Health Quick Tips

Benefits of Ginger Tea–A Tasty Healer

In many parts of the world, ginger is valued as much for its healing properties as for its culinary uses. Scientists have learned that ginger contains dozens of powerful chemicals, which may explain why it was once known in India as vishwabhesaj–”the universal medicine.”

Ginger tea has been used for centuries as a digestive aid, but many herbalists recommend drinking it daily because it appears to have beneficial effects throughout the body. There’s some evidence that ginger tea may help block the body’s absorption of cholesterol from foods and also encourage the conversion of cholesterol to less harmful bile acids.

Ginger also improves blood flow. The blood is filled with tiny, disc-like structures called platelets, which clump together and form clots whenever you get a cut or scrape. Unfortunately, platelets also tend to clump inside the arteries, which may interfere with blood flow to the heart and brain. Ginger tea may help prevent this because it has effects that are similar to aspirin: It makes platelets “slippery” and less likely to form unnecessary clots. Because ginger tea helps improve blood flow throughout the body, it’s sometimes recommended for those with Raynaud’s disease, a condition in which circulation is reduced in the fingers and toes, causing them to turn blue or get stiff and painful.

Ginger tea is one of the safest “medicines” you can use, but you should avoid it if you’re taking aspirin or other blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin. Combining ginger with blood-thinners could reduce the ability of blood to clot normally and increase the risk of bleeding. Research suggest that it would take excessively large amounts of ginger to have this effect, but you should discuss it with your doctor to be safe.

Ginger is among the most effective remedies for nausea and vomiting. Some of the compounds in ginger, such as gingerol and shogaol, help reduce muscle contractions in the stomach and intestine. The active ingredients calm the stomach and intestine and also increase the production of saliva and other digestive juices, which may help reduce digestive discomfort.

In one study, researchers found that ginger was more effective than over-the-counter-medicines at preventing nausea caused by motion sickness. There’s also evidence that ginger my help control nausea caused by anesthesia. In a study of women who underwent gynecological surgery, scientists found that ginger was just as effective at preventing nausea as injections of a powerful prescription drug.

You don’t have to drink ginger tea to enjoy the benefits. It appears to have anti-inflammatory effects when applied to the skin. For conditions such as bunions in the feet or joint pain, some herbalists may recommend grating fresh ginger and applying it to the area for a few minutes once or twice a day. Ginger appears to reduce swelling as well as pain.

To make a tea, add 1 tsp. dried ginger (or 2 tsp. fresh) to 1 cup hot water and let steep 5 to 10 minutes.