If you’re like most Americans, the closest you get to ginger is an occasional glass of ginger ale.
But in many parts of Asia, ginger is highly valued as a medicine. It’s part of daily life for billions of people as a safe, effective home remedy for a variety of ailments, including stomach upset, the common cold and poor circulation.
Powdered ginger the kind you find in the spice section at the supermarket is potent enough. But fresh ginger is even more potent and organic fresh ginger more potent still. Here’s how to use ginger…
• Stomach upset
A ginger “tea” made with one-third teaspoon of powdered ginger (or one teaspoon of grated ginger) in a cup of hot water with a squeeze of lemon provides fast relief for motion sickness, nausea, vomiting or simple indigestion. You can also buy ginger capsules or tablets at health food stores. In that case, you’ll want to take two 500-milligram (mg) capsules. Ginger calms the stomach, stopping the sensation of nausea, and speeds the digestive process.
• Common cold
Take two cups of ginger tea (or two 500-mg capsules) three times a day.
• Poor circulation
For cold hands and/or feet, take one cup of ginger tea (or a 500-mg ginger capsule) once a day, preferably in the morning. You won’t see results quickly it’s more of a preventive measure than a cure.
But don’t wait for an illness to come along. I love to add a slice of fresh ginger to ordinary tea or grate it into stir-fried vegetables. I take some every day. So should you.
