What Are the Benefits of Ginger Tea for a Cold?

Modern medical science tends to look down upon the natural, homeopathic remedies that humans have relied on for thousands of years. However, the medical community is starting to revive traditional natural remedies like ginger, which is an important part in the treatment of conditions like nausea, stomach upset, colds and flu. Ginger's benefits are natural, but you have to be careful when using it in home remedies.

History

• Ginger root has been used for thousands of years in Asia and India to treat stomach and digestive tract issues, as well as for general cooking purposes. Ginger is originally from Asia but can be grown anywhere there is a moist, tropical environment. This makes it an inexpensive and natural alternative for treating cold symptoms. Today it can be found in many grocery stores, drugstores and natural food supermarkets.

Benefits

• Ginger is traditionally served in liquid form when used medicinally to treat cold symptoms. This preserves the oils found in the ginger root that are considered to be beneficial and allows them to coat the digestive tract and relieve inflammation. Ginger also decreases nausea, according to a study published in the "British Journal of Anaesthesia". This study found ginger to be effective in cases of morning sickness, seasickness and chemotherapy-induced nausea.

Forms of Ginger

• Ginger can be taken in many forms. It can be shredded from ginger root and steeped in hot water. It can be powdered, mixed with water and then boiled so that the vapors can be inhaled. Small bottles of the active oils found in ginger root can be bought in drugstores. Ginger can even be chewed like a piece of gum. Certain forms of ingestion will work better, depending on the symptoms it is intended to alleviate.

Ginger Use for Colds

• The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends that adults take no more than 4 g daily and that children take proportionately less based on their weight. To relieve digestive problems such as nausea, indigestion and gas, take it in liquid form. To curb vomiting, take ginger in powdered form. For cold symptoms, ginger can be served in the form of tea by steeping ginger root in hot water. For specific recommendations and recipes, follow the link to the University of Maryland Medical Center website in the resources section.

Considerations

• Although the FDA has placed ginger on its list of substances "generally recognized as safe", ginger may interact with other prescription or non-prescription medication and cause problems. For instance, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends that those taking blood-thinning medications talk to their doctor before taking ginger to alleviate cold symptoms. However, a study published in the April 2005 issue of the "British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology" concluded that ginger did not significantly affect some blood-thinners.