Ginger Tea & Gastrointestinal Problems

Ginger is a longtime herbal remedy for inflammation, pain and muscle aches. Its preeminent use, though, is treating gastrointestinal problems. It is a carminative herb, a plant that relieves intestinal gas. Ginger root, whether in dry capsules, brewed tea or natural ginger beer, can provide relief for bloating, nausea and vomiting. Fresh ginger root can also be used as a pain-relieving poultice. Do not use ginger medicinally without first speaking with a qualified health professional.

Ginger

The ginger plant grows about 3 ft high and features showy red blooms. The plant's root is used fresh or dried to prepare savory dishes as well as in candy, preserves and desserts. Ginger root's medicinal properties and its characteristic aroma are due to the components of its volatile oil. The oil, which makes up 2 percent of the root, possesses the phytochemicals zingiberine, gingerol and camphene. It is also the source of its therapeutic actions, explains Chopra.

Gastrointestinal Problems

Gastrointestinal problems can be the result of many factors, including food poisoning, stress, medical conditions or simply eating hard-to-digest foods. Metabolizing food down into components the body can use is a complicated process. Any interruption in this process can cause gastrointestinal problems. Your gastrointestinal tract consists of hollow organs that together make up the alimentary canal, which is swathed in a mucous lining. Within the lining are glands that produce digestive juices that break down food into molecules that can be absorbed by the bloodstream, states clinical herbalist David Hoffman, author of the 2000 volume, "Healthy Digestion."

Scientific Research

In a study published in the July 2011 issue of "Planta Medica," medical researchers scrutinized how chemical components of ginger act on the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, primary phytochemicals in ginger's volatile oil are two types of gingerol and shogaol were tested on laboratory animals. The study's authors concluded that gingerols and shogaols appear to reduce vomiting and nausea by interrupting the cellular process that causes these conditions.

Medicinal Uses

Ayurveda, the ancient healing system of India, holds up ginger as a "universal remedy," states Chopra. Ayurveda practitioners employ ginger, or Zingiber officinale, to treat all kinds of gastrointestinal problems, as it is considered to fire up the digestion. It is rare among plants in that it treats the three functions of the gastrointestinal system, namely digestion, assimilation and elimination. According to Hoffman, herbal remedies act differently in the body than do pharmaceutical medications. Herbs such as ginger can immediately contact the intestinal mucosa to bring relief. With many drugs, however, they must first be dissolved into the bloodstream, processed by the liver, absorbed back into the bloodstream and then carried to your cells.