Health Benefits of Ginger in Ayurveda | Breath of Fire – Breath of Fire Eco & Yoga Fashion

Q: What materials we use

We work with three fabrics. Three. Not thirty.Brushed Organic Cotton Jersey (220g, made in Portugal) soft, slightly thick, with a peach-skin touch. Our flagship. The Sohang, Yamala and Mahan are knitted from this.Mercerized Organic Cotton Jersey (180g, made in Portugal) lighter, smoother, with a subtle natural sheen. Our new Essence Collection uses this for models like Ankaa, Nashira, Maia.Bamboo Viscose blended with Organic Cotton (made in Turkey) cool, breathable, fluid. Used for the Lilii pants and the Mizar Kimono. Bamboo regrows in three to five years, without replanting and without irrigation.Most pieces include around 8% certified elastane, enough to hold shape over years of wear, without losing breath.We use every meter of yarn we knit. What we don't sew, we save for repairs and samples. Nothing goes to waste.

Q: Three generations of women

Three generations of women.My grandmother Johanna sewed evening dresses by hand. Long, careful, beautiful work, a kind of patience that has all but disappeared.My mother, Cornelia, learned from her. In 2004, she founded Breath of Fire. The very first piece she designed, the Sohang, was created on the floor of her living room in Switzerland, with a yoga teacher friend named Christina. It is still our flagship today.Today, I ( Pernelle) run the brand. I do not redesign what works. I extend it. The Essence Collection, launched in 2025, sits beside the Evergreen line. New silhouettes, same intention.We do not design for trends. We design for the body in practice, for the moment when the breath deepens, when the posture lengthens, when you forget what you are wearing.That is the test of a piece. Forgetting it on. Returning to it.

A knobbly root on the chopping board. The knife slides through, and the kitchen fills with a bright, peppery scent. Steam rises from the cup. When autumn arrives, ginger is the first warmth we reach for.

With autumn showing its face, ginger (our dearest and most beloved spice) becomes a precious ally against seasonal fatigue and a lovely companion to the practices that support our natural defences, such as the breathing techniques we describe for the immune system.

Ginger is one of the most treasured spices of Ayurveda, where it is sometimes called vishwabheshaj, the universal remedy. We could almost believe it has magical powers. And yet its qualities can be explained very concretely. Fresh ginger root (the rhizome, the part we eat) is mostly water, with fibre and small amounts of minerals such as magnesium and potassium. Above all, it contains aromatic compounds, the best known being gingerol, which give it its heat and many of its properties.

The traditional properties of ginger

While ginger is best known as a flavouring in Asian cuisines, it has been used for its benefits for thousands of years, in Ayurveda as well as in Chinese medicine. Here are the qualities it is most valued for. They describe a traditional use and the current state of research: ginger is a food, not a treatment, and does not replace medical care.

Cup of fresh ginger tea with slices of ginger root

Anti-inflammatory properties

Ginger contains compounds with anti-inflammatory properties. Traditionally, it is added to food and drinks, or applied as a warm ginger compress, to soothe stiff muscles and joints.

Antioxidant properties

Gingerol has both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities. Like other antioxidants found in plants, it helps the body deal with oxidative stress, which is one reason a varied, plant-rich diet is so widely recommended.

Digestion

This is where ginger shines. In Ayurveda it is said to kindle agni, the digestive fire. It is traditionally used to ease bloating and a heavy stomach, and it is one of the best-studied natural remedies for nausea. A simple Ayurvedic habit: a few thin slices of fresh ginger with a pinch of salt and a squeeze of lime, chewed a little before a meal, to wake up the appetite.

Heart and blood sugar

Researchers are studying the effects of ginger on blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Some results are encouraging, but they do not make ginger a treatment for heart disease or diabetes. If you live with one of these conditions, keep following your doctor's advice and ask before adding ginger supplements, as ginger can interact with some medications.

What people enjoy ginger for

Easing occasional nausea, for example when travelling.
Supporting digestion and soothing a heavy stomach.
Warming the body on cold days.
Soothing stiff muscles and joints, as a warm compress or in food.
Relieving period discomfort, as a warm tea.
Comforting a sore throat, with honey and lemon.

For another warming evening drink, try our golden milk, a drink well known to Kundalini yogis.

Woman in saffron Sohang yoga top and pants in organic cotton by Breath of Fire — Warm spice tones for cold days: our saffron pieces in organic cotton. See the saffron collection

Ginger in everyday life

The easiest way to enjoy ginger is to use it often, in small amounts. Grate it fresh into soups, dals and stir-fries, add it to a pot of kitchari, or slice it into hot water with lemon in the morning. In Ayurveda, fresh ginger is considered milder, dried ginger more heating and drying.

Do not overdo it: too much ginger can cause heartburn, bloating or mouth irritation. It is sometimes not recommended for people with stomach ulcers, gallstones or bowel problems. For more ideas on yogic eating, read how to eat like a yogi.

We hope this article helped you. We would love to hear from you.

Love and light, Alexia

Frequently asked questions

What is the healthiest way to consume ginger?

