- Ginger For Upset Stomach
By: 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. Researchers recommend 1,500 mg. of ginger approximately
30 minutes before travel. An alternative is a 12 oz. glass of
ginger ale. Another study found that a 940 mg. dose of ginger
was effective if it was consumed 20 to 25 minutes before travel.
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.
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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. |
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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.
For more information on ginger,
extracts, oils, and more, visit:
http://www.apluswriting.net/health/ginger.htm
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