幾十年來，生姜一直是亞洲美食中的一種流行香料，后來被引入西方，用于制作姜餅、姜餅、姜汁汽水和南瓜派。但這并不是生姜所能提供的全部。

On top of being used in cooking and baking, ginger has many health benefits and we are going to discuss these health benefits of ginger in this article.
除了用于烹飪和烘焙之外，生姜還有許多健康益處，我們將在本文中討論生姜的這些健康益處。

Ginger has over 400 chemically active ingredients and is a?good source of potassium, magnesium, manganese, copper and vitamin B6.
生姜含有 400 多種化學活性成分，是鉀、鎂、錳、銅和維生素 B6 的良好來源。

It has been used for many generations to?treat digestive issues, coughing, headache, sinus congestion, cold, flu and fever. On top of all those health benefits, it is also known to be helpful for inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and rheumatism. It has?anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal elements and is known as a blood thinning agent.
許多代以來，它一直被用于治療消化問題、咳嗽、頭痛、鼻竇充血、感冒、流感和發燒。除了所有這些健康益處之外，它還有助于治療關節炎和風濕病等炎癥性疾病。它具有抗炎、抗菌和抗真菌成分，被稱為血液稀釋劑。

The ginger we eat is the underground rhizome of the ginger plant. The flesh can be white, yellow or reddish in color and is covered by a brown skin. Depending on the variety and the age of the rhizome, the skin can be thin or thick.
我們吃的姜是姜科植物的地下根莖。果肉可以是白色、黃色或微紅色，上面覆蓋著棕色的皮膚。根據根莖的品種和年齡，皮膚可以薄或厚。

Ginger is available in many forms;?fresh, powdered, crystallized, candied and pickled. Fresh ginger will keep in the refrigerator for 3 weeks if kept unpeeled. You can keep the ginger in the freezer and shave off what you need to add to your cooking. This way it will keep up to 6 months.
生姜有多種形式。新鮮、粉狀、結晶、蜜餞和腌制。如果不去皮，新鮮生姜可以在冰箱中保存 3 周。你可以把生姜放在冰箱里，把你需要添加到烹飪中的東西去掉。這樣它最多可以保存 6 個月。

Health Benefits of Ginger Root?姜根的健康益處

For gastrointestinal problems:?Ginger has been known to help motion sickness and vomiting. A double-blind study done recently revealed that ginger was superior to popular medicine (Dramamine) in preventing sea sickness.
對于腸胃問題：眾所周知，生姜有助于暈車和嘔吐。最近進行的一項雙盲研究表明，生姜在預防暈船方面優于流行藥物（Dramamine）。

Morning sickness:?The anti-vomiting action is especially important to women suffering from morning sickness during pregnancy. Unlike many prescribed medications, ginger is safe with only a small amount needed to achieve the effect.
孕吐：止吐作用對孕期有孕吐的女性尤為重要。與許多處方藥不同，生姜是安全的，只需少量即可達到效果。

Blood thinning properties are being studied and cholesterol reducing properties are being examined.
正在研究血液稀釋特性，并正在檢查降低膽固醇的特性。

For Inflammation:?Ginger inhibits two enzymes that play a major part in chronic inflammations and help the body heal after an inflammation has occurred.
對于炎癥：生姜會抑制兩種在慢性炎癥中起主要作用的酶，并在炎癥發生后幫助身體愈合。
A compound called Gingerols is believed to be the one responsible for the relief from arthritis and rheumatoid pain and increased level of mobility in sufferers.
一種叫做姜酚的化合物被認為是緩解關節炎和類風濕性疼痛并增加患者活動能力的原因。

For pain:?Ginger has analgesic properties. It has been used in treating headaches and ginger tea can reduce the pain and nausea associated with migraines. For some people, it can actually stop a migraine if it is taken at the beginning stages.
對于疼痛：生姜具有鎮痛作用。它已被用于治療頭痛，生姜茶可以減輕與偏頭痛相關的疼痛和惡心。對于一些人來說，如果在開始階段服用它實際上可以阻止偏頭痛。
A warm compress can ease the pain of bruises, strains and sprains.
熱敷可以減輕瘀傷、拉傷和扭傷的疼痛。

For heartburn:?Drinking ginger tea reduces heartburn.
對于胃灼熱：喝姜茶可以減輕胃灼熱。

For coughs:?Ginger has cough-reducing properties. It helps thin the bronchial mucus and moves it out of the lungs.
對于咳嗽：生姜具有止咳作用。它有助于稀釋支氣管粘液并將其移出肺部。

For burns:?Fresh ginger juice applied to a burn will relieve pain, reduce blistering and inflammations and provide antibacterial protection.
燒傷：將新鮮生姜汁涂在燒傷處可以減輕疼痛、減少水泡和炎癥并提供抗菌保護。

For sexual dysfunction:?Some believe ginger has aphrodisiac properties because it stimulates the circulation and normalizes testosterone levels.
對于性功能障礙：一些人認為生姜具有催情作用，因為它可以刺激血液循環并使睪丸激素水平正常化。

For immune-boosting:?Ginger can increase sweating which is helpful during colds and flu. It is more than just detoxification of the body but the ginger provides protection against invading microorganisms and fungus.
增強免疫力：生姜可以增加出汗，這在感冒和流感期間很有幫助。它不僅僅是為身體排毒，而且生姜還可以防止入侵的微生物和真菌。

Basic Ginger Recipes?基本生姜食譜

For colds and flu:?Prepare a tea from the ginger root by boiling 4-5 slivers of the root in water for 3 minutes. Strain. Add honey to the mix and drink two cups a day.
對于感冒和流感：將 4-5 片姜根放入水中煮 3 分鐘，制成姜茶。拉緊。在混合物中加入蜂蜜，每天喝兩杯。

As an inhaler:?boil water in a shallow pot together with a few pieces of ginger. Cover your head with a towel and inhale the vapor. Adding a few drops of Eucalyptus oil will help you breath easier when congested.
作為吸入器：在淺鍋中將水與幾片生姜一起煮沸。用毛巾蓋住頭并吸入蒸汽。添加幾滴桉樹油可以幫助您在充血時呼吸更順暢。

For compress:?place 1 cup of fresh ginger with 1 tablespoon of powdered cinnamon in two cups of water and let simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to steep for another 15 minutes. Soak a washcloth in the mixture and place on the injured area.
壓縮：將 1 杯新鮮生姜和 1 湯匙肉桂粉放入兩杯水中，文火煮 5 分鐘。遠離熱源，再浸泡 15 分鐘。將毛巾浸入混合物中，然后敷在受傷部位。
This is most effective if done 2-3 times a day.
如果每天進行 2-3 次，此方法最有效。

An alternative way?for aching joints is to grind about 2 inches of the root into a paste, add cinnamon as above and a bit of water if needed to make it into a paste. Apply on the painful area, cover with plastic wrap and a moist, warm towel. Let the towel cool, remove and wash the area.
另一種治療關節疼痛的方法是將大約 2 英寸的根磨成糊狀，加入上述肉桂粉，如果需要，可加少許水調成糊狀。涂抹在疼痛部位，用保鮮膜和濕潤的溫熱毛巾覆蓋。讓毛巾冷卻，取出并清洗該區域。