Heliconias ginger flowers, motion sickness and ginger

A garden full of Heliconias Ginger flowers.

On road trips my Mom encouraged me to sip Ginger Ale whenever I felt motion sickness coming on. Ginger tea, ginger candies, and ginger bread were part of her wellness arsenal. Today there’s many simple ways to enjoy the delicious and healing properties, especially regarding motion sickness and ginger.

Ginger Cookies

The renowned Golden Door spa has introduced these Ginger Cookies with three types of ginger in the recipe.

Mom’s TLC helped but ginger has long been used around the world for its healthful effects.

  • In the African Congo crushed ginger is mixed with the sap of mango trees to make Tangawisi juice.  The potion is considered a cure-all.
  • In India, ginger paste is rubbed into the temples to help relieve headaches. A mixture of ginger, lemon and black salt is also eaten for nausea.
  • During the American Revolutionary War, gingerbread, which would harden and keep for a year or more, was a staple for both British and American soldiers.
  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recognized ginger to be safe as a preventative for motion and morning sickness.
How does motion sickness and ginger work together?

There are chemicals in ginger that tend to reduce nausea and inflammation. Researchers believe the chemicals work primarily in the stomach and intestines, but they may also work in the brain and nervous system.*

“The easiest way to prevent motion sickness is to carry candied ginger in your pocket and suck on it throughout your trip,” notes Judy Griffin, author of Mother Nature’s Herbal. Depending on your weight and size, more candy may be nibbled every 45 minutes. Diane McClaren, author of the Healthy You Naturally newsletter***, suggests that motion sickness can be avoided when you:

  1. Start taking capsules a few days before the trip, taking 6-8 caps/day and 2/hour the day of the trip OR
  2. Take at 6x/d (2/meal) for a few weeks prior to trip and only add extra if needed during the trip.
Gin Gins Candy

Deliciously strong and chewy Gin Gins candy.

Ginger has also been found to be more effective than Dramamine in reducing motion sickness according to a study reported in the British medical journal, The Lancet in 1982.** (Dimenhydrinate is the active ingredient found in ginger.)

Road trip bliss

On a long road trip recently I kept motion sickness at bay with bites of chocolate covered ginger candy.

Ginger with dark chocolate

The benefits of dark chocolate teamed with ginger.

Unexpected ginger concoctions

As the road trip took us through Oregon and Washington, I felt it was part of my job to see what edibles were stocked in a recreational marijuana dispensary. I DON’T INDULGE but it was fun talking with the sales people (very kind and enthusiastic) and interesting to see who stepped into the store (not who you’d expect.)

Lemon ginger canibis drink

A lemon ginger cannabis-infused drink seen in a Washington State dispensary.

However you choose to enjoy ginger keep the natural remedy in mind. For me motion sickness and ginger work well together.

* Reference Webmd.com 

**Reference Active Ginger Ingredient

***Diane Mclaren Healthy You Naturally

This post was prompted by the arrival and quick consumption of a sample package of Irresistible Ginger Cookies from the Artisan Food collection by the renowned Golden Door Resort. (They’re only 50 calories per cookie!) I noticed the warming buzz from the three forms of ginger in the recipe and felt another warm glow knowing that 100% of the profits from the Artisan Food collection are donated to charity. The Irresistible Ginger Cookie can be purchased online.