Ginger for Upset Stomach
Author: Marilyn Pokorney
The common ginger root used in cooking has been found to alleviate nausea, indigestion, and motion sickness. For motion sickness ginger is more effective than the common Dramamine, says the British medical journal Lancet.
Physicians in Europe found that 250 mg. of common ginger stops the nausea and vomiting of mothers-to-be. A study with 80 Danish naval cadets unaccustomed to sailing heavy seas found that one gram of ginger reduced vomiting and cold sweating. Fewer symptoms of nausea and vertigo were also reported. The magic ingredient is gingerol, the active ingredient in ginger. It works with the gastrointestinal tract and does not interact with the nervous system so it has no side effects of toxicity.
A 1/2 teaspoon of ginger is as effective as Dramamine in relieving motion sickness and is equal to 940 mg. A ginger tea can be made by measuring one teaspoon of powdered ginger in a cup of boiling water or fruit juice. Another method of using ginger is to use essential oil of ginger. Fill a bowl with boiling water, put in one drop of ginger per pint of water used, cover your head and inhale for 5 minutes with your eyes closed.
For morning sickness drink ginger ale or ginger tea, eat ginger snaps or take 250 mg. of ginger four times daily. Using 1/8 teaspoon of powdered ginger 4 times a day relieved morning sickness in pregnant women. During pregnancy, the total daily dose should not exceed one gram daily. For others, the daily dose may approach two to three grams if needed. For prevention of motion sickness, begin taking three to four hours before the planned trip. The active ingredient in ginger is gingerol, so when purchasing a ginger extract, make sure it is standardized in an 11:1 concentration. The recommended dose of the extract is 1,000 mg. While ginger is safe for most people, if there is a history of heartburn or gallstones, a doctor should be consulted before use.