Ginger

Besides being a zesty dude to cook with, ginger has amazing health properties thanks to "Gingerol."

Benefits

Anti-Nausea

This is the one that earns Ginger spot #1 in my book. It is the fastest-prepared, fastest-acting, natural anti-nausea remedy that I've found. Got something better? Let me know.

It also works against morning sickness in some cases (I know better than to make absolute statements, especially around pregnancy).

Reduce Muscle Soreness

Studies [1] have shown ginger use over time to help reduce recovery time. Having to do some long hours to cope with the Grand Solar Minimum? This and Ashwagandha can both help with muscle recovery.

Lower Blood Sugars

A natural way to lower/stabilize blood sugars:

In a recent 2015 study of 41 participants with type 2 diabetes, 2 grams of ginger powder per day lowered fasting blood sugar by 12% [2].

Fight Infections

Gingerol, the bioactive substance in fresh ginger, can help lower the risk of infections.

In fact, ginger extract can inhibit the growth of many different types of bacteria [3], [4]

It is very effective against the oral bacteria linked to inflammatory diseases in the gums, such as gingivitis and periodontitis [5].

Fresh ginger may also be effective against the RSV virus, a common cause of respiratory infections [6].

More

I've cut these significant ones out but check out the remaining 11 benefits of ginger, or read deeper in the web. Deeper...deeper...

Cultivation

Growing ginger was surprisingly easy. I just cut a rhizome pieces with buds on them, planted them in good soil, and kept them wet until Ginger shot up. It looks somewhat bamboo-like when you first see it.

For those who aren't into the whole brevity thing

1. Start with a living ginger root. These are available from nurseries, garden centers or seed companies. If you have a friend with a ginger plant, a root cutting from that may work as well. Choose a root that is firm, plump and has tight skin with several eye buds on it. Roots can be cut and sectioned at the buds and planted so that each will grow into an individual plant.
2. Soak the ginger root in warm water overnight to prepare for planting.
3. Fill a shallow, wide plant pot (ginger roots grow horizontally) with rich, well-draining potting soil.
4. Place the ginger root with the eye bud pointing up and cover it with 1-2 inches more of soil. Water lightly.
5. Place the pot in a spot that stays warm and doesn’t get a lot of bright light.
6. Keep the soil moist, being careful not to over-water.
7. Ginger is slow to grow. Be patient. After 2-3 weeks, you should see some shoots coming up.
8. A few months after growth begins, small pieces of ginger can be harvested. Move the soil at the edges of the pot to find some ginger rhizomes (the term for an underground, continuously growing stem) beneath the surface. Cut the desired amount off a stem toward the edge of the pot and then replace the soil to allow it to continue to grow.

If you follow these steps for how to grow ginger indoors, your supply can be grown and harvested endlessly.

Essential Oil

Has been shown to reduce inflammation, support joints, improve digestion and relieve nausea.