Plant of the month: Dry ginger (shunthi)

The universal medicine

Springtime is kapha season in Ayurveda, characterised by heaviness, stagnation and congestion (seasonal allergies, anyone?). Dried ginger is a great way to counteract this, and has many beneficial properties.

What exactly is dry ginger?

“Shunti” is the dry form of ginger, not to be confused with powdered ginger. It is a regular ginger root that has been dried a little in sun-shade (not direct sunlight) for a few days so that it looks a little dried out (more so than in the picture above).

Benefits of Dry Ginger

The qualities of dry ginger are pungent, and light, unctuous and hot. The vipaka – post-digestive taste – is sweet. It pacifies kapha and vata, particularly the kledak kapha and the samana vata of the stomach.

1. Vata decreasing

So, the confusing thing is that fresh ginger (as in a fresh root) increases Vata, but dry ginger balances it. If you have Vata symptoms such as gas or bloating, making dry ginger water is super helpful (See the recipe below).

2. Reduces constipation

Again, drinking dry ginger water in the morning can help. After balancing samana vata in the stomach, apana vata is reduced.

3. Non-drying

Whilst fresh ginger is quite drying, and therefore not good if you have a Vata imbalance, dry ginger is non-drying and can be used long-term.

4. Reduces congestion and mucous

Whilst fresh ginger increases kapha, dried ginger can decrease it. If you have seasonal colds, flu, chest infection, cough or allergies, dry ginger water should be your go-to remedy.

5. A natural painkiller

Dry ginger is used in Ayurveda to relieve all types of pain including abdominal colicky pain, joint pain, headaches and  menstrual pain.

Recipe for Dry Ginger Water

This is the easiest way to consume dry ginger.

Boil two cups of water with 1 inch piece of dry ginger. Keep simmering until the amount has reduced to 1 cup and enjoy.

If you have a question about dry ginger, leave a comment below.