Ginger Tea Advantages

Native to Asia, ginger is a rhizome or an underground stem. It's used as both a spice and an herb in cooking, but has also been used for its medicinal properties for centuries. Ginger is a pungent herb, and when you make ginger tea to enjoy some of its advantages, a little goes a long way. Speak to your doctor before you drink ginger tea if you are taking blood-thinning medications, and watch out for side effects such as heartburn, mouth irritation or mild diarrhea.

Menstrual Cramps

A cup of ginger tea can be a suitable alternative to taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen, to soothe menstrual cramps. Some physicians have prescribed ginger to treat menstrual cramps since the beginning of the 20th century, according to James A. Duke, a botanist and author of "The Green Pharmacy Guide to Healing Foods." Ginger has at least six analgesic and six anti-cramping compounds.

Motion Sickness and Nausea

One of the best-known properties of ginger is its ability to treat nausea relating to conditions such as motion sickness or pregnancy. It's the active compounds in ginger known as gingerols and shogaols that help to quell nausea. In a systematic review in the "British Journal of Anaesthesia" in 2000, researchers looked at the findings of six studies on taking ginger for nausea and vomiting, including seasickness, morning sickness and chemotherapy-induced nausea. They concluded that the studies collectively favored ginger over placebo.

Pain

Pain-related conditions such as osteoarthritis and headaches are among the most common ailments in America. Researchers have investigated ginger's pain-relieving benefits for various conditions such as osteoarthritis, muscle pain, cramps and headaches. In one study published in the "Journal of Pain" in September 2010, researchers found that daily consumption of ginger led to moderate-to-large decreases in muscle pain resulting from eccentric exercise.

Colds and Flu

If your grandmother ever told you to drink a cup of ginger tea to relieve a cold or the flu, she was on to something. Compounds in ginger called sesquiterpenes can specifically attack and kill rhinoviruses, which are the most prevalent cold-causing viruses. Anti-inflammatory compounds in ginger can also help to relieve congestion and a stuffy nose. Ginger also contains chemicals that can suppress coughs. If the flu is causing joint or muscle pain, drinking ginger tea can provide relief.