ginger & motion sickness

[QuilterMom]

http://www.publix.com/wellness/green...1&childId=1346

Whether you're going by car, boat, or air ginger can put the brakes on motion sickness.
It strikes at the most inopportune times - that queasy feeling that has you barking to your chauffeur to pull over this instant! Or that suddenly has you dangling from your toes off the side of the cruise ship. Or that has you outpacing Carl Lewis on a sprint to the restroom.

It's motion sickness. And while statistics regarding its prevalence are difficult to find, plenty of people buy over-the-counter and prescription medications to counter its effects. But the gnarled brown ginger root, which also comes in supplement form, offers a natural remedy. In addition to helping allay motion sickness, ginger is frequently used to prevent morning sickness, to treat nausea and digestive problems, and to help with cold and flu symptoms.

To prevent motion sickness, the recommended dose of ginger is 1,000 milligrams taken a half hour before travel, or 12 ounces of ginger ale (made with real ginger). Sucking on ginger candy may also help. For morning sickness, many herbalists recommend a small amount of ginger ale or ginger tea.

The herb ginger's scientific name is Zingiber officinalis, and it first appeared in writings of Chinese herbalist Shen Nung in 3000 B.C., when Greek traders learned from Asians that ginger is an effective way to prevent nausea; Romans and Indians used it as a digestive aid. A stomach-soothing ginger beer was popular in the American colonies, as well.

People enjoy the sweet, peppery flavor and the healing power of ginger in tea and other beverages, cakes, cookies, stir-fry meals, and more. "Fresh ginger gives fabulous flavor to many dishes, plus you're getting medicinal benefits," says herbalist and lecturer Marge Powell of Jacksonville, Florida, an officer with the International Herb Association. Incorporate ginger into your diet by enjoying a cup of hot ginger tea or using fresh ginger in cooking. (Simply scrub, peel, then grate or thinly slice the root.)

Ginger is on the FDA's list of herbs generally regarded as safe. However, check with your physician, particularly if you are pregnant, before taking any form of ginger.

[patches]

I am finding out that it is also great for breathing difficulties and the onset of plurisy.

I've developed severe allergies to the pollen in VA. It is so bad here that everything turns yellow. Your dashboard, your windows, the streets, Whew!!!

Anyway, this is the first year since moving here that I've really been hit hard by the allergies, possibly because it has been so dry.

I woke up the second morning after we took the plastic off of our windows and my lungs hurt, I was coughing so hard my innards hurt all the way down and I couldn't breathe. My inhaler wasn't fazing it a bit.

I know that you are limited to one teaspoon of ginger a day according to my herbal PDR and the normal dosage for tea is 1/3 teaspoon. I didn't have a 1/3 teaspoon measuring spoon so I knocked it down to 1/4 teaspoon and drink it more often.

It has worked wonders! I'm still having the allergy attacks but I'm not ready for the emergency room now. It loosened up all of the chest congestion and my coughing isn't as violent or painful. I spent two days spitting up what should normally have been a serious respiratory infection by past experience. This stuff can rapidly turn into pnuemonia for me.

This time it's benedryl, Vitamin C and ginger and it is working.

[joyb]

Thanks for the info.

[Kimberlina]

Can be great for morning sickness, too. Just sent ginger hard candies to my sister for this. My friend used them, too.

[patches]

I didn't know they had ginger hard candies, I'll have to tell my friend about it.

[Libby]

Not that I know what morning sickness feels like but I am prone to nausea when I catch the flu. Grate or mince up fresh ginger and toss it into the rice cooker as it steams your rice. Just put a pinch of salt on it once its cooked (to make it more pallatable if necessary) and eat as is. Ginger steamed rice. Helps you keep food down and in and helps take away nausea as well as giving you other wonderful benefits!

[marym]

Ginger works great for motion sickness. I use it when I am going on a boat.