The present invention is a method of preparing a buccal delivery system for treating digestive distress comprising heating a sugar base to lower the water content to about less than or equal to 5 wt. %, removing the sugar base from the heat source, adding the non-volatile ginger extract having at least 10% gingerol by weight, adding the gingerol active to the hot sugar matrix and converting it into a ratio of gingerol and shogaol, ambient cooling the base to a malleable form in which individual dosages are shaped, wherein the gingerol and shogoals are present in an amount and ratio of from 2:1 to 10:1 gingerol to shogoals; where the gingerol and newly formed shogaols are immediately released; and where the typical dosage of the combination is in the range of about 1.0 to 5.4 g.