Ancient Remedies in Your Kitchen: The Health Benefits of Garlic, Ginger, and Green Onions

In TCM, green onions, ginger, and garlic are valued for restoring balance and supporting the body’s natural defenses.

Green onions, ginger, and garlic are widely recognized for their potential in cancer prevention. Ostranitsa Stanislav/Shutterstock

Green onions, ginger, and garlic are more than aromatic seasonings—they also possess medicinal properties. Adding them to your diet can help support cardiovascular health and may even contribute to cancer prevention. However, it is essential to eat them in the right combinations and amounts.

Health Benefits and Uses of Garlic

Garlic is widely regarded as one of the most powerful foods for cancer prevention, thanks to its key compound, allicin. A 2022 review found that allicin can inhibit the growth of various types of tumors, particularly stomach and colorectal cancers.

Beyond its potential anticancer effects, garlic also supports cardiovascular health by slowing vascular aging, lowering blood pressure, and preventing atherosclerosis or the buildup of plaque in the arteries. A dose-response trial found that hypertensive patients who took aged garlic extract capsules for 12 weeks experienced an average systolic blood pressure reduction of nearly 12 mmHg compared with the control group.

The medicinal benefits of garlic have been recognized for centuries. In the classical Chinese text “Essential Notes of Materia Medica (Ben Cao Bei Yao),” garlic is described as a remedy that stimulates appetite, strengthens the spleen, supports organ function, and wards off epidemics. Garlic is believed to help regulate the body’s energy flow, promoting healthy digestion and a stronger immune system.

People in ancient times also discovered its anti-inflammatory properties, using it to treat hemorrhoids and fistulas. Some even burned garlic stalks into ash and applied it to wounds to help reduce inflammation.

A 2024 comprehensive review showed that garlic possesses antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties, while also protecting the liver, kidneys, and digestive system.

Potential Risks of Excessive Garlic Consumption

While garlic offers numerous health benefits, it is important to eat it in moderation. A daily intake of three to five cloves is sufficient, as excessive consumption may have adverse effects on the eyes and lungs.

This is particularly relevant for people with poor vision. I once had a patient who loved eating garlic but experienced red, irritated eyes afterward. I advised him to drink a cup of strong tea after eating garlic, which helped alleviate the issue.

Additionally, people with stomach ulcers or acid reflux should be mindful of their garlic intake. Garlic, especially when eaten raw, can irritate the stomach lining and potentially worsen symptoms.

Getting Rid of Garlic Breath

Garlic has a strong, lingering odor that can persist after eating, which may be unpleasant or embarrassing. A simple trick to reducing garlic breath is to eat a few peanuts or drink a glass of milk after eating it. The proteins in peanuts and milk bind to the sulfur compounds in allicin, effectively neutralizing the odor.

Health Benefits and Uses of Green Onions

Like garlic, green onions contain sulfur compounds with antibacterial properties and may help reduce the risk of cancer.

A comparative study found that sulfur compounds extracted from green onions and garlic can inhibit tumor cell proliferation. At certain concentrations, these compounds are nontoxic to normal cells while still exerting antitumor effects.

Additionally, green onions can help relieve constipation because of their pectin content, a type of soluble dietary fiber. Pectin increases stool moisture, promoting healthy bowel movements.

Green onions are an essential ingredient in Asian cuisine. Xi anni/The Epoch Times

Green onions are a versatile ingredient that can elevate simple dishes while offering health benefits. Below are two easy recipes that make the most of their flavor and medicinal properties.

Stir-Fried Pork with Green Onions: Recipe

A simple and flavorful dish made with tender pork and fragrant green onions.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil or other cooking oil
• 200 grams (about 7 ounces) pork belly or pork shoulder, thinly sliced
• 1/2 tablespoon cooking wine (optional)
• 4–5 stalks green onions, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
• Pinch of white pepper (optional)

Instructions:

1. Heat the sesame oil in a skillet or wok over medium heat.
2. Add the pork slices and stir-fry until they begin to brown and the fat starts to render.
3. Add the cooking wine, if using, and continue stir-frying for another minute.
4. Add the green onions and stir-fry for 1–2 minutes, until they are tender but still bright green.
5. Season with soy sauce, salt, and white pepper. Stir well to combine.
6. Serve hot with rice or as a side dish.

