Dear Dr. SerVaas,

In your Sept./Oct. 2006 Medical Mailbox, a reader reports that drinking ginger tea helps control her acid reflux and blood sugar levels. How much ginger is used to make the tea?

Martha Bobo
Pine Bluff, Arizona

To make fresh ginger tea, peel a two-inch piece of ginger root and cut it into thin slices. Add the ginger to four cups of boiling water, then cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Strain the mixture before drinking. For a sweeter tea, add honey or lemon to taste. Ginger teabags, available online mid in selected stores, are a convenient option.