Weather is acting up in my part of town, sunny the other day, then rainy the next. On fickle days like this, it's not hard to catch a nasty cold. >.<
What to do when your throat is itchy and sneezes start bothering you?
Warm up with a cup of ginger tea! Not only a refreshing beverage, ginger tea also has full health benefits.
The ordinary looking brown spice has been used since ages in eastern cultures, originating in China, for its healing properties as well as adding some spice to dishes.
Tea brewed from ginger is a folk remedy for colds. Not only that, both dried and raw forms of the ginger root has many medicinal properties. The dried ginger root is a thermogenic, expectorant, laxative, appetizer, stimulant, as well as an effective cure for stomach disorders. Therefore, the dried ginger root is usually ground and used to cure ailments such as the following:
- coughs
- colds
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- inflammations of the joints
- excessive gas in the stomache
- motion sickness
- colic
- cholera
- asthma
- headaches/migranes
- anorexia
Raw ginger is also a thermogenic, and is also an anti-flatulent, digestive, appetizer, and a laxative, according to
Buzzle.com.
Here is one way of brewing your favorite ginger tea:
Ginger & Date TeaUse as home remedy against cold, sore throat, flu, nausea and indigestion. Dried dates make this tea fruity and flavorful.
"Dates have the highest concentration of polyphenols among dried fruits," according to
Dried Fruits: Excellent in Vitro and in Vivo Antioxidants, Chemistry Department, University of Scranton, Scranton, Pennsylvania.Ingredients:
4 cups of water
1 medium size fresh ginger, cut in coins:
Use smaller size or cut in smaller sizes if you don't like much spice. I personally believe more ginger brews the better tea! ^^
5 small dried dates (optional):
I buy these dried fruits from a local Asian groceries.
1 lemon (optional)
1. Peel and cut the ginger root in slices of coins.
2. Put the water in a pot on high heat. Wait till it boils.
3. Add the ginger & dates into the boiling water.
4. Reduce the heat, cover the pot.
5. Simmer for about 30-50 minutes.
6. Strain the liquid out
7. Serve with lemon juice to taste.
After you're done with the tea, you may re-heat it for later or put it in the refrigerator for refreshing iced ginger tea!
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UPDATE*
Overview of Ginger at University of Maryland Medical Center states the following for "Medicinal Uses and Indications":
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Motion Sickness: Several studies suggest that ginger may be more effective than placebo in reducing symptoms associated with motion sickness. In one trial of 80 novice sailors (prone to motion sickness), those who took powdered ginger experienced a significant reduction in vomiting and cold sweating compared to those who took placebo. Similar results were found in a study with healthy volunteers. While these results are promising, other studies suggest that ginger is not as effective as medications in reducing symptoms associated with motion sickness. In a small study of volunteers who were given ginger (fresh root and powder form), scopolamine (a medication commonly prescribed for motion sickness), or placebo, those receiving the medication experienced significantly fewer symptoms compared to those who received ginger. Conventional prescription and non-prescription medicines that decrease nausea may also cause unwanted side effects, such as dry mouth and drowsiness. Given the safety of ginger, many people find it a welcome alternative to these medications to relieve their motion sickness.
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Pregnancy Related Nausea and Vomiting: A limited number of human studies suggests that 1 gram daily of ginger may be safe and effective for pregnancy-associated nausea and vomiting when used for short periods (no longer than 4 days). Several studies have found that ginger is more effective than placebo in relieving nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy. In a small study including 30 pregnant women with severe vomiting, those who ingested 1 gram of ginger every day for four days reported more relief from vomiting than those who received placebo. In a larger study including 70 pregnant women with nausea and vomiting, those who received a similar dosage of ginger felt less nauseous and experienced fewer vomiting episodes than those who received placebo.
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Chemotherapy nausea: There is evidence from a few studies that suggests ginger reduces the severity and duration of nausea (but not vomiting) during chemotherapy. Long-term studies should be performed to confirm these results and to establish safety.
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Nausea and vomiting following surgery: Research has produced mixed results regarding the use of ginger in the treatment of nausea and vomiting following surgery. In two studies, 1 gram of ginger root before surgery reduced nausea as effectively as a leading medication. In one of these two studies, women who received ginger also required fewer nausea-relieving medications following surgery. Other studies, however, have failed to find the same positive effects. In fact, one study found that ginger may actually increase vomiting following surgery. For this reason, further studies are needed to determine whether ginger is safe and effective for the prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting following surgery.
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Inflammation: In addition to providing relief from nausea and vomiting, ginger extract has long been used in traditional medical practices to decrease inflammation. In fact, many health care professionals today use ginger to help treat health problems associated with inflammation, such as arthritis and ulcerative colitis. In a study of 261 people with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, those who received a ginger extract twice daily experienced less pain and required fewer pain-killing medications compared to those who received placebo. Although there have also been a few other studies of the benefit of ginger for arthritis, one trial found that the herb was no more effective than ibuprofen (a medication frequently used to treat OA) or placebo in reducing symptoms of OA.
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Other uses: Although it is much too early to tell if this will benefit those with heart disease, a few preliminary studies suggest that ginger may lower cholesterol and prevent the blood from clotting. Each of these effects may protect the blood vessels from blockage and the damaging effects of blockage such as atherosclerosis, which can lead to a - Laboratory studies have also found that components in ginger may have anticancer activity. More research needs to be performed to determine the effects of ginger on various cancers in humans.
