this herb to have the following actions:-

Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic: Gingerol an active component in ginger reduces pain, inflammation and tissue damage by inhibiting prostaglandin and leukotriene biosynthesis through suppression of 5-lipoxygenase pathway.

Anti-osteoporotic: Ginger has osteo-protective effect, it stimulates osteoblast proliferation, differentiation maturation and increases ECM mineralization.

Hepatoprotective: Ginger reduces hepatic triglyceride content and pro-inflammatory cytokines to ameliorate liver inflammation and fibrosis and promotes its detoxification by increased glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels.

Digestive: Ginger improves digestion by stimulating hydrochloric acid secretion, which helps digest proteins, and bile, which helps digest fats.

Anti-flatulent: Ginger contains a natural carminative agent that accelerates the emptying of the gastric and relieves flatulence.

Cough Relief: Ginger and its active components induces bronchodilation by modulating intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in airway smooth muscle and helps to relieve cough.