Properties of Ginger Tea

Ginger has been a staple of Chinese medicine for centuries.

The Chinese have used ginger, and ginger tea, as a medicinal for centuries. Ginger, Zingiber officinale, is a perennial that is native to south Asia as well as the East Indies. What is known as ginger root, actually the rhizome (underground stem), is rich in resin and oils that fight a range of internal ills and aches. Ginger tea is a particularly effective and palatable way of taking this very effective herbal medicine.

Nausea

Nausea can be alleviated with a cup of ginger tea.

Pregnant women around the world know that ginger tea can be a welcome drink when suffering from morning sickness. And even those who aren't expecting can benefit from ginger tea's bracing, stomach-settling qualities.

Colds

Ginger tea is a traditional cure for coughs and colds.

A traditional Chinese doctor will prescribe cups of steaming ginger tea at the very first hint of a cold in a patient. It is believed that drinking ginger tea will head off the worst cold symptoms or even prevent a cold entirely. Ginger tea is also soothing to sore throats. Its antibacterial qualities are also helpful in fighting colds.

Headache

Ginger tea is often used to soothe headaches.

The Chinese use ginger tea as a cure for headaches, especially the kind of headaches that are brought about by being outside in very cold weather or high winds. To make the type of ginger tea that helps to alleviate headaches, boil one and a half cups of water and add two teaspoons each of sliced fresh ginger and of brown sugar. Simmer the mixture for ten minutes and then strain into a cup and serve. This cure must be drunk three times a day for as many days as necessary.

Other Uses

Ginger tea is a warming tonic.

Ginger tea is considered to be especially efficacious for women's health. It helps energize women during menstruation, in particular. Boil between three and five slices of fresh ginger in three cups of water for several minutes, to make this tea. Then steep, strain and flavor the mixture with milk and honey, if desired.

Ginger tea is often used as a warming tonic that helps to regulate the digestion and improve circulation in general. It is also soothing to aching muscles, to the nervous system, and quells fevers and chilblains. Ginger tea is also used to treat colic, flatulence and inflammation.

Ginger tea is a warming, or diaphoretic, tea that is excellent for people who feel chilled to the bone on a winter's day.

References

• "A Woman's Book of Yoga..."; Macghelle M. Seibel et al; 2002
• "Tea Bliss..."; Theresa Cheung; 2007
• "Herbal Teas for Healthy Living"; Margaret Roberts; 2005
• UCLA Economic Botany: Ginger
• NYU Langone Medical Center: Ginger
• "The Healing Cuisine of China"; Zhuo Zhao, George Ellis; 1998

Resources

• "The Condensed Encyclopedia of Healing Foods"; Michael T. Murray et al; 2006