Ginger or Inji in Tamil is a rhizome. It is one of the spice which is widely used in Indian cooking. Ginger when dried is called as sukku in Tamil. Ginger itself being of medicinal uses, dry ginger(sukku) has its own unique medicinal uses.Siddhar in their writings have mentioned about inji and sukku.Dry ginger should not be used as such. Its outer skin must be removed because it contains toxins. It is said in Tamil as "Chukkuku veli nanju".

• Sukku Pathu for headache : Sukku is rubbed using a stone by adding warm milk. The sandal wood stone can be used. If sandal wood stone is not available use any clean smooth stone. Sukku is rubbed until considerable amount of paste is obtained. This paste is applied on forehead to cure headache due to cold or sinus. This may sting for few seconds. This method is called sukku pathu.  Sukku pathu will help in absorbing excess water on the forehead due to cold. If there is no possibility of rubbing sukku, then sukku powder can be used instead.
• Sukku for arthiritis : The above method can be applied for pain due to arthritis.
• For Indigestion : If people are suffering from bloating or from indigestion, then a pinch of sukku powder is added with buttermilk and consumed. This gives a better relief and improves digestion.
• Sukku Malli Coffee This is one of the familiar drink which is consumed commonly when affected with cold.  Sukku Malli powder is a powder made from sukku, pepper , coriander seeds and cumin seeds. The decoction is made out this powder and jaggery is added for taste. This is one of the best remedy for throat pain due to common cold.
• Sukku Coffee : This is a very simple method to make.
  • For one cup of water add 1 teaspoon of sukku powder and bring to boil.
  • Then filter it and add candy sugar as per taste.
  • This improves digestion and relives all stomach problems like bloating, burping etc.
• Sukku for indigestion and flatulence:
  • With 1 cup of hot water, a pinch of sukku powder and a pinch of asafoetida is added.
  • Little salt is added to it and is consumed when it is in tolerable heat.
• Sukku powder is added to milk and consumed to cure urinary infections.
• One spoon of cow's ghee is mixed with 1 spoon of honey and a pinch of sukku powder. This is consumed in empty stomach in the morning to relieve from cold and cough.
• Sukku added with Lime juice when consumed is said to be a remedy for Pitham
• Sukku when chewed with vetrilai is said to cure all gastric problems.
• Sukku + Milagu powdered and decoction made out of this, when consumed is said to relieve body from tiredness and makes the body active.
• Sukku powder and Vendhaya Powder were consumed for all allergy related problems.
• Sukku consumed along with shallots is said to get rid of unwanted germs in the intestines.
• Sukku  along with 5 pepper corns and a betel leaf when chewed and drinking a cup of water will make the body defend against the poisonous bites of scorpion(thael Kadi) and centipedes(pooran kadi)
• Curd rice with a pinch of sukku powder are consumed to cure stomach ulcer.

How to powder sukku?

• Collect the sukku which is available in shop.
• Peel the outer skin of the sukku.
  • Peeling the outer skin of dry ginger is a challenging task.
  • Our ancestors have left a word about it. Just apply sunnambu over the sukku for 1mm thickness and let it dry.
  • Once it is completely dry, show it in flame. The outer cover will start to burn.
  • Remove from flame and rub with your hands.
  • The outer skin will come off completely.
• Powder it using a mixer grinder.
• There is no need sieve it. But if fine powder is required, then it can be sieved.
• Sukku powder can be used in many recipes to enhance the taste.