Traveling gives me gas.

It can be hard on our digestion to hit the road: eating strange food, drinking different water and adjusting to a new schedule everyday. My body responds by creating excess gas.

After 25 hours on the train and three hours in a car I arrived in Taos, NM. I was treated by my host family to a meal of delicious, homemade chicken soup and fresh bread. Next to my plate sat what looked like a small rabbit poop. Liz noticed that my gaze had fallen on this odd, little object, “Ginger, to take after the meal.”

Toward the end of the dinner, my abdomen began to tense up, the familiar feeling of digestive disturbance brewing. I popped the pill in my mouth, chewed and swallowed. The taste of ginger was sharp, but it settled my stomach and relieved my gas pains. I woke in the morning feeling refreshed after a bowel movement (I can’t be the only one that struggles with this while traveling).

In Ayurveda, Ginger has been called vishwabhesaj, “the universal medicine” and it is well known as a aid to digestion.

After dinner, Liz taught me how to prepare Ginger Balls; we made a large batch so I can have them during the rest of my journey. The process is simple and they work.

The Recipe:

Grate a chunk of ginger about the size of a golf ball.
Squeeze the juice from the grated ginger into a bowl using your hands.
Add powdered ginger and mix to make a thick paste.
Roll into pea-sized balls between your fingers.
Dry on a baking sheet over night.
Store in a dry, sealed container.

Chew one Ginger Ball after each meal to aid digestion.

Today was filled with great conversation and no intestinal disturbance.

Reference:
The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine, Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad

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Editor: Rachel Nussbaum

Photo: Jennifer Moore