6 Medicinal Benefits & Uses of Sukku | Dry Ginger | Sonth for Health, Skin & Hair
I always have dry ginger at home. Dry ginger is called sukku in Tamil and sonth in Hindi. Dry ginger is our regular ginger which has been dried. To make dry ginger, the fresh ginger is soaked in water, after which the outer coating is removed and then it is sun dried to get white coated dry ginger. Me and my family use it extensively in home remedies. Dry ginger has been used in home remedies for centuries. Dried ginger is also a good source of vitamins and minerals and it has been proven to be an effective antioxidant. Though dry ginger is the dried form of the regular ginger, it has more stronger flavor than the regular ginger. Each type of ginger also have their unique uses in home remedies and we never interchange them in remedies. Dry ginger stores well and I always sun dry it well before storing it. Since I am recording all the home remedies in the blog, you will find a lot of remedies based on dry ginger. It has been a common belief that dry ginger is mainly used for indigestion, but it is also used for treating weight loss, hair, cold, sinus, arthritis & indigestion.- Dry ginger for sinus & arthritis:
- Dry ginger for hair :
It is a tradition for Indian women to have oil bath on Fridays and then visit a Temple. Traditionally sesame oil is heated with spices like dry ginger, pepper corns, cumin seeds and garlic pods and then when the oil comes to lukewarm temperature, the oil is massaged well into the scalp. The oil should be lukewarm and should be massaged well into the scalp. One feels really refreshed and relaxed after a hot oil massage. I think in this fast pace of life, we should try to include these kind of age old traditions to keep us relaxed. Because we add spices like dry ginger, this oil can be safely used even in winter to be massaged into the scalp. You can find the method here
- Dry ginger for weight loss:
- Dry ginger for digestion:
Dry ginger ground in butter milk is an effective home remedy for flatulence and proper functioning of digestive system. Good and effective digestion is one of the key to healthy weight loss. To make this remedy, grind the dry ginger with one day old butter milk (butter milk which is a bit sour) and crystal salt to a fine paste. Thin it down with fresh buttermilk. The mixture should be thin. If you are not able to grind it finely, strain the mixture. This remedy can be safely given to children, but reduce the quantity of dry ginger for them. Drink this once and you will feel better in no time. This is not bitter at all, only a bit spicy to drink.
- Dry ginger for cold:
Dry ginger also can be used in foot baths.This foot bath clears chest congestion and even relieves head aches. To make the foot bath, first make the ginger infusion by mixing dry ginger paste with hot water and set aside. Take mustard seeds and pound them in a mortar and pestle to a fine powder. Sprinkle the ground mustard powder in a tub, that you are going to soak your feet in. Add warm water to it and then add the ginger infusion to it and mix well. Check the temperature of the water before soaking your feet. Make sure that the water is in lukewarm temperature. If the person has cold or chest congestion, it is best to cover them with warm towels, while using the foot bath. You can find the method here
6. Dry ginger for babies:
This dry ginger milk actually aids in digestion and it is a good remedy for loss of appetite in children. Try this milk on young kids, who keep repeating that they are not hungry. They usually get their appetite very soon. Nowadays they serve dry ginger milk as a dessert, in most of the marriages I visit. Drinking dry ginger milk is an acquired taste, but once you start liking it, you will be hooked just like me. Some people make this by adding dry ginger powder and sugar to milk. But I prefer adding fresh dry ginger to whole milk, after pounding it in a mortar and pestle, along with little sugar. If you boil it for a long time after adding dry ginger, the milk will curdle and also keep the flame on medium low. The amount of dry ginger you should add, depends on the age of the person, because this milk is quite spicy. For young children, a small piece will do. If you like palm candy, add it instead of sugar, it goes very well with this milk. It is very comforting to drink this milk on a cold night
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