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.

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.

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.

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.