In part nine of this series about the immune system, we are going to discuss ginger and the benefits it has on the immune system. Common Name: ginger (1) Latin Name: Zingiber officinale (1) History: Ginger is a tropical plant and has green and purple flowers. Its fragrant underground stem is called a rhizome. Ginger has been used for decades to add flavor and fragrance to foods, beverages, soaps, and cosmetics (1). Ginger is native to the warmer parts of Asia (China, Japan, and India), today it is also grown in parts of South America, the Middle East, and Africa (3). The use if ginger dates back to the ancient Sanskrit, Chinese, Greek, Roman, and Arabic times where it was commonly used
In part eight of this series about the immune system, we are going to discuss garlic and the benefits it has on the immune system. In future weeks we will further explore other herbs and spices that can help with boosting the immune system. Common Name: garlic (1) Latin Name: Allium sativum (1) History: Garlic is commonly used in cooking, especially in the cooking of Italian dishes. Garlic is an edible bulb who comes from the lily family. It is believed that garlic is native to Siberia and has been used for over 5000 years (3). Historically, garlic was used for health reasons in Egypt, Greece, Rome, China, Japan, and by Native Americans. Today, garlic continues to be used as a dietary su
In part seven of this series about the immune system, we are going to discuss turmeric and the benefits it has on the immune system. In future weeks we will further explore other herbs and spices that can help with boosting the immune system. Common Names: turmeric, turmeric root, Indian saffron (1) Latin Name: Curcuma aromatica, Curcuma domestica, Curcuma longa (1) History: Turmeric is a plant who is related to ginger and has been traditionally grown throughout India, other parts of Asia, and in Central America. Turmeric has historically been used in Ayurvedic medicine, mainly in South Asia. It was used to treat breathing problems, rheumatism, pain, and fatigue (1). In current times, tu
In part six of this series about the immune system, we are going to discuss the herb echinacea and the benefits it has on the immune system. In future weeks we will further explore other herbs and spices that can help with boosting the immune system. Common Names: echinacea, purple coneflower, coneflower, American coneflower (1) Latin Name: Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida (1) History: Research has shown that there are nine species of echinacea and they are all native to North America. History has shown us, that the use of the herb dates back to being used by the Native Americans of the Great Plains region and was used as a traditional medicine (1). Today, ec
