Gingerly does it .....

On those nights or days when you find that whatever food we have eaten does not seem to agree with us, and is giving you some mild runs, as well as doubling you over in aches, try this:

1. Ginger - a generous portion of perhaps 2 inch by 2 inch or 3 by 3 of old ginger root

2. Next pound it in a mortar.

3. Squeeze the juice out into a glass

4. mix in a table spoon of honey and a squeeze of lemon juice.

5. Top up with a little water.

Now it is ready to be drank. From my experience, I get an almost immediate warmth of comfort radiating in my tummy. Followed by the tummy churning lesser and lesser. 

I would of course advice everyone, as usual, to go see a doctor as the safest way to ensure you have not picked up more than what your tummy can hold in. I would also remind you that one should ensure proper hygiene in the preparation of such juice. Wash and scrub ginger, peel of skin if necessary, and run it through clean distilled water or hot water. Similarly utensils such as mortar used should be cleanse too with hot water before use.

Alternatively, the ginger root, lemon juice and honey can be quickly blended in a food processor too.

Ginger has been used in Chinese cooking for many purposes. 

- It masks bad odour of meat and fish (ginger juice can be used to tenderise meat and remove meat ordour too, in preparation of cooking)

- improve flavour with its aroma, and as well as 

- being an indicator of poisonous factors in food. It turns black if poison is present. A common use of ginger is in cooking mushrooms - to ensure the fresh mushroom picked from forest ground is not poisonous. Imperial cooks for in China purportedly use either ginger or a silver needles to test for poison in the food before serving them to the Emperors in ancient days.

Ginger is considered a yang food that helps to stimulate the intestinal tract and promote digestion. The chinese also use boiled ginger water to induce perspiration which is considered good to fight and elevate the symptoms of the common cold and fever. Ginger cooked with chicken and Chinese wine is a staple for mothers in confinement after giving birth.

The humble ginger contains little amount of protein, carbohydrate, fibre, vitamins B1, B2, C and other trace elements needed by our body.