Ginger, also known scientifically as Zingiber officinale Roscoe, is a perennial plant of the zingiberaceae family that is grown mainly in Jamaica although it is native to tropical Asia, especially from areas of China, and is also grown in other regions of the world such as China, India, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and some areas of South America, among others. This plant is composed of pointed leaves and whitish flowers surrounded by a bract. However, the most commonly used part of ginger is its rhizome or root, as it is where most of its nutrients are found.
Although ginger root is generally used as a spice for the preparation of different cooking dishes, we can also make essential oil with this part of the plant. That is why in the following article of we will explain how to make homemade ginger oil and its different uses. Notes!
Nutritional composition of ginger oil: active ingredients
As we have indicated, ginger is a plant of the zingiberaceae family that is grown in different parts of the world, especially in Jamaica and South Asia. The most used part of this plant is its rhizome or root, which has different uses due to the active principles or nutritional composition of ginger and its oil which is as follows:
- Essential oils: zingiberene or zingiberine, zingiberol, curcumene, beta-bisolobene, limonene, camphene, camphor, cineole, geranial and linalool.
- Resins: gingerols, shogaols and gingerenones.
- Amino acids: arginine, histidine, leucine, lysine, aspartic acid and methionine.
- Fatty acids: alpha-linolenic, oleic, linoleic, lauric and lecithins.
- Vitamins: vitamin B3 and vitamin C.
- Minerals: cobalt, manganese, zinc, silicon, boron and phosphorus.
- Others: fiber, quercetin and capsaicin.
How to make homemade ginger oil – step by step
Ginger oil is a natural product that we should all have at home, since it has medicinal properties that make it an excellent remedy, both to relieve muscle aches and improve our respiratory and circulatory system, activating blood circulation, as well as for the care of our skin and hair. Although we can acquire it in an herbalist, we can also make it at home easily and simply.
Below, we explain how to make homemade ginger oil for hair, for massages and for cooking with the next step by step. That's right, this same recipe will give you an oil that you can use in different ways, which we will explain better in the following sections.
Ingredients
- 1 fresh ginger root.
- 200 ml of olive oil, better if it is extra virgin.
Step-by-step elaboration
- First, we will have to wash the whole ginger root well (that is, without removing the skin) and then we will let it dry.
- Once the root has dried, crush it with the help of a grater and then add it to a bowl.
- Add in the same bowl 200 ml of extra virgin olive oil and stir the ingredients until they are well mixed.
- Now you will have to add the mixture in a baking container and then put it in the oven. Let it heat in the oven over very low heat (about 65 degrees) for 2 hours.
- Let the mixture cool a little and then strain the contents with the help of a cloth filter to remove the ginger residues.
- Finally add the homemade ginger oil in a glass jar and store it always in a dry and cool place to make it last as long as possible.
How to Use Homemade Ginger Oil for Massage and Muscle Aches
As we have indicated, ginger oil is a very popular remedy for muscle aches, for relaxing and decontracting massages, as well as for skin care itself. If you want to know more about the use of this medicinal plant on the skin, we recommend this other article from on Properties of ginger for the skin.
Ginger root has a high content of essential oils and resin, which gives it powerful anti-inflammatory, analgesic and blood circulation stimulating properties that help, among other aspects, to relieve pain and swelling in the affected area. These properties also make it very useful for other types of pain such as migraines and headaches.
To use ginger oil for massage and to relieve muscle pain you will have to apply a few drops on your fingertips and massage the affected area for a couple of minutes. Then let it act for 5 minutes on the skin and finally remove the oil with plenty of warm water.
How to Use Ginger Oil for Hair Loss
Ginger is also an ideal natural product for hair care since its richness in fatty acids and antioxidants gives it excellent circulatory, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that stimulate hair growth and prevent hair loss and other hair problems such as lack of hydration and dandruff. If you want to use ginger for your hair, then we will explain how to make a natural serum that will prevent hair loss. To make this treatment with ginger oil for hair loss you will only need:
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon homemade ginger oil
- 1 tablespoon jojoba oil
Preparation and treatment
- Add in a bowl the ginger oil with the jojoba oil and stir them well until they are well diluted.
- We use jojoba oil to make the anti-fall serum since it has excellent moisturizing properties that will deeply moisturize your hair.
- Moisten your hair well and apply this treatment all over the scalp. To enhance the effects of the remedy it is recommended that you perform a circulatory massage through your hair for 10 minutes.
- When you finish massaging, let the remedy act 5 minutes more and then rinse your hair with warm water.
Here you can learn more about how to use ginger for hair loss.
Homemade ginger oil for cooking
Of course, another use of the homemade oil you have prepared is to use it in the kitchen, just as the root itself is used. If you were looking for how to make homemade ginger oil for cooking, you will like to know that among the culinary uses of ginger oil and also its root, we find that it is used as a spice and seasoning in a variety of dishes sauces, salads, soups, stews, cookies, breads, biscuits and drinks, beyond the infusions themselves. Some ideas for using ginger in cooking can be found in this other article on How to Cook Ginger.
