The underground stem of the ginger plant, Zingiber officinale has a long safe history of use in herbal medicine. It is also common as a cooking spice in Asian, Indian, and Arabic cuisine. Side effects are rare. Talk to your child's pediatrician if you have questions about the safety of ginger for your child.
Children and Ginger Root Tea
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, ginger root should not be given to children under the age of 2. Older children may use ginger but in amounts lower than those used by adults. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that for medicinal uses most herbal doses are based upon an adult weighing 150 lbs. This means that a child weighing 50 lbs. should receive one-third of the typical adult dose.
Uses
Ginger may be used by children or adults for the relief of nausea and indigestion. It may be useful for treating and preventing motion sickness. A study published in 1988 in the medical journal "Acta Otolaryngology" demonstrated that novice sailors taking ginger root experienced significantly fewer symptoms of seasickness. Ginger root has also been used to reduce nausea associated with chemotherapy and postoperative nausea.
Safety Considerations
At very high doses, ginger may result in heartburn or diarrhea and may cause irritation inside the mouth. Ginger root tea may interact with some prescription and over-the-counter medications. Individuals taking blood-thinning medications should talk to their doctors before drinking ginger root tea. Ginger may interfere with clotting although no interactions with these medications have been reported.
Preparation Guidelines
The underground stem of the ginger plant, known as the rhizome, is used as an herb or flavoring in foods and beverages. Tea may be prepared from fresh or dried powdered ginger. If the fresh rhizome is used, it should be grated into fine slivers. Steep the ginger for approximately 10 minutes in boiling water.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Ginger
- "Acta Otolaryngology"; Ginger Root Against Seasickness: A Controlled Trial on the Open Sea., A. Grontved, et al.; 1988
- "American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology"; The Efficacy of Ginger for the Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting: a Meta-analysis; N. Chaiyakunapruk, et al.; January 2006
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