Everyone suffers from nausea, indigestion or upset stomach from time to time. Rather than reaching for the Pepto or Tums, think natural and try ginger.
Ginger has been used in Asia for thousands of years to treat a variety of ailments, but it’s most commonly known as a cure for nausea. Ginger is especially helpful for nausea from pregnancy, chemotherapy, motion sickness or flu and even has some scientific studies to back it up.
How to Use Ginger
Ginger is a root and often used in cooking. If you want to start using fresh ginger, buy a small chunk of the root (organic is best). If you know you won’t use it much, stick it in the freezer. The root will dry out after probably a couple weeks. If you keep it in the freezer, just pull it out and grate a little to use. The trick with fresh ginger is thinking to use it. Some recipes will call for it, especially in Asian-inspired dishes, but it’s really a very versatile spice. Add some fresh ginger to stir-frys, sauces, homemade salad dressings or beverages. For those who juice, ginger is the best ingredient. It’s so fragrant and a bit spicy, which adds some character and complexity to simple juices. Play around with how much to use and where – some people don’t like the spicy flavor so you want to be careful not to overdo ginger.
More simple food options for ginger include tea, chews, hard candies and drinks. Reeds is one brand that makes ginger chews, but there are surely others as well. Look for something natural and simple. Avoid ginger candies with a lot of sugar or other ingredients. Health stores will also carry ginger ales and ginger beers. Again, look for something with minimal ingredients and preferably natural or organic. For tea, you can either buy ginger tea or simply steep grated ginger in boiling water for a few minutes to make your own (bonus for adding some lemon and/or honey to the tea). This ginger, lemon, honey tea is great for cold and flu since all the ingredients are powerful medicines with a variety of healthy properties. Ginger is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti nausea and anti carcinogen.
For a more medicinal approach, you can find tinctures or capsules at any health food store. If you’re pregnant, make sure you consult with your doctor or midwife about using ginger medicinally. They can recommend a dosage and discuss any cautions with you. In general, herbs are very safe and have minimal side effects, but it’s always wise to consult your health care practitioner before using as they could interact negatively with other medications and supplements.
Have you ever tried ginger as a cure for nausea? How did it work? Do you have other suggestions for others in how to use ginger? Share your experiences in the comments.
{Photo Credit: notafish}