The Amazing Health Benefits of Ginger Tea — So Easy to Make
Ginger is crucial in the herbal medicine cabinet
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The health benefits of ginger
My first interest in ginger root began after reading about how it was used to treat seasickness for fishermen at sea and found to be quite effective.
I have found ginger to be quite useful in the kitchen and for medicinal purposes for my family — particularly in the treatment of various “tummy ailments.”
I always try and make the strongest ginger tea with manuka honey to keep my voice in shape. — Anne-Marie
Medicinal ginger:
The medicinal use of ginger goes back 5000 years when it was considered a tonic to treat all ailments in ancient China and in India. Long used for culinary and medicinal purposes, ginger can be consumed fresh, in powder form, as an oil or juice, as a dried spice or used in tinctures, extracts, or taken by capsule or lozenge.
Commonly produced in Fiji, Australia, Jamaica, Indonesia, and India, ginger is a part of the family Zingiberaceae (as are Cardamom and turmeric.) Aside from the particularly effective, natural nausea-fighting benefits of ginger, the root system, or rhizome, of the ginger plant has multiple health benefits.
Possible health benefits include:
- reducing nausea and vomiting for pregnant women
- reducing motion sickness and other forms of nausea
- reduces risks of peptic ulcers
- relieves stomach pain
- aids in digestion
- reduces gas and bloating
- helps boost circulation
- helps with pain and inflammation
- can also be helpful in treating colds or flu.
Still not convinced? The National Center for Biotechnology Information, in a study entitled “Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ginger in Health and Physical Activity: Review of Current Evidence” concluded that:
The anticancer potential of ginger is well documented and its functional ingredients like gingerols, shogaol, and paradols are the valuable ingredients which can prevent various cancers.
How to make Ginger Tea
The Spruce Eats website provides this recipe for making ginger tea to treat your tummy ailments:
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons ginger root (fresh, raw, about 2 inches of ginger root)
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups water
- 1 to 2 tablespoons honey (or agave nectar, to taste)
- Optional: 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (juice of 1/2 lime)
Instructions for preparing tea:
First, prepare the fresh ginger by peeling it and slicing it thinly to maximize the surface area. This will help you make a very flavorful ginger tea. Boil the ginger in water for at least 10 minutes. For a stronger and tangier tea, allow to boil for 20 minutes or more, and use more slices of ginger. Remove it from the heat and add the lime juice and honey (or agave nectar) to taste and enjoy your ginger tea.
Author’s note: I have never tried it with lime juice, but I have often added lemon or honey to the ginger teas that I have made. The addition of honey adds flavor and additional benefits, including vitamin C and antibacterial properties.
While personally, I do not mind the pungent flavor or the warmth that blooms in my belly when I sip this tea; I can always tell just how sick a family member is by their willingness to drink it. I find that making it sweeter for them helps in their ability to “take their medicine.” Don’t be afraid to play with the flavor but keep it on the healthier side — you don’t want to consume tons of sugar with your healthy drink.
Interesting additives:
- fresh sprigs of mint
- lemon juice
- cinnamon
- brown sugar
- honey
- my personal favorite — a dash of non-dairy coffee creamer!
A great article combining lemon, ginger and turmeric:
Christina Ward is a poet and mom from NC. Stay in touch for book releases. Fiddleheads & Floss Poetry
