Ginger Tea – A Traditional Herbal Drink for Digestion and Colds

It’s that time of year again, where it seems that everyone is coming down with the common cold.  Although there is no “cure” for it, there are things that can help boost your immune system and soothe your symptoms.  One of the best traditional herbal remedies for a cold is ginger tea.  Ginger comes from the root (or rhizome) of the plant Zingiber officinal, and is in the same family as turmeric and cardamom.  Its use originates in South Asia and China where it has been used both as a culinary spice and a traditional medicinal for over 2,000 years.

Ginger tea has also been used traditionally for the following:

• To improve digestion and for digestive upsets
• Colds and flu-like symptoms
• Nausea – studies have found that ginger is more effective than over-the-counter drugs!
• Menstrual Cramps

Making Ginger Tea

It is very simple to make ginger tea from the fresh root.  It is available in the produce department of most grocery stores.

Here is how you make it:

Take a 1-2 inch piece of ginger root and peel it.  Slice it into thin pieces. In a small pot, bring 2 cups of water and the ginger pieces to a boil.  Turn the heat down and simmer for 10 minutes. You can let it steep longer if you want a stronger taste. Strain out the liquid and add honey to taste. Sip slowly in a big mug and curl up with a warm blanket.

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What is your favorite herbal tea? We’d love to hear from you. Don’t forget to leave a back to your own blog via our commentluv plugin.

Until next time,

Stephanie