For many people, ginger isn’t just a spice. It’s also a trusted form of pain relief. This peppery vegetable is well-known for the anti-inflammatory properties that make it so effective against many types of body aches and pain. So much so that you can pick from different forms of ginger to suit your individual needs. But rather than a prepare tincture or a tea, consider using ginger as a hot compress instead the next time you get a sore spot.

A hot ginger compress is exactly what it sounds like: a compress or a piece of cloth soaked in hot ginger water then applied to the skin. Utilizing ginger in this form can greatly benefit anyone suffering from physical pain. According to NaturalHealth365.com, the benefits of a hot ginger compress include speeding up the healing process in soft tissue damage, alleviating muscle tension, and diminishing the aches brought on by arthritis, rheumatism, and other similar conditions.

In fact, a study from 2010 found hot ginger compresses to be highly beneficial for adults with osteoarthritis. The participants, who used compresses while resting in a warm and cozy place, reported feeling concentrated and prolonged warmth in their lumbar regions while their bodily stresses gradually ebbed. Thanks to ginger’s unique qualities of heat, stimulation, vitality, anti-inflammation, and analgesia, they all experienced less pain and greater mobility. Quite a few of the participants even stated that they also felt more energized and relaxed.

If you’d like to try out a hot ginger compress, here’s how:

You will need:

120 grams or 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger root or powdered ginger

1 cheese grater

1 liter of water

1 large towel

2 hand-cloths

1 thin cotton cloth and string

A large pan with a lid

Rubber gloves

Instructions:

Fill the pan with water and bring it to just below boiling point.

If you have fresh ginger root, grate it until you have approximately a tablespoon of grated ginger root. If this isn’t available, prepare one tablespoon of powdered ginger.

Place the grated ginger root or powdered ginger in the cotton cloth and close it with the string. If you used grated ginger root, squeeze out any fluids into the pan.

Drop the bag into the pan and allow it to infuse for about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat.

Remove the bag and once again squeeze out the fluids into the pan. Don’t forget to wear rubber gloves at this stage.

Now you have hot ginger water to use in your hot ginger compress. Remember to keep your ginger water warm by covering the pan when it isn’t in use. To utilize your hot ginger compress, begin by soaking one of the hand towels in the ginger water then wringing out any excess before placing it on the area in pain. Do the same with the other hand towel, putting it on top of the first one. Cover both with the larger towel to retain heat and moisture.

After five minutes or when the compress has cooled, repeat the previous steps for 20 to 30 minutes. Your skin will take on a reddish tint after treatment. Don’t panic, this is simply an effect of the compress and should go away in no time. For a more effective treatment, make sure that your skin doesn’t cool off between steps. Additionally, you can administer a hot ginger compress once a week or every few days until the pain goes away.

Source:
courtesy of NATURALNEWS

by Frances Bloomfield

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