Ginger can be eaten raw, dried, juiced or cooked in food and drinks such as tea. Fresh ginger, grated into meals or infused in hot water, is the simplest and gentlest way to enjoy it every day.

How do I make ginger tea?

Slice 2 to 3 cm of fresh ginger into a cup of water, simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, then add lemon and a little honey if you like. Drink warm, ideally in the morning or after a meal.

Can too much ginger be harmful?

As a food, ginger is safe for most people. Beyond about 4 to 5 grams a day, it can cause mouth irritation, heartburn or digestive discomfort. Ginger can also increase the effect of blood thinners. If you take medication (especially for blood clotting, blood pressure or diabetes), have a bleeding disorder, gallstones or an ulcer, are pregnant or about to have surgery, ask your doctor before taking ginger regularly or as a supplement.

What are the benefits of ginger tea?

A cup of ginger tea warms the body, supports digestion and comforts a sore throat or a dry cough. Many people also enjoy it as a gentle morning ritual, in place of coffee.

Author: Alexia Sestito

Alexia joined our family team in 2019, endowed with great sensitivity and a pen as delicate as it is deep. Alexia writes many of our newsletters and is inspired to provide you with high-quality content. Passionate about the philosophy of yoga, Alexia takes you along from theme to theme. In addition to her work at Breath of Fire, Alexia is also a writing workshop leader.

Slice. Steep. Let the warmth rise.

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What you wear matters. The texture against skin. The breath that moves freely. Pieces that soften with the years.

Our clothes are certified organic cotton, knitted and sewn in Portugal in small batches since 2009. Natural fibers. Slow craft. Clothing for those who pay attention to what touches the body.

Near Porto, in Portugal, two small family businesses work side by side for us. The first, in one village, knits our organic cotton from scratch and dyes it to our specifications. The second, in the next village, cuts and sews. We have been visiting both every year since 2009. We know the people by name. We share meals when we visit. They have watched our collections grow alongside their own children.

During the Covid years, when organic cotton and bamboo became briefly impossible to source in Portugal, we found a second family workshop in Turkey — also ethical, also certified, also personal. About 5% of what we make passes through their hands today. The Mizar Kimono and a few Lilac pieces from past collections come from there.

Most yoga brands buy fabric from a market — pre-made rolls, ready to cut. We don't. Every meter of jersey we use is knitted from scratch to our specifications. That is why the Sohang feels the way it does. That is why a five-year-old pair softens instead of wearing thin.

A slower way of making clothes. Sometimes inconvenient. Always worth it.

Sustainability for us is not a marketing department. It is a series of small, sometimes annoying choices we have made since 2009.

We chose certified organic cotton when it was 40% more expensive than conventional or plastic fabrics. We still pay that premium today. We grow without external capital which means we cannot afford to overstock, so we don't. We use every meter of yarn we order, even when it means smaller runs and longer waits. We are 100% self funded and all the money is placed in ethical funds in a local bank.

We focus on evergreen pieces, the Sohang, the Amrit, the Amba instead of seasonal collections. Some of these designs are over a decade old and still our bestsellers. A garment worn for ten years on a body is the most sustainable thing a fashion brand can make.

Our fabrics are dyed with processes gentle enough for a baby's skin. We package in either recycled or biodegradable bags. We ship from our small warehouse in Cully (Switzerland) or our partner in Germany, never overseas.

We don't tick every box. We are not perfect. But these are the choices we make, and we make them visible.

We work with three fabrics. Three. Not thirty.

Brushed Organic Cotton Jersey (220g, made in Portugal) soft, slightly thick, with a peach-skin touch. Our flagship. The Sohang, Yamala and Mahan are knitted from this.

Mercerized Organic Cotton Jersey (180g, made in Portugal) lighter, smoother, with a subtle natural sheen. Our new Essence Collection uses this for models like Ankaa, Nashira, Maia.

Bamboo Viscose blended with Organic Cotton (made in Turkey) cool, breathable, fluid. Used for the Lilii pants and the Mizar Kimono. Bamboo regrows in three to five years, without replanting and without irrigation.

Most pieces include around 8% certified elastane, enough to hold shape over years of wear, without losing breath.

We use every meter of yarn we knit. What we don't sew, we save for repairs and samples. Nothing goes to waste.

Three generations of women.

My grandmother Johanna sewed evening dresses by hand. Long, careful, beautiful work, a kind of patience that has all but disappeared.

My mother, Cornelia, learned from her. In 2004, she founded Breath of Fire. The very first piece she designed, the Sohang, was created on the floor of her living room in Switzerland, with a yoga teacher friend named Christina. It is still our flagship today.

Today, I ( Pernelle) run the brand. I do not redesign what works. I extend it. The Essence Collection, launched in 2025, sits beside the Evergreen line. New silhouettes, same intention.

We do not design for trends. We design for the body in practice, for the moment when the breath deepens, when the posture lengthens, when you forget what you are wearing.

That is the test of a piece. Forgetting it on. Returning to it.

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Health Benefits of Ginger, Ayurveda's Treasured Spice