Most people think of ginger as only a spice to be used in cooking, but what you may not know is that ginger root is a wonderful health supplement because of the numerous benefits it offers your body. Although native to Asia, Jamaica is actually the major producer, with exports over 2 million pounds per year. This is because so many people already have learned about the health benefits such as relief of muscle or joint pain. Ginger is a natural inhibitor of inflammatory substances and can be used for headaches, muscle pain, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and so much more.

For nausea, there have been long term studies done showing that both nausea and vomiting have been decreased significantly by taking only 500 to 1000mg of ginger per day. This works well for women who are pregnant as well as people who have bowel spasms, gastric issues, bloating, diarrhea, stomach ulcers and more. It is especially helpful with motion sickness, although not quite as effective for middle ear dizziness like vertigo. However, take it four hours before a car, boat or plane ride and you will see your nausea symptoms decrease significantly.

In addition to these benefits, ginger can decrease the risk of heart disease by “platelet inhibition” such as what aspirin does for heart disease and by lowering cholesterol. It is a strong antioxidant and can inhibit certain bowel infections. What is so great about ginger, because it is a naturally grown root, the side effects of ginger are minimal. Very high doses over 5,000mg on an empty stomach can cause stomach problems but it is rare that this high of a single dose is needed. Most people simply take one ginger root supplement per day and find that it helps them naturally to feel better.