10/03/2018 / By Frances Bloomfield
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. (Related: Ginger reduces chronic inflammation, pain and migraines, helps digestion, diabetes and more.)
If you’d like to try out a hot ginger compress, here’s how:
You will need: