How to Make a Ginger Compress

We all know that drinking ginger tea can help to soothe an upset stomach or ease nausea and morning sickness. But applying ginger to the skin is also recommended by some other health advisors to ease chronic pain in the back or abdomen, assist in drug detox treatments, and gradually improve infertility.

Blood and Qi flow (adequate circulation) are the balancing features of healthy organ function, and applying ginger to the skin can help bring blood circulation to the affected area. Since the abdomen, lower back, and lungs are energetically connected, a ginger compress placed over adrenal glands may also improve breathing and energy and is relaxing for lower back strains.

  1. Bring 2 quarts of water to nearly a boil.

  2. Rinse then finely grate about 1 cup of raw ginger.

  3. Squeeze about 1/2 cup of liquid from the grated ginger into the very hot water, allowing the ginger enzymes to be released into the water.

  4. Carefully dip a clean towel into the ginger water, wringing it to remove excess water.

  5. Check the temperature to not burn the area where you will place the towel-it should feel warm but not burning.

  6. Place the wet towel over the kidneys or lower abdomen and cover the towel with another dry towel to keep the warmth inside.

  7. Repeat this several times when the wet ginger towel cools.

This Ginger Compress can be done once a week as needed to ease chronic pain and cramps from stagnant Qi, internal cold, or irregular menstrual periods. Avoid this treatment if you have a fever or may be pregnant.

Other compresses Roger discusses in his Barefoot Homecare weekend module, include the cooling and detoxifying salt compress, as well as various cooling food compresses made with taro, chlorophyll, buckwheat, and miso. They follow the energy principles of the Five Elements and Tastes: sour gathers and is astringent; bitter scatters energy, sweet sedates, salty softens and dissolves lumps, and pungent increases Qi. When Vick’s VapoRub, which contains camphor, eucalyptus, and menthol, is applied on the chest, we inhale a fragrant steam of ginger water or essential oils.

*Note that young children and very weak or pregnant people should avoid the ginger compress.

Follow @healingnutrition on Instagram

Andrea Lomanto