In India it was know as "shringara" in Sanskrit, in ancient greek it's "Zingiberis", We know it as African Ginger. From the first century till about the early 16th century, the Arabs made it one of the most traded items to Europe. In the early 16th century Spain started grow it and now it gown anywhere the climate is humid and frost-free. Zingiber Offinalis is known as African Ginger, Black Ginger and Race Ginger.

Asarum Canadense is called Wild Ginger. The magical properties are the same the medical properties are different. These will be written about later in this article. It is also called Black Snakeweed, Canada Snakeroot, Colicroot, Coltsfoot Snakeroot, False Coltsfoot, Heart Snakeroot, Indian Ginger, Southern Snakeroot, Vermont Snakeroot. It is a member of the Birthwort family.

It is a Masculine or active herb, ruled by Mars, and belongs to the element of fire. It's magical powers are love, money, success, healing and power.

Eat Ginger before performing spells will lend them power, especially in love spells. Whole Ginger roots are planted to attract money ( you can buy them in your grocery store), or the powdered root is sprinkled into pockets or onto money for this purpose. Ginger is used in success spells, or to ensure the success of a magical operation. In the Pacific the Dobu islanders make much use of Ginger in their magic. They chew it and spit it at the "seat" of an illness to cure it, and also spit chewed Ginger at an oncoming storm, while at sea, to halt it.

The best know use of Ginger in cooking is gingerbread, but it can be added to salad dressing, stews, sauces or most oriental dishes. Rub fresh ginger on fish to remove the odor or add a little to cookies and cakes to give them a bit of spice. You can candy the root as a treat for children.

African ginger is an Adjuvant (a helper to other herbs), appetizer (helps appetite), carminative (helps gas), diaphoretic (causes sweating), sialagogue (increase saliva), stimulant (seeds up the system). Ginger tea taken hot helps purifying of the system through sweating, bring down temperature due to fever and is also said to be useful for suppressed menstruation. Take it to clear up flatulent colic or combine it with laxative herbs to make them more palatable or milder in action. Try it at the onset of a cold to ease the effects of the usual symptoms. Finally, to stimulate the flow of saliva and to soothe a sore throat, chew the root as is.

Some of the traditional herbal uses are in China for colds, coughs, flu and hangovers. In Tibet to stimulate the body after a long sickness. In Japan as a massage oil for spinal and joint problem probably for arthritis and rheumatism. It has been recommended fir menstrual cramps, headaches, sinus congestion and kidney problems. A Ginger foot bath is said to improve the whole body.

Wild Ginger is a carminative (helps gas), diaphoretic (causes sweating), sialagogue (increase saliva), irritant (causes inflammation or sensitivity). Used the same way as African Ginger, but it is an irritant and was used for birth control. I would recommend caution in it's use if you might be pregnant.

Some of Wild Ginger's more traditional use were by the American Indians who used it to disguise spoiled meat, flavor food, as a heart medicine, and to induce menstrual cycle. The pioneers used it to ease gas, to break a fever by sweating, and a tonic.