Ginger: A Natural Cure-All

by Caitlin

Ginger: It’s more than just red hair and freckles. 

I know, ginger jokes are so 2010. 

I’m obsessed with ginger. 

You know how the Dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding is always trying to cure everyone and everything with a spritz of Windex? That’s me with ginger. I’m not just a ginger lover, I’m a ginger PUSHER. 

Upset stomach? Headache? Here, have some ginger. Feeling dizzy? Have the flu? Better take some ginger. Bump your elbow? Blister on your foot? Guy on the metro look at you funny? GINGER GINGER GINGERRRR.

More specifically, I always carry these ginger chews in my bag (and have them in my kitchen cabinet and at my desk at work), and I happily dole them out to anyone who complains within earshot of any type of ailment. I’ve converted many a skeptic this way. (Like I said, PUSHER. Or a drug dealer. The first taste is always free.) 

I think it's been reasonably well-established around here that I'm a bit of a hippie, but I also don't like to waste a lot of time feeling poorly if I can help it. While I like to limit the amount of medicines and chemicals I put in my body, sometimes there's just nothing like a bunch of modern-day chemicals in convenient, fast-acting pill form. With that said, these are as good -- if not better -- than many modern medicines I've tried for stomach and nausea issues (which I inexplicably seem to suffer from on a somewhat regular basis). 

They’re spicy and sweet and truly a wonderful, natural, fast-acting remedy. Any time I have an upset stomach, low blood sugar, or am just feeling off, one of these instantly makes me feel better. (And it’s not just because I’m addicted!). There’s a reason your mom gave you gingerale when you were sick. Ginger has lots of wonderful healing and anti-inflammatory properties, and has been used as such for generations. I promise I'm not just making this up.

As an added bonus, they're pretty cheap. I have found them at Trader Joe's, World Market, Whole Foods, and even my local grocery store for less than $3 for a 3 ounce bag. Not too shabby. Additionally I should note that this type of ginger is not the only kind that works: I've also used crystallized ginger, candied ginger, real ginger beer, ginger syrup, and fresh ginger root to help my nausea. (Like I said ... addicted.) It's just that these are small, individually wrapped, and easy to bring everywhere. I highly recommend them if you're looking to break into the ginger arena. 

Have you tried ginger as a natural remedy?

Comments

[Darcey]

Yes! And I love these ginger chews as well. (Except for how stuck they get in my teeth, but worth it.)

I am a big fan of ginger in hard candy form - sometimes they're easier on my stomach, since I can let them melt a while in my mouth. They were my saving grace when I ran a marathon and had nothing on my stomach except those nasty goo/gel things for several hours.

[Tessie]

Allow me to be the first to obnoxiously bring up the P-word here.

(!!!)

(?)

[Caitlin]

OH MY GOD TESS NO.

No.

I can't believe I didn't see that coming.

Aaaaaand still no.

[Caitlin]

I mean, really, so much No that I had to sit and think hard for a while before I even realized what the P word was. If that is at all extra convincing. So.

I still love you.

[Swistle]

AHA HA HA!! I was all "P...ee? P...oop?" I think I might live with small children. And I didn't want to ASK, because these things can make a person feel SO DIM about asking. So for those who are going "WHAT?? What am I missing?," ginger is supposed to help with the kind of nausea experienced in early p...regnancy.

[Tessie]

Well, you DID mention Your Nausea, as if it were...A Thing. I AM JUST SAYING.

Uch, now I am That Commenter. Good day.

[meanliving]

I cannot STAND the taste of straight ginger BECAUSE it reminds me of being nauseated. And pregnant. (But also seasick.) Didn't work for me then, but I kept trying and trying so hard that I finally developed a righteous aversion to it.

So, if you are not pregnant...are you ON A BOAT?!

[craftyashley]

My Dad gave me a bag of those chews when I was crazy pregnant sick with the twins. I can't take the taste, but it did give me a solid half hour of not puking. So they totally work, but I had to really suck it up and prepare myself for the taste.

[Husband]

I love ginger chews, and I love the taste of them. I take them for my nausea as well, (I'm actually pregnant), but I just eat them most often because I think they're delicious.

Also, ginger beer. The stronger the better. Give me that spicy Jamaican stuff! Oh, you want to mix it with vodka and fresh lime juice? Don't mind if I do!!

P.S. I'm not actually pregnant. I'm a man.

P.P.S. Great post babe!

[Caitlin]

I didn't mention this, but I LOVE the taste of ginger. I had no idea it was so polarizing! (Any of you regular readers might sense a THEME there.) I eat/drink/love ginger in its many forms.

I don't know why I seem to deal with occasional inexplicable nausea, but I do suspect it has to do with eating gluten, or if I haven't been eating well or have been eating too much sugar. Just a theory though.

[GennaRae]

I can attest that you are a ginger pusher. I am a product of you getting me addicted to that stuff! Thank you and please, can I have some more?

[jen]

I absolutely LOOVVVE ginger! I recently picked up a tin of vermont made ginger mints! they are quite spicy, but super addictive! i would love to try these chews!

[Duncan Hannah]

We always carried ginger chews on the boat. As you know, your mom had a sea sickness thing and always used every remedy every suggested, alluded to, hinted at or tried. There were always ginger chews.

Personally, I prefer my ginger in a snap (Oh Su-Su,my little ginger snap..) or a more nautical form know as a Dark & Stormy, which involves ginger in beer form with Goslings Black Seal rum, official anti-seasickness remedy of Bermuda. Well, official something or other of Bermuda.

Anyway, enough ginger in this form, and sea sickness is no longer a problem.

Love,

Dad

PS, BTW, I retired today.

[Heather]

Congrats on your retirement, Caitlin's Dad!

[HollyLynne]

I wouldn't say I liked the taste, but they did help me out w/ first trimester nausea. Huzzah!

[Jen W.]

Do these taste like the ginger in ginger ale (good) or more like the fresh ginger that comes with sushi (nasty lysol)? I am intrigued...

[Caitlin]

Oh dear. Well, I'm not sure.
I don't think it quite tastes like either, and I like the ginger that comes with sushi. Have you had fresh ginger root, or ginger beer (it's not alcoholic, and not gingerale)? It tastes more like that. (The sushi ginger isn't actually fresh - it's pickled - so that gives it a different taste.)

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