For thousands of years, Arabic, Indian, and Asian healers prized ginger as food and medicine. This tropical plant, in the same botanical family as turmeric and cardamom, was effectively used to relieve nausea and vomiting caused by illness and seasickness.
Other studies indicate that, when added to antinausea medications, it further reduces nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy.
If you’re pregnant: Try it in tea, soup, or capsules — up to 250 milligrams four times a day. If you chose a carbonated beverage, make sure it’s made from real ginger. You can also nibble crystallized ginger.
For postoperative nausea: In a recent study on the use of ginger to thwart postoperative nausea, the dose was 500 milligrams 30 minutes before surgery and 500 milligrams 2 hours after surgery. Otherwise, ginger is usually not recommended during the seven to ten days leading up to surgery because of its effect on blood clotting. Discuss the use of ginger with your surgeon or anesthesiologist before trying it.
To counter motion sickness: Taking 1 gram of dried, powdered, encapsulated ginger 30 minutes to two hours before travel can help ease travel related nausea.
In the intestinal tract, it reduces gas and painful spasms.
It inhibits rhinovirus, which can cause the common cold.
It has a warming effect and stimulates circulation.
It inhibits such bacteria as Salmonella, which cause diarrhea, and protozoa, such as Trichomonas.
It may prevent stomach ulcers caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
It reduces pain and inflammation, making it valuable in managing arthritis, headaches, and menstrual cramps.
source : everydayhealth.com