What is the history of alternative medicine ginger?

The ginger plant is not found in the wild, and therefore it is difficult to determine the place of its origin. However it is very clear that Ginger was used in India for cooking and medical purposes more than 2500 years back. Ginger is an important ingredient in many medical preparations as per the old Indian system of medicine called Ayurveda. These preparation have been documented in different texts of Ayurveda some of which are more than 2000 years old. Mention of Ginger is also found in Mahabharata, written much before birth of Gautama Buddha about 2500 years back.

Ginger was exported to Roman empire nearly 2000 years back where it was uses as ingredient for medicines. Ginger along with black pepper was the most commonly exported spice from India in thirteenth and fourteenth century.

Ginger spread to other parts of world from India. In fifth century AD, or even earlier, potted ginger plants were carried in ships operating on routes in Indian Ocean and South China Sea, and is now grown in many countries along that route. In sixteenth century ginger was also taken to Africa and Caribbean and is widely cultivated there.

Ginger is used widely in India as an ingredient for food, home remedies, and for making ayurvedic medicines.