Ginger to the Rescue

For those of us who suffer from motion sickness, traveling can be a real problem. It doesn’t matter whether we travel by automobile, train, plane or boat; the result is the same. Overwhelming feelings of nausea, dizziness, and headaches prevail. We may even throw up. Closing our eyes and holding our heads steady may help temporarily – that is until we make the slightest movement. It also doesn’t help that after we’ve had motion sickness a couple of times, we assume we will again so are already waiting for it to happen.

Trying to focus on a particular object without moving our heads may give some slight relief. Breathing in fresh air and concentrating on our breathing also offers a bit of relief. But even after we’ve arrived at our destination, the feelings linger. It may take hours for these feelings to completely disappear.

Fortunately there is a natural remedy that has been proven over and over again to eliminate these sickening feelings when we travel. It’s Mother Nature to the rescue again. Its official name is Zingiber officinale; we call it gingerroot. The underground stem is what is used in health remedies and cooking.

Here are some wonderful benefits of adding ginger to your diet:

· Relieves nausea
· Relieves motion sickness
· Relieves dizziness
· Soothes upset stomachs
· Works as an expectorant for respiratory infections
· Supports the cardiovascular system
· Reduces inflammation
· Neutralizes stomach acids
· Limits flatulence
· Relieves muscle strain
· Relieves cold and allergy symptoms
· Stimulates circulation
· Relieves diarrhea
· Soaking in it relieves athlete’s foot
· Freshens breath
· Relieves stress

Fresh ginger can be sliced, minced or crushed. Ginger is available in pill or capsule form, powdered, crystallized and pickled. One of the great benefits to the pills or capsules is the ease in which they can be taken anywhere. Simply slip them into your purse and you’re ready to go. Ginger tea can be made by steeping the ginger is very hot water or you can purchase it in packaged teabags. Drinking Ginger Ale is also beneficial as long as it is made with real ginger and not merely flavored.

If you know you are going to be traveling it is best to start taking ginger the day before. It should also be taken approximately two hours prior to your trip. Continue to take ginger throughout your journey, and you will find that your motion sickness is a thing of the past.