How to Use Ginger as a Blood Thinner. Ginger is frequently used as an all-natural blood thinner to help prevent heart attacks, strokes and other heart-related conditions. Gingerol is a chemical that naturally occurs in ginger and has been shown to prevent blood cells and platelets from clotting and clumping. Ginger has also been proven to prevent cholesterol production in the liver.
Talk to your doctor about using ginger as a blood thinner. If your doctor agrees that taking ginger would be beneficial for you, he may recommend an appropriate dosage of a ginger herbal supplement and suggest that you stop taking any other blood-thinning medication.
Go to your local pharmacy or health-food store to purchase a ginger herbal supplement. Ask the people who work in the store for recommendations on the best brands.
Check the label of the ginger herbal supplement you purchase to be sure that it is made from organic ingredients with no additional chemicals or substitutes added. Gingerol is the only chemical that needs to be present in the herbal supplement for it to be effective as a blood thinner.
Watch for negative side effects that you may experience after you start to use a ginger herbal supplement. Some people experience heartburn, excessive gas and nausea after taking large doses of ginger. You may decide to discontinue use of ginger if these symptoms become too difficult to manage.
Eat foods that include ginger and drink ginger ale. Though taking an herbal supplement works for some people, others choose to take a more relaxed approach by simply adding ginger to their diets.