Ginger Tea Benefits 
Ginger TeaA cup of Ginger Tea
Ginger tea benefits are quite well-known in many parts of the world, especially in Asia.  This beverage is believed to possess analgesic, antibacterial, antipyretic, carminative and sedative qualities.

Ginger refers to the aromatic underground rhizome (or root) of the plant scientifically known as zingiber officinale.  A botanical relative of marjoram and turmeric, the ginger plant is native to southeast Asia and is now also extensively cultivated in Jamaica and other tropical areas such as India, Fiji and Indonesia.

Ginger has an irregular shape somewhat resembling that of a horn, hence its scientific name is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word for “horn”. It has a somewhat bulky form.

Depending on its variety, the flesh of the ginger plant usually comes in colors of yellow, white or red.  It is in turn enveloped in a brownish skin that may either be thick or thin, depending upon whether the plant was mature or young when harvested.  The texture of the rhizome is firm yet striated.  It has an aromatic, pungent and hot taste.

Revered around the world for its pungent taste, ginger is a natural spice that is also widely prized for its medicinal properties.  Since ancient times, traditional healers in a diverse array of cultures have used ginger tea benefits primarily to help settle disorders of the digestive tract.

Chinese herbalists have relied on ginger as a medicine and flavoring for more than 2,500 years.  The early Greeks mixed it into breads (hence the first gingerbread), and North American colonists sipped nausea-quelling ginger beer, the precursor of modern ginger ale.  Today, many cultures continue to rely on ginger for controlling nausea and also for reducing inflammation.

Ginger tea benefits are mainly derived from the nutrients, minerals and active chemical constituencies of the rhizome.  The distinctive flavor and odor of the plant comes from its volatile oils – gingerols, shogaols and zingerone – which are believed to comprise 3% of the weight of the ginger.  It is also believed to be abundant in the following:

-      thiamine
-      riboflavin
-      niacin
-      pantothenic acid
-      folate
-      vitamin C
-      vitamin E
-      calcium
-      iron
-      magnesium
-      manganese

Ginger tea is typically made by placing a 1 to 2 inch-sliver of the ginger rhizome in a cup of newly-boiled water.  Let the mix stand and simmer for about 5 minutes.  Then slowly sip the tea and let its healing properties permeate the length and breadth of the body. 

Below are some of the ginger tea benefits believed to be derived from this beverage:
  • Ginger tea may help facilitate the digestive process and help relieve gastrointestinal distress.  It may help ease constipation, flatulence and even diarrhea.  This is believed to be due to the beneficial action of some chemical compounds in the plant in the digestive tract.

  • Ginger tea may help combat inflammation and control chronic pain in related ailments such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.  This is believed to be due to the action of the phenolic compound 6-gingerol which fights the nitric oxide molecule that creates free radicals in the system.

  • Ginger tea may be helpful in protecting against certain cancers such as those affecting the colorectal and ovarian regions.  Again, the anti-inflammation action of the phenolic compound gingerol may have a big role in fighting free radicals and tumors.

  • Ginger tea is believed to help minimize symptoms of the common cold, allergies and other respiratory conditions.  It is believed that this stems from the tea’s ability to help facilitate healthy sweating that helps carry toxins and other harmful substances out of the system.

  • Ginger tea may help reduce nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.  It may also help in fighting motion sickness and dizziness.   
"Being a singer now, I have to get all fussy...I must have my ginger and lemon and all that." 
~ Graham Coxon,
   English Musician, Singer-Songwriter
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