A tropical perennial herb native to India, Ginger is now cultivated in China, south east Asia, the Pacific islands, Australia, and Africa. The Latin word "zingiber" derives from the ancient Tamil word "ingiver" that menas ginger rhizome. The term spread to Greece and Rome via Arab traders and from there to Western Europe. In second century AD Rome, a levy was charged at the port of entry - one of very few commodities to command that. In the Middle Ages, ginger and pepper were the most common and precious spices. In Ayurveda, ginger was considered a universal cure and in traditional Chinese medicine, it was considered a warming remedy for the lungs and digestive organs. In modern medicine, ginger is also suggested for the treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy, menstrual pain, and to prevent motion and seaseakness. It is also recognized as anti-inflammatory and beneficial for arthritis and rheumatism. It is widley used in the cuisines of China, Japan, India, and many other Asian countries.