What are the benefits of drinking Ginger tea? Six popular uses.

Herbal teas consist of tisanes, which is an infusion of botanical elements such as dried leaves, flowers, and seeds. Tisanes gives herbal tea its flavor and beneficial elements. I love herbal teas because it allows me to get the benefits of the therapeutic effects while drinking a wonderful tasting beverage. Ginger is known for its pungent taste and spicy aroma. Drinking ginger tea infused with other plants or fruits helps to cut the pungency and you will still get the benefits of the ginger. There are many herbal teas that have ginger infused with other plants. One of my favorite ginger teas right now, that is a staple in my pantry is the Organic Spicy Ginger by Tazo. It is infused with green rooibos, citrus and licorice root. I also enjoy cooking with fresh ginger. I enjoy eating Indian food, many of the recipes I find online add ginger as a spice. This gives me another way I can get the beneficial properties.

What are the benefits of drinking ginger tea? I have been drinking ginger tea for years. I use it for digestion, to prevent and combat colds, and to soothe my menstrual cramps. I have used it for migraines, but have not been successful. If anyone has any suggestions to combat migraines successfully, please fill free to leave in comments. As a new blogger, I want to create a safe space where we can talk opening about the medicinal herbs we have tried and been successful and also things we have tried and have not been successful. I do not ever claim to be an expert on herbs, I am just a woman who loves her herbal teas.

Through my research I learned so much about the beneficial properties of ginger tea that have been around for 5000 years. Many of the wonderful things we know about ginger have been passed down for generation to generation from Chinese, Indian, and Ayurveda medicine. I was also disappointed to find that there is very limited scientific research on ginger where human subjects were used. I chose to stick to providing research on the common ailments and some common diseases.

Ginger has numerous forms such as fresh, dried, powered and oil. For over 5000 years, Indians and Chinese have used ginger for many ailments such as the common cold and sore throat. Ginger root is high in vitamin C, potassium, fiber, vitamin B6, copper, manganese, magnesium, and water. Below are some benefits of Ginger to help you get through every day life.

Below you will find that many of the studies used ginger powder or fresh ginger. The milligrams used for some studies was provided. The brand Traditional Medicinals provides you with the milligrams of the herb used on the packages, for instance one tea bag of ginger contains 1500 mg of organic ginger rhizome. I love the transparency of Traditional Medicinals on their packaging.

1. Ginger may help with morning sickness

In a survey conducted of obstetricians and gynecologists, it was found that more physicians were more likely to recommend ginger for morning sickness than an antiemetic. 

A study conducted of women suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum found that 250mg of ginger powder taken four times a day for four days had a significant benefit compared to the placebo taken for the same duration. There is no evidence that ginger is injurious to pregnant women. 

A study done on 1278 pregnant women showed that ginger significantly improved symptoms of nausea. The recommended usage of ginger is 1500 mg for morning sickness.

2. Ginger may help combat the flu and colds

Ginger has antioxidants, antimicrobial properties and antiviral compounds. I love drinking ginger tea when like a cough because it loosens and expels phlegm. Ginger tea may be effective in preventing and possibly curing colds, sore throats, and reduce inflammation. 

Harmful microbes can enter the body causing us to become to develop the flu. Ginger is known to play a part as an antimicrobial agent to treat the following infections: E coli, Salmonella typhi, Bacillus Subtilis, Candida albicans, M. avium, and M. tuberculosis. 

3. Ginger may help with inflammation

 A case history was done on patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, the study showed that five grams of fresh ginger over a three-month period improved joint agility and stiffness. The ginger also proved to relieved pain. 

A study done on patients with osteoarthritis who were given ginger extract resulted in them having pain relief and therefore they required minimal medications. The participants were given capsules extracted from 2,500 – 4,000 mg of dried ginger rhizomes and 500-1500mg of dried galangal rhizomes for a six-week period, twice a day. They were allowed to use a minimum of two tablets of Acetaminophen four times a day if needed.

4. Ginger and Chronic Diseases

A study was done the effect of ginger on hypertension and CHD. The patients had a daily intake of one gram. The risk of hypertension and CHD decreased between 8% and 13%. The study showed that gradual increase of ginger lowered the probability of hypertension and CHD.

5. Ginger may help relieve menstrual cramps

In a study conducted where the participants were given a dose of 500 mg, three times a day for three days, it was reported that about 80 percent of the participants experienced decreased pain from menstrual cramps.   In another study participants were given 250mg of capsules of ginger rhizome powder, 4 times a day for the three days from the start of menstrual period. Ginger had significantly reduced menstrual pain. 

6. Ginger may help with digestion and indigestion

The active ingredients in ginger can aid in digestion and constipation and flatulence.   I often drink ginger tea when I am feeling bloated and uncomfortable. After drinking ginger tea I almost immediately start to feel a difference.

Chronic indigestion or dyspepsia which is discomfort in the upper part of the stomach. A study was done with eleven patients, who ingested three capsules that contained 1.2 grams of ginger. It was found that gastric emptying after ingesting ginger was more rapid than the placebo group.

A study was done with twenty-four volunteers, who did an 8-hour fast and then ingested 1200 mg of ginger capsules. Ginger was shown to speed up the emptying of stomach. Emptying of the stomach by ingesting ginger helps relieve indigestion.

Conclusion

As you can see that ginger tea has worked wonderfully for some people in helping to combat many ailments. Remember that this is not a one size fits all cure. What may work for one person may not work for you. You may also differ in how you choose to ingest ginger. I choose to drink ginger tea because I love tea and I find that it is the most convenient way I can get it in my system on those days when I am super busy. Also, I want to reiterate that you should always consult with your healthcare practitioner before you try anything new, just to ensure that you are being safe. Please provide comments below regarding your experiences with ginger tea.