Tumeric and ginger for sinus infection

A recent article by Kelli Mae Willis gives us an insight of what Tumeric and ginger can do for our body. Excerpts are as follows:

[ Turmeric is a warming herb that relieves inflammation in the body. Many

of the foods that are central to the American diet, such as grains,

bread, and conventional animal fats, can contribute to excess

inflammation in the body. Inflammatory illnesses include allergies,

arthritis, asthma, and skin rashes such as eczema and psoriasis. Though

each of these ailments have very different symptoms, they are all

results of a similar imbalance in the body.

Turmeric is one of the best anti-inflammatory herbs, and doesn’t need

to be taken as a pill or tincture to be effective. Simply cooking

regularly with turmeric can help balance these problems.
Turmeric can also be taken in larger doses by drinking a teaspoon in

water 1-3 times a day. As a digestive aid, add turmeric to apple cider

vinegar, water, and honey to taste. The warming properties of turmeric

will increase “digestive fire.”

I have had great success with using turmeric during sinus infection as

well. If you have a sore throat, gargle with warm water and salt, apple

cider vinegar, turmeric, or cayenne powder. In India, I was instructed

to breathe in the steam from toasted turmeric powder to relieve sinus

pressure and congestion. I usually use turmeric powder rather than the

fresh root as it is more widely available and stronger medicinally.

Ginger is known in Chinese medicine as a panacea – an herb with

hundreds of applications. The easiest place to bring ginger into your

kitchen is in tea. Chop up about ½-1” of fresh ginger root into slices

and simmer in enough water for a cup of tea for 10-15 minutes. This

process is known as decocting an herb, and is commonly used to extract

denser plant parts like roots and bark.

Ginger tea is a remedy for many ailments, but especially stomachaches.

We are more familiar with ginger ale to relieve stomach sickness, but

ginger tea can be even more soothing. It acts as a digestive aid, adds

heat to the digestive fire, and also helps to dispel gas in the belly.]