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Ginger is a tuber that is consumed whole as a delicacy, medicine, or spice. The stem extends roughly 12 inches above ground with long, narrow, ribbed, green leaves, and white or yellowish-green flowers.  

Spice Description: 

This underground stem, or rhizome, of the plant Zingiber officinale has been used as a medicine in Asian, Indian, and Arabic herbal traditions since ancient times. In China, for example, ginger has been used to aid digestion and treat stomach upset, diarrhea, and nausea for more than 2,000 years.

It is chemically classified as an essential oil with pungent principles, and has been in use as a flavoring agent worldwide for over two centuries, as well as for medicinal purposes as an anti-emetic (prevents vomiting in circumstances such as car sickness), anti-inflammatory, analgesic and other properties relating to the well-being of the body.

Culinary Uses: 

A variety of uses are suggested for ginger. Tea brewed from ginger is a folk remedy for colds. Three to four leaves of tulsi taken with a piece of ginger on an empty stomach is considered an effective cure for congestion, cough and cold. Ginger has also been historically used to treat inflammation, which several scientific studies support.

Attributed Medicinal Properties: 

The medical form of ginger historically was called Jamaica ginger; it was classified as a stimulant and carminative, and used frequently for dyspepsia, gastroparesis, slow motility symptoms, constipation, and colic. It was also frequently employed to disguise the taste of medicines. 

(Content Source: Wikipedia)