The Wonder Medicine Ginger for Morning Sickness
Ginger is a tuber that is used in food preparation as a spice and delicacy. It is also widely used as a medicine in different parts of the world. Ginger root extract contains more than 50 antioxidants. It is known to benefit people with cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, cancer and diabetes. Ginger seems to be safe and side effects were not reported in many studies. As with any medicine, over indulgence must be avoided.
Ginger has been in use for a long time to cure morning sickness symptoms like vomiting and nausea. Its effectiveness to treat morning sickness has been proven beyond doubt by various studies done in the US and Canada. It is a safe and natural remedy if taken in recommended quantity. The Food and Drug administration has classified ginger as “generally recognized as safe’ though it does not specifically recommend it for morning sickness. Research has shown that overtime, ginger has been more effective in treating nausea than the common anti-nausea drug, Drammamine.
Ginger is available in the form of fresh roots, powder, candy, crystallized, non alcoholic beer. There are different ways ginger can be consumed as recommended below.
• If you like the taste of fresh ginger as juice, slice some raw pieces, steep in boiling water, add a slice of lemon and some honey to enhance the taste. You can take this 3 or 4 times a day.
• If taken in powder form the recommended dosage is about a gram spread over 4 or 5 times a day. Steep ginger powder with hot water for 5 minutes to make a hot ginger tea. You may add lemon and honey to enhance the taste.
• If you are not comfortable with powder form, take ginger candy or the like.
• Drink ginger beer which is a non alcoholic carbonated beverage made from ginger roots. This is available in all health stores.
There is one section of the society that believes that there is not enough data to suggest that ginger cannot do damage to the unborn baby when it is suggested as a medicine for morning sickness. They argue ginger inhibits an enzyme named thromboxane synthetase which can have an effect on sex steroid differentiation in the brain of the unborn baby.
However there is no medical evidence to support this claim. On the other hand there is overwhelming evidence to support the health benefits of ginger.
Many mothers will vouch for the goodness of ginger. It scores over other readily available prescribed or over the counter drugs because it is safe, natural and have no side effects. Many studies have shown that women respond positively to ginger to cure morning sickness though the effect of goodness might vary between individuals.
Through centuries of wisdom and experience, we are already aware of the immense medicinal value of ginger. Clinical and scientific studies will continue to validate the health benefits of ginger. Meanwhile humans should take full advantage of the goodness of ginger. It is good, natural, available in abundance and economical.