Ginger, known as VISHWA BHESHAJA or " universal medicine" in AYURVEDA , is also one of the most popular house-hold remedies in Indian herbal folk-lore.
Apart from irreversible genetic causes, dysfunction of the digestive system is considered to be the common cause of all forms of disease and such dysfunction is caused by wrong eating habits " apathya aahaara ". To prevent all this from happening, one must learn right eating habits .

In the meanwhile , ginger helps to bring order in the functioning of the digestive system and so is considered as preventive and curative of all diseases.

Ginger is more of a digestive and a carminative than an appetiser. It tones up the digestive system and prevents and cures various forms of arthritis, backaches, respiratory problems such as colds, coughs, bronchitis, bronchial asthma , headache and fever.

it works best when partaken after a meal followed by a small drink of hot water or buttermilk as "anupana".

A single dose consists of 5 grs (1/3 gm ) of the dry powder or 7.5 grs ( 1/2 gm ) of its paste made with water .

To improve the appetite, a small dose of some ayurvedic bitters can be partaken just before meals .

As a tonic, a tea prepared with a small piece of dry or raw ginger is very useful taken, with milk and sugar, any time of the day .