Ginger root is an integral part of Asian and Arabic herbal traditions, used to treat gastrointestinal issues, including upset stomach, diarrhea and nausea, for more than 2,000 years, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, UMMC. The root has an inedible brown outer skin and a beige or yellow fibrous interior. The most common method of administering ginger for nausea is infusion --- tea.
Why Tea?
You don't need to drink tea to relieve your nausea. Actually, you can derive the same benefits from chewing a piece of ginger root or eating foods that contain ginger. The issue with eating ginger is that the condition causing the nausea may also affect your ability to eat or keep food down. If your nausea includes vomiting, a tea may sit easier on your stomach than a cookie. Additionally, ginger root has a very strong flavor and some people may prefer the diluted flavor of the tea to chewing the root.
Tea From Ginger Root
You can make the tea from fresh, preserved or dried ginger root. You can also buy ginger tea in bags or loose in the health food section of most grocery stores. Premade ginger teas may include other things, such as lemon, for flavor or additional medicinal properties. To make it fresh, cut off a thumb-sized piece of the root, remove the outer skin and shred or grate the root into a cup. Pour 8 oz. of hot water over the grated root, cover the cup and let it steep for 20 minutes. To make it from preserved or dried ginger root, put 1 tbsp. of the root in a cup, add 8 oz. of hot water, cover the cup and let it steep for 25 minutes. For storebought teas, follow the manufacturer's brewing instructions.
Tea From Ginger Tinctures
A ginger tincture is made from ginger root infused in an alcohol base. You can find these tinctures in health food stores in either single-serve portions or in bottles with stopper tops. Tinctures are easier and quicker to administer than fresh root because the infusion part of the process is already complete. You can also carry the tinctures with you for acute cases of nausea, such as from seasickness. To make a tea from tincture, pour 8 oz. of hot or cold water into a cup. Add the entire single-serve container of ginger tincture or add 10 drops from the larger bottle and drink immediately.
Considerations
Excessive ginger use may cause diarrhea and heartburn. Do not drink more than 3 cups of ginger tea per day. People on blood thinners and children under age two should not use ginger. Children over age two who weigh 50 pounds or less should use one-third the adult dose of ginger.
References
- "The Herbal Drug Store"; Linda B. White, M.D., et al; June 2000
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Ginger
