Both ginger and turmeric are rhizomes, or root stalks, used around the world, not only as food seasonings but also as traditional herbal medicines. As herbal remedies, both spices are used primarily to help alleviate different types of pain. Many scientific studies have been conducted to determine if and how each rhizome actually works. There’s reason to believe that ginger and turmeric both contain active ingredients that can provide at least some relief to those suffering from a number of painful conditions, from arthritis and gastric discomfort to migraine headaches and post-surgical pain. 

Turmeric as a Pain Relief Tool

Turmeric is a commonly used spice in Southeast Asian cuisine, especially in Indian and Thai food. Curcumin, an active compound in turmeric, is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity that can promote healing. Like ginger, studies have found that turmeric may have pain-reducing power equal in some cases to that of prescription and over-the-counter medications. In clinical studies, turmeric’s anti-inflammatory action appears to help improve rheumatoid arthritis, post-operative inflammation, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and stomach ulcers.

Ginger as a Pain Relief Tool

The active medicinal ingredients in ginger are phytochemicals known as gingerols and shogoal. Ginger has long been used as an herbal remedy to relieve motion sickness, morning sickness, general nausea, and upset stomach and, more recently, post-surgical nausea and chemotherapy-induced nausea. Ginger has also been used to treat and prevent the growth of H pylori, the bacteria responsible for gastric infections and ulcers. 

Additional Benefits

In addition to helping relieve pain, ginger may help to prevent some of the side effects associated with conventional painkillers as well. Long-term or high-dose use of aspirin and NSAIDs have been linked to stomach damage such as lesions, ulcers, and other gastrointestinal disorders. Research shows that the active compounds in ginger may help protect the lining of the stomach from damage due to these drugs, as well as alcohol and excess hydrochloric acid produced by the stomach in some conditions.

Turmeric + ginger have a long history as medicinal herbs within Ayurvedic medicine. As with many culinary herbs + spices that actually have their roots as medicinals, turmeric + ginger have a long and facinating dual history as a type of food therapy.

Records of turmeric use go back more than 4,000 years. There have even been analyses of pots dating back to 2500 BCE that found turmeric residue. Futhermore, turmeric has shown up in Ayurvedic medicinal texts as far back as 500 BCE.Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is from the same family as ginger (Ziniber offcinale). Both are tropical plants that originated from India. The roots of both plants are harvested for both culinary and medicinal purposes.

Inflammation is a major problem when it becomes chronic and inappropriately attacks your body’s own tissues. Scientists believe that chronic, low level inflammation plays a major role in pain and almost every disease. Curcumin is strongly anti-inflammatory. In fact, it’s so powerful that it matches the effectiveness of some anti-inflammatory drugs, without the side effects.

Ginger also contains very potent anti-inflammatory compounds which are called Gingerols. These substances are believed to explain why so many people with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis experience reductions in their pain levels and improvements in their mobility when they consume ginger regularly. 

Both these roots contain natural compounds, which function as COX-2 inhibitors, which block the enzyme responsible for pain, swelling and inflammation.  This achieves the same function as common medications for arthritis, but without harmful side effects. 

Our Turmeric Ginger Tonic is made with pure organic ingredients straight from Mother nature and combined precisely for high absorption. Daily consumption can help with pain relief, digestive health, joint pain relief + skin issues.