Ginger and Indigestion

Indigestion, otherwise known as dyspepsia, is a collection of symptoms associated with eating and drinking. Characterized by feelings of fullness, abdominal pressure and pain, indigestion is often triggered by the intake of spicy or high-fiber foods, overeating, rushed meals, alcohol and stress. Limiting stress, avoiding exercise immediately after meals, eating slowly and taking commerical antacids can help treat symptoms. While the need exists for further scientific studies to confirm effectiveness and safety, certain herbs and spices such as ginger may also help indigestion.

Indigestion Education

Indigestion is characterized by a variety of symptoms. Some people experience indigestion as burping, burning, belching or bloating. For others, it involves dull pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, and excessive gas, or flatulence. Medications, particularly aspirin and ibuprofen, can affect your stomach. Serious illnesses, such as colorectal or stomach cancer, colitis, hepatitis, gallstones, irritable bowel syndrome and pancreatitis, can also cause indigestion. While simple indigestion appears primarily after eating or drinking, chronic indigestion, commonly characterized by sharp pain below the navel, should always be diagnosed by your doctor.

Ginger 101

Native to southern Asia, ginger (Zingiber officinale) is used by billions of people around the globe for culinary and medicinal purposes. Ginger, a common cooking spice, grows to two feet high and bears knife-shaped leaves and stalks of yellow or white flowers. The roots and underground stems, or rhizomes, of the ginger plant contain volatile oils and pungent phenolic compounds that constitute the source of its medicinal powers. According to Steven Foster, author of the "National Geographic Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine," modern herbal medicine considers ginger an effective remedy for digestive disorders, including food poisoning, nausea, motion sickness, inflammation and indigestion.

The Ginger Indigestion Link

Available in pickles, powders, teas, extracts and tablets, ginger help sufferers of indigestion by stimulating gastric emptying, the process of passing food from the stomach to the intestine, according to a January 2011 edition of "World Journal of Gastroenterology." Fresh ginger, extracts and powder may also help prevent and treat indigestion. To promote digestion, Dr. Deepak Chopra, author of "Perfect Digestion," recommends eating thin, peeled ginger slices, mixed with lemon juice and a pinch of salt, 30 minutes before each meal, or immediately following lunch or dinner. Although the dose may vary for children or adults with certain health conditions, the University of Maryland Medical Center suggests taking 1.5 ml to 3 ml of liquid extract, 2 g to 4 g of fresh ginger root, or 0.25 g to 1 g of powdered root to treat indigestion.

Cautions and Considerations

Always talk to your doctor before using ginger supplements or fresh ginger for medicinal purposes. While generally considered safe, excessive doses can actually cause indigestion symptoms such as gas, bloating and heartburn. Ginger may also interfere with certain blood-thinning medications such as aspirin, clopidogrel, ticlopidine and warfarin. Avoid ginger if you have gallstones or blood-clotting disorders.