Almost 50% of all pregnant women experience episodes of morning sickness during their pregnancy. Morning sickness refers to pregnancy related nausea and vomiting, which is usually associated with alteration in the hormonal balance within the body, especially during the initial months of pregnancy.
Usually the symptoms of morning sickness- nausea and vomiting- subside after three months, as the body gets used to the new hormonal level, however some women may suffer from the symptoms of morning sickness throughout pregnancy.
Ginger is used to treat a wide range of gastrointestinal ailments including motion sickness, nausea and stomach upset.
Ginger tea is considered to be one of the most effective ways of consuming ginger for medicinal and herbal purposes. Ginger tea is safe remedy for treatment of pregnancy related nausea and morning sickness.
Ginger contains chemicals called zingerone. These zingerone bind to neural receptors, which are responsible for triggering symptoms associated with nausea, due to changes in the hormonal balance. Zingerone send confusing signals to the brain, which in turn prevents the sensation of nausea and vomiting.
How To Make Fresh Ginger Tea From Ginger Root?
Here are some tips on making ginger tea for morning sickness, so as to alleviate the symptoms and refresh your system,
- Wash fresh ginger roots in warm water. One can use dried ginger roots as well, however they need to be stewed for slightly longer duration of time. Then peel off the skin and slice them to small pieces.
- Now place the slices of ginger root into a mug.
- Pour about a couple of glasses of boiling water into the mug and allow ginger to steep with the water for 15 to 20 minutes. Do not steep for longer, as it would make the tea bitter to taste. To make the tea stronger, add more ginger roots, instead of allowing it to steep longer.
- Strain the tea into a clean cup. Add about one table spoon of raw honey to sweeten the tea. Avoid sugar, as it is refined and can reduce the effectiveness of the ginger tea.
- Consume when warm. One can add a few drops of lemon juice, pepper and salt if you desire.
Note that ginger tea should be avoided if you suffer from gallstones, stomach ulcers or inflammatory conditions affecting the skin. Ginger is known to aggravate such conditions. Also limit the consumption of ginger tea to thrice a day. Consume ginger tea fresh and avoid storing the tea for longer than a couple of hours.
Benefits Of Ginger Tea During Pregnancy
Ginger tea is relatively safe option of dealing with morning sickness, which can be fairly distressing during the initial parts of pregnancy. Ginger tea can also help improve digestion, prevent gaseous distention and stomach upsets, which are common during the early parts of pregnancy.
Consuming ginger tea regularly allows you to consume all kinds of food freely, without worrying out nausea and vomiting, which in turn is important to ensure that your child gets the nutrients and energy that are required for its growth and development.
Avoid purchasing ginger teas that are available in health stores, since they contain other ingredients and preservatives as well, which may not agree with your system. Prepare fresh ginger tea at home.