This simple yet flavorful dish is easy to prepare. The richness of the pork fat combined with the natural sweetness of green onions makes for a delicious and satisfying meal. Eating this dish regularly may help support digestive health and reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

Green Onion Soup: Recipe

A simple traditional remedy to support your immune system and ease early cold symptoms.

Ingredients:

• 500 milliliters (16.9 fluid ounces) water
• 3 green onions (use the lower white part), finely chopped

Instructions:

1. Bring the water to a boil in a small pot.
2. Add the chopped green onions and let simmer for 1 minute.
3. Turn off the heat, cover the pot, and let the soup steep for another minute.
4. Strain out the green onions and drink the soup while it is warm.

As the seasons change, fluctuations in temperature can increase susceptibility to colds. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the lower white part of the green onion is commonly used as a cold remedy. TCM practitioners believe that green onions help induce sweating, expel cold, and improve circulation—supporting the body’s natural flow of qi (energy) and blood while also warming the body.

You can also cook the green onion soup with white rice to make a soothing porridge that can help ease cold symptoms.

Health Benefits and Uses of Ginger

Ginger root contains two powerful anticancer compounds: gingerol and shogaol. The older the ginger, the more gingerol it contains. Research has shown gingerol can destroy tumor cell mitochondria, induce apoptosis (cell death), and inhibit cancer cell metastasis.

When fresh ginger is heated, gingerol converts into shogaol. A 2023 study found that shogaol can induce apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. Additionally, when taken alongside the targeted cancer therapy drug gefitinib, it may help prevent cancer cells from developing drug resistance.

To maximize these benefits, try incorporating ginger into your cooking. You can use it to enhance the flavor of vegetable dishes, neutralize fishy odors from soups, or brew a cup of brown sugar ginger tea on cold days—all of which provide both gingerol and shogaol.

Eating Ginger in Summer

In TCM, foods and herbs can be classified based on their cooling or warming properties. Eating cool or cold-natured foods has a cooling effect on the body, while warm or hot-natured foods help generate internal warmth.

As the Chinese saying goes, “Eat radish in winter and ginger in summer, and you will stay healthy without a doctor.” Ginger has a warming nature, and eating it during the summer can help expel internal cold and warm the stomach.

During hot weather, many people turn the air conditioning to its lowest setting and drink ice-cold beverages. While this may feel refreshing, it can harm the digestive system.

In TCM, the stomach and its corresponding organ, the spleen, function best in warmth and do not respond well to excessive cold. Overloading the body with cold foods and drinks is believed to increase cold energy in the stomach and spleen, potentially leading to digestive issues such as stomach pain and diarrhea.

Therefore, even in summer, it is important to keep the digestive system warm. A great way to do this is by adding ginger to meals and soups. Consider stir-frying shredded ginger with king oyster mushrooms and pork strips for a light yet flavorful dish, or add a few slices of ginger to mung bean soup to balance its cooling effect.

Strengthening the spleen and stomach helps eliminate excess cold and dampness from the body.

According to TCM’s organ system theory, the spleen is more than an anatomical organ—it represents an energy system that also governs the pancreas and digestive tract. When the spleen is weakened by excessive cold, the body’s fluid metabolism slows down, leading to dampness. This can result in symptoms such as bloating, fatigue, and joint pain. Once dampness is expelled, the body feels lighter and more energized.

For those who often experience cold hands and feet in winter, a cup of ginger black tea can help warm the body quickly.

Ginger Black Tea: Recipe

A warming, comforting drink that helps dispel cold and soothe the stomach.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon freshly grated mature ginger (or 1–2 teaspoons ginger juice)
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) hot black tea
• 1–2 teaspoons brown sugar (adjust to taste)

Instructions:

1. Wash a piece of mature ginger thoroughly and grate it into a fine paste.
2. Brew a cup of black tea.
3. Stir in the grated ginger (or ginger juice) and add brown sugar to taste.
4. Mix well and enjoy while hot.

Ginger tea is an excellent natural remedy for keeping the body warm. Luis Echeverri Urrea/Shutterstock

Alternatively, you can buy brown sugar ginger cubes from the supermarket. Simply brew a cup of black tea and add a cube for an instant warming drink.

If you do not like the fibrous texture of grated ginger, you can substitute it with ginger juice. Drinking ginger black tea warms the stomach and helps dispel cold, leaving you feeling cozy and relaxed.

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