While no one is quite sure about the origin of ginger, it was first grown by the Chinese. In 19th century England, ginger was placed on the pub counters so that patrons could add it to their drinks. Apparently, this was the introduction of ginger ale!  Aside from this tidbit of information, ginger does have medicinal properties.

Ginger has been used to treat nausea, motion sickness and vomiting. Ginger has a long history of use for all types of digestive upset and can be helpful to increase appetite. Powdered dried ginger root is made into capsules for medicinal use. Although very effective against all forms of nausea, health officials do not recommend taking ginger root for morning sickness commonly associated with pregnancy, although it has been known to prevent morning sickness.

Research has also found ginger to be a powerful antioxidant. Ginger has also been shown in research to have a role in the natural inflammatory response of the body. In India, for example, ginger is applied as a paste to the temples to relieve headaches. Ginger has also been commonly used to treat inflammation. There are several studies that demonstrate positive results on reducing joint pain from arthritis and other inflammatory disorders. It may also have blood thinning and cholesterol lowering properties, making it effective in treating heart disease. Ginger is also used for people suffering from gallstones, because the herb promotes the release of bile from the gall bladder. It has also been used to relieve headaches. Another important advantage in the use of ginger is the compound known as cineole, which may help reduce stress.

The anti-inflammatory properties associated with ginger lessen the pain of arthritis sufferers.  It also is said to aid in the treatment of respiratory infections.  Results in animal trials showed that ginger seems to prevent or slow the rate of tumor growth in cancer. Another study showed that rats given ginger and then subjected to chemicals that induce cancer had a significant reduction in cancer than the control rats.

You may also be interested to learn that in a research study reported in the International Journal of Obesity in October 1992, shows that ginger increases weight loss by calorie burning. Researchers found that ginger made the tissues use more energy.  Ginger is very safe for a variety of complaints. Occasional heartburn seems to be the only documented side effect. However, it increases stamina; eases cold symptoms; soothes and promotes healing of minor burns and skin inflammations; is a digestive aid for nausea, vomiting, cramps and motion sickness.

While the health benefits of ginger are many, its efficacy is more potent when purchased fresh. Grating or using a garlic press will give you the maximum benefit.

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While choosing the right plants and flowers for your backyard garden is important for making it look beautiful, the best gardens also incorporate local wildlife for that special touch.  Here are a few tips to help make your backyard garden more attractive to your animal neighbors.

Most living creatures need a steady supply of water to survive.  While animals may stop by your backyard, they’re going to keep on moving if they don’t find fresh water available.  You can supply this water by installing a pond, adding a bird bath, or even putting out a bucket to collect rain water.

When I go into my mother’s backyard garden, I feel like Snow White.  There are squirrels, birds, rabbits, and chipmunks everywhere you look.  She doesn’t have a bird bath.  She doesn’t provide animals with shelter.  She doesn’t even have a garden.  All she does is feed them.  Especially in the winter, animals will go where the food is.  If you put food out regularly, you should eventually have a host of wildlife.  Having readily available food will also help deter your yard animals from eating items in your garden.  Just be careful, eventually you will get predators in your yard, including cats and even birds of prey.

Along with food and water, animals also require shelter to live.  You can attract birds to your garden by putting in houses and supplying them with nesting material.  You should also consider shelter for other animals, such as insects and small rodents.   Leaving small areas of your garden unmanicured, or putting leaves around will provide these smaller (but not less important ) animals a place to stay.

While food, water and shelter are the most important factors for attracting wildlife, there are a few other steps you can take.  To attract specific insects, you should put certain plants in your garden.  If you’re unsure, remember that species natural to your area will probably attract most local wildlife.  You should also remember to keep your soil healthy and looses so insects can feel welcome.

By taking a few small steps, you can help your garden attract lots of local wildlife.  Just remember that animals are usually creatures of habit and it will take a while for them to change.

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Rose gardens are a beautiful addition to any lawn.  They not only improve the beauty and atmosphere; they’re also a great outlet to relieve stress.  The problem is: if you’ve never done it before, starting a rose garden can be pretty daunting.  Here are a few tips and suggestions to help make rose gardening a little bit easier.

The first thing you need to do is decide what kind of roses you’d like to plant.  There are lots of varieties to choose from.  A good way to get started is to visit local rose gardens and the gardens of your family and friends.  Your decision should be based not only on what looks best, but also on how much space you have, and how harsh the winter conditions are in your area.

Once you know what kind of roses you want, you need to start planning and preparing your garden.  The spot you choose to plant should get at least 6 hours of sunlight a day.  You should also be aware of the landscaping in your yard.  If you have an area that floods during heavy rains, that’s probably not the best spot for your roses.   Once you’ve picked a spot; prepare the area by working compost or humus into the soil.  You can use excess humus mixed with manure to plant your bushes.  After planting is done, cover your garden bed with mulch for extra protection.

Once your bushes are planted, they will still require some care; including watering, fertilizing, and pruning.  Bushes should be watered at the base of the plant with about an inch of water once per week.  The amount of water used should be adjusted depending on how hot it is outside and how much rain you’ve gotten.  Fertilizer should be applied about every 6 weeks, starting in mid-spring and ending some time in August.  While you can prune dead or diseased growth during the growing season, any major pruning should be done in early spring while the plant is still dormant.

While maintaining a healthy rose garden requires a lot of work, taking these steps will help get you started in the right direction.

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