Morning sickness is a common ailment when pregnant, and ginger may relieve symptoms. Ginger has been used to treat digestive disorders such as morning sickness for thousands of years in Far East medicine. Morning sickness often begins around the sixth week of pregnancy and affects nearly 50 percent of pregnant women. Ginger candy should only be used occasionally and not as a regular treatment to alleviate morning sickness.
Types of Ginger Candy
A variety of ginger candy is available, including crystallized ginger, ginger chews and ginger gum. However, some forms of candy only contain ginger flavoring and will not be effective against nausea. Read the packaging carefully to ensure real ginger is present.
Homemade Ginger Candy
Crystallized ginger can quickly be prepared in your kitchen, according to The Daily Green. Grab a small amount of ginger root at a grocery store. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the outer portion of the root. Slice into small, candy-sized cubes that you can easily chew. Measure how much ginger you have in a measuring cup and remember the amount for later use. Put the ginger into a saucepan and cover with water --- enough to cover the ginger. Cook slowly for about an hour until al dente and remove water. Add the same amount of sugar as the original amount of ginger used. Pour over ginger. Add about 2 tbsp. of water. Lower the heat and stir until ginger crystallizes and forms into clumps. When finished, lay out a piece of wax paper and sprinkle sugar on top. Lay cooked ginger on top and sprinkle again with sugar. Allow to dry and then place into airtight container.
Considerations
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, only rely on ginger on an occasional basis if you are pregnant. Do not take ginger or ginger candy for more than four consecutive days. To know exactly how much ginger you are receiving, you may want to avoid ginger candy and take a supplement instead. Food sources, including candy, ginger snaps and ginger ale, often contain less than .5 percent of ginger. The medical center recommends pregnant woman take 250 mg of ginger up to four times a day to fight morning sickness. Crystallized ginger also contains real ginger -- chew on a small piece of ginger, about 1/4 oz.
Warning
If your morning sickness causes you to lose weight or possibly become malnourished, speak to your medical doctor or midwife immediately. Though uncommon, morning sickness may lead to severe dehydration and malnutrition, according to the University of Michigan Health System. You may need to take additional medication or possibly be hospitalized.
