Ginger is quite the popular element in Caribbean bush medicine, and, its popularity, no doubt, extends beyond the Caribbean. I was conceived then birthed with an understanding that ginger was the number one remedy for “bad feelings”.

Now, “bad feelings”, in the Caribbean could mean any number of things.  It could mean a person is suffering from gas, indigestion or bloating. It could mean motion sickness, stomach cramps, or generally any kind of stomach complaint is the culprit.  But, mostly, “bad feelings” mean nausea. And, regardless of the source/cause of nausea, there will always be some ginger worshipper (some of whom are bona fide doctors) on hand to suggest the drinking of some ginger tea.

I am, to be honest, very much a ginger worshipper- I have been one for a very long time.  I’ve scraped, sliced and pounded many a ginger root in my life to make many a cups of ginger tea.  Through trial and lots of error, I’ve learnt just how much of the root is enough for how many cups of tea and just how much will lead to an inferno in the mouth of unsuspecting tea drinkers.

I remember when adults used to cry out from some room when I got too enthusiastic with my ginger pounding. They’d wonder what the poor ginger ever did to me or if anything would remain of the poor ginger after I’d gotten through with it.  Back then, I used to lightly scrape the small bit of ginger, pound it for a bit (or a lot), then add it to some boiling water to make ginger tea.  Now, I stick to the scrape and cutting into thin slices method (see video below).

How To Make Ginger Tea:

I also remember when young women in my village took to complaining about “bad feelings” in the mornings. The older women would slyly suggest they drink some ginger tea. Then some months later, a baby would appear. So, for a very long time, I associated ginger with mornings and babies.

The older women and men in the villages also suggested ginger when a pesky cold and cough threatened to ruin anyone’s night or day. For a cold or cough, you were admonished not to sweeten the tea, but, to drink as is. Then, these older ladies and gentlemen would go on to murmur that had that person made a regular habit of drinking ginger tea, he or she wouldn’t have caught that cold or cough in the first place.  This, they said, because, according to them- ginger was great for boosting the immune system.

There were also, of course, times when “bad feelings” also meant one of these older women and women was suffering from arthritis. Even then, they believed in their ginger and claimed that the tea provided relief and that using a regular compress of grated ginger (also useful for menstrual cramps) turned bad feelings into good.

Disclaimer:

The contents of this page are meant for educational and entertainment purposes only. Statements published here ought not to be taken as expert medical advice designed to treat/cure any diseases or health related conditions. Please talk to your doctor or any qualified healthcare professional if you need medical advice (Believe me, WE at RE:BELLE WOULD!)

The Uses of Ginger: