Can patients with ulcerative colitis drink ginger water?

Generally, patients with ulcerative colitis are not advised to drink ginger water. The detailed explanation is as follows:

During the acute exacerbation phase of ulcerative colitis, the intestinal mucosa is in a state of congestion, edema, erosion, or even ulceration, and the intestines are relatively sensitive. Ginger water has a certain degree of irritation and may stimulate the intestinal mucosa, accelerate intestinal motility, thereby worsening symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea, hindering the healing of the intestinal mucosa, and potentially exacerbating the inflammation.

If patients have a heat-prone constitution, such as frequently experiencing symptoms like dry mouth, sore throat, and constipation, drinking ginger water may aggravate internal heat, leading to damp-heat in the intestines, which can worsen the condition of ulcerative colitis. Additionally, some patients are particularly sensitive to the pungency of ginger; even during periods of stable disease, drinking ginger water may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, such as heartburn, acid reflux, and abdominal pain. These patients are also not advised to consume ginger water.

In daily diets, patients with ulcerative colitis should choose bland, easily digestible foods, such as oatmeal, lean meat porridge, and vegetable porridge, to reduce the burden on the intestines. Spicy and irritating foods, such as chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, should be avoided to prevent aggravating intestinal inflammation.