Can Drinking Ginger Tea Help With Anxiety?
Anxiety and stress are a normal part of the human experience. But in a society full of traffic jams, long work days and economic crises, anxiety troubles some people on a regular basis. Some common approaches to reducing anxiety include stress reduction techniques such as meditation, deep breathing and consuming calming herbs. Ginger is not generally known as an herbal remedy for anxiety. However, if anxiety causes you gastrointestinal symptoms, you may find ginger tea to be soothing. If you are troubled by anxiety on a consistent basis, be sure to see your doctor.
Identification
Anxiety encompasses a range of emotions and mental states. In "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Controlling Anxiety," psychologist Joni E. Johnston notes that anxiety has physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioral aspects 1. Fear, worry, overthinking, avoidance and nausea are all symptoms of anxiety, which can be short-lived or long-term. Dealing with anxiety for long periods can be particularly hard on your digestive system, which doesn't function at optimal levels when you feel stress.
- Anxiety encompasses a range of emotions and mental states.
- Fear, worry, overthinking, avoidance and nausea are all symptoms of anxiety, which can be short-lived or long-term.
Effects
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Ginger tea may help to calm some side effects of anxiety, such as nausea or an upset stomach. Health educator Paul Bedson recommends drinking ginger tea two to three times daily in his book, "The Complete Family Guide to Natural Healing." He also notes that using ginger as a spice in foods can help to calm your stomach 2. Still, ginger tea does not necessarily affect anxiety directly as other herbs like valerian, chamomile and lemon balm are thought to do.
- Ginger tea may help to calm some side effects of anxiety, such as nausea or an upset stomach.
- Still, ginger tea does not necessarily affect anxiety directly as other herbs like valerian, chamomile and lemon balm are thought to do.
Benefits
Besides helping the nausea that sometimes accompanies anxiety, ginger tea has other benefits. It can be helpful for both morning and travel sickness, notes health writer Theresa Cheung in her book "Tea Bliss." Ginger tea can also help increase circulation, improve immune system function and ease sore throats 3. Ginger tea is easy to make yourself by slicing large chunks of fresh ginger and heating them in boiling water. Or you can purchase ginger tea bags at most grocery stores.
- Besides helping the nausea that sometimes accompanies anxiety, ginger tea has other benefits.
- It can be helpful for both morning and travel sickness, notes health writer Theresa Cheung in her book "Tea Bliss."
Considerations
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Ginger is generally considered to be a safe herb, though it does have a few possible side effects. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, these include mild heartburn, diarrhea and belching 4. Do not drink ginger tea if you are on blood thinners or have gallstones. If you suffer from anxiety on a consistent basis, consult your doctor about an appropriate treatment plan.
- Ginger is generally considered to be a safe herb, though it does have a few possible side effects.
- If you suffer from anxiety on a consistent basis, consult your doctor about an appropriate treatment plan.
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References
- "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Controlling Anxiety"; Joni E. Johnston, PsyD; 2006
- "The Complete Family Guide to Natural Healing"; Paul Bedson; 2005
- "Tea Bliss"; Theresa Cheung; 2007
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Ginger
- Ryan JL. Treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea in cancer patients. Eur Oncol. 2010;6(2):14-16.
- Marx W, Ried K, McCarthy AL, et al. Ginger-mechanism of action in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: A review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2017;57(1):141–146. doi:10.1080/10408398.2013.865590
- Panahi Y, Saadat A, Sahebkar A, Hashemian F, Taghikhani M, Abolhasani E. Effect of ginger on acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a pilot, randomized, open-label clinical trial. Integr Cancer Ther. 2012;11(3):204–211. doi:10.1177/1534735411433201
- Haniadka R, Rajeev AG, Palatty PL, Arora R, Baliga MS. Zingiber officinale (ginger) as an anti-emetic in cancer chemotherapy: a review. J Altern Complement Med. 2012;18(5):440–444. doi:10.1089/acm.2010.0737
- Arslan M, Ozdemir L. Oral intake of ginger for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting among women with breast cancer. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2015;19(5):E92–E97. doi:10.1188/15.CJON.E92-E97
- Bossi P, Cortinovis D, Fatigoni S, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study of a ginger extract in the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients receiving high-dose cisplatin. Ann Oncol. 2017;28(10):2547–2551. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdx315
- Palatty PL, Haniadka R, Valder B, Arora R, Baliga MS. Ginger in the prevention of nausea and vomiting: a review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2013;53(7):659-69. doi:10.1080/10408398.2011.553751
- WholeHealth Chicago. Ginger. Updated May 12, 2009.
- Oncology Nutrition: a Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Dietary supplements.
- Marx W, Mckavanagh D, Mccarthy AL, et al. The effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) on platelet aggregation: a systematic literature review. PLoS ONE. 2015;10(11):e0143675. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0141119
- Chuah SK, Wu KL, Tai WC, Changchien CS. The effects of ginger on gallbladder motility in healthy male humans. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2011;17(4):411-5. doi:10.5056/jnm.2011.17.4.411
- National Center for Complementary and integrative Health. Ginger. Updated November 30, 2016.
- Bossi, P., Cortinovis, D., Fatigoni, et al. A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Study of a Ginger Extract in the Management of Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) in Patients Receiving High Dose Cisplatin. Annals of Oncology. 2017. 28(10):2547-2551.
- Haniadka, R. et al. Zingiber officinale (Ginger) as an Anti-Emetic in Cancer Chemotherapy: A Review. Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2012.18(5):440-4.
- Jordan, K., Jahn, F., and M. Aapro. Recent developments in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV): a comprehensive review. Annals of Oncology. 2015.26(6):1081-90.
- Pillai, A. et al. Anti-emetic effect of ginger powder versus placebo as an add-on therapy in children and young adults receiving high emetogenic chemotherapy. Pediatric Blood and Cancer.2011.56(2):234-8.
Writer Bio
Christine Garvin is a certified nutrition educator and holds a Master of Arts in holistic health education. She is co-editor of Brave New Traveler and founder/editor of Living Holistically... with a sense of humor. When she is not out traveling the world, she is busy writing, doing yoga and performing hip-hop and bhangra.