Tea Tonic: Try This Ginger, Apple Cider Vinegar, Bergamot Booster

By Dr. Mercola

Ginger water, apple cider vinegar and bergamot oil are all known for their health benefits, so what could be better than combining them all into a tasty tea tonic that can be consumed hot or cold? A simple recipe to try is as follows:

Ginger — A Powerful Pain and Nausea Reliever

In addition to its delicious taste, ginger is associated with a long list of health benefits that have been known for at least 2,000 years or more. The most commonly used medicinal part of the plant is the rhizome, the root-like stem that grows underground. It's a rich source of antioxidants, including gingerols, shogaols and zingerones. It also has powerful broad-spectrum antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic and analgesic properties, just to mention a few.

In all, ginger has about 40 different pharmacological actions. Two of its most well-recognized health benefits are easing pain and nausea. In one study,¹ adults suffering from episodic migraines with or without aura had better outcomes when ginger was used as an add-on therapy, compared to pain medication alone.

In this case, the treatment group was given 400 milligrams (mg) of ginger extract in addition to 100 mg of intravenous ketoprofen. After one hour, those who received ginger reported a "significantly better clinical response" than the ketoprofen-only group. According to the authors, "ginger treatment promoted reduction in pain and improvement on functional status at all times assessed." It can also help ease menstrual pain (primary dysmenorrhea). In fact, ginger has been found to be as effective as ibuprofen for this common condition.²

A 2015 review³ of nine studies and seven meta-analyses investigating ginger's effectiveness against nausea showed it can help reduce nausea and vomiting associated with postoperative nausea, chemotherapy, viral infection and morning sickness.

According to the authors, "recent evidence has provided … support for 5-HT3 receptor antagonism as a mechanism by which ginger may exert its potentially beneficial effect on nausea and vomiting." Many also use it to ease nausea associated with motion sickness and sea sickness.

Additional Health Benefits and Usage Tips

Other health benefits of ginger include but are not limited to:

Ginger is an excellent cooking staple worth keeping on hand at all times, and will keep fresh stored in the freezer. You can freeze the ginger either whole or pre-shredded. There's no need to thaw it, as you can easily shred it frozen. Simply peel off the skin with a knife or peeler, then shred using a microplane or ceramic grater. The latter will give you a smoother, creamier consistency.

Bergamot Health Benefits and Contraindications

Bergamot oil, which has a sweet fruity orange-blossom aroma, is what gives Earl Grey and Lady Grey teas their distinct flavor. The fragrance alone has been shown to ease anxiety and depression. Like ginger, it also helps improve digestion and has powerful antimicrobial action. Bergamot oil is extracted from the rind of the bergamot orange, which is native to Italy.

It should be used sparingly, however, as it contains a compound called bergapten, which acts as a potassium channel blocker. While rare, you could potentially end up with an electrolyte imbalance should you consume too much of it. Symptoms of potassium deficiency include muscle cramps and twitches, tinging sensations and blurred vision.

A 2002 case study²⁵ published in The Lancet discusses the case of a man who drank up to 4 liters of black tea per day. As his favorite brand sometimes caused gastric pain, he switched to Earl Grey and developed muscle cramps after drinking it for one week.

His condition, "Earl Grey intoxication," was deemed due to its potassium blocking effect. If you already have potassium deficiency, forgo adding bergamot to the recipe above.  With that caveat, bergamot does have a number of valuable health benefits. For example, bergamot oil has been shown to:

• Alleviate symptoms and complications of bacterial infections, including Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis bacteria, which are resistant to the potent antibiotic vancomycin²⁶
• Speed the healing process for cold sores, mouth ulcers and herpes.²⁷ It also has a similar antibacterial effect on shingles and chickenpox, which are also caused by the varicella zoster virus from herpes
• Prevent and improve skin conditions from fungal infections when used topically²⁸
• Reduce anxiety and stress when used in aromatherapy²⁹
• Research³⁰ also shows bergamot has statin-like principles and carries the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid (HMG) moiety. In other words, it acts much like a statin does

Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is another kitchen staple with myriad uses and benefits. Traditionally, apple cider vinegar is made through a long, slow fermentation process that renders it rich in bioactive components like acetic acid, gallic acid, catechin, epicatechin, caffeic acid and more, giving it potent antioxidant, antimicrobial and many other beneficial properties.

"Mother" of vinegar, a cobweb-like amino acid-based substance found in unprocessed, unfiltered vinegar, indicates your vinegar is of the best quality. Most manufacturers pasteurize and filter their vinegar to prevent the mother from forming, but the "murky" kind is actually best, especially if you're planning to consume it. Health benefits associated with apple cider vinegar consumption include but are not limited to: