Some kitchen ingredients are a darling for the medicinal value they have. And it is always great to stock them up in your refrigerator. Ginger is one such home remedy that will be helpful in relieving many common ailments that come every now and then. Further, ginger remedies are evidence-based, and many studies prove their efficacy in curing health issues. This article lists ginger remedies to relieve four conditions: sore throat, abdominal discomforts such as gas and bloating, pain relief, and nausea due to motion sickness.
Home remedies with ginger for four common health problems
1. Ginger for sore throat
Often we wake up with a sore throat, the most common symptom of viral infection. But we tend to ignore it and go about our day only to find ourselves in a jam when we start getting other symptoms such as fever, cold and cough. But we can quite easily prevent all of it, or at the least reduce the severity by taking ginger tea as soon as you sense a sore throat set in.
Studies show that ginger blocks pro-inflammatory proteins in the body. Hence, reducing the inflammation soothes a sore throat. Grate a small piece of ginger and add it to a pan of boiling water. Let it simmer for five to seven minutes so that the essence of ginger seeps into the water. Switch off, strain and add a bit of lemon juice and honey. Drink this delicious ginger tea warm. You can continue for the next couple of days to manage the cold symptoms effectively.
If you do not have access to fresh ginger, you can also use ginger powder if it is available.
2. Ginger for gas and bloating
From stress to GERD, the causes for abdominal gas and bloating can be any. Regardless of the reason, ginger remedy provides significant relief to abdominal discomforts.
Sipping warm ginger tea after a meal can help relieve gas and reduce bloating as well. You can prepare ginger tea using fresh ginger or ginger powder using the same method as explained above. When neither fresh ginger nor ginger powder is available, you can use store-bought ginger tea bags to serve the purpose.
3. Ginger for pain relief
Ginger is anti-inflammatory in nature and can provide relief from pain anywhere in the body, including pain associated with menstruation, flu, and headaches. This home remedy with ginger can also help with muscle soreness due to exercise.
For pain relief, drink ginger tea as and when necessary. You can also add a pinch of turmeric, another excellent anti-inflammatory agent, to make it all the more effective.
4. Ginger for motion sickness and nausea
It would be hard to find someone who doesn’t like to travel. However, there are many who are averse to motion sickness during travel. Again, a remedy with ginger to your rescue for this quite common ailment!
Gingers contain a chemical called gingerol that helps reduce any forms of nausea, including morning sickness during pregnancy.
So. if you are prone to motion sickness, it is wise to keep crystallised ginger, aka ginger candies, with you. Make sure you eat ginger in some form (ginger tea, grated ginger in your salad, or ginger juice) before your departure and pop a candy at regular intervals to enjoy your trip without nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness.
You can purchase ginger candy from a store or prepare a batch yourself and store it by following simple recipes easily available like this.
Ginger Benefits
Not only as home remedies for specific health issues, consuming ginger regularly can have profound effects on your body. A few health benefits of ginger are:
- Strengthen your digestive system
- Enhance your immune system
- Relieve stress
- Promote joint health
- Lower blood sugar
- Enable weight loss
And the list doesn’t end there…
Hence, ginger is simply great for your overall health and wellbeing.
Wrapping up,
Ginger is a go-to remedy for several issues, including cold symptoms, sore throat, cough, pain, nausea, indigestion, and fever. In addition, ginger can improve your immunity and bone health when included regularly in your food. So, get creative, and include ginger in any of the dishes you feel like, for the benefits are not few!
Images: canva.com
