ger
root has also been used to relieve menstrual cramps, and
treat arthritis and colic. It’s widely believed that ginger
root may relieve the symptoms of the common cold, flu and
headaches.
Ginger
root is available fresh or dried, and may be used in tinctures,
teas, capsules or tablets. Ginger root is the base for
ginger ale, which has been recommended to soothe digestive
upsets and relieve nausea and diarrhea by pediatricians for
decades.
What
Ginger Root Does:
The key active
ingredients in ginger are volatile oils, specifically gingerols
and shogoals that are responsible for the pungent, spicy taste.
Ginger root relieves nausea and cramping by neutralizing stomach
acids and stimulating the production of digestive juices.
Ginger root also seems to have an anti-inflammatory effect,
which may account for its effectiveness in relieving digestive
irritation. When ginger is taken as a standardized extract, it
lowers the body’s production of prostaglandins, which may
relieve chronic pain. In addition, ginger root is a natural
decongestant and antihistamine, and is often included in herbal
cold and cough preparations.
Health
Benefits of Ginger Root:
Research
supports a number of the most common uses for ginger root,
specifically:
-
Relieves nausea
Ginger
root’s anti-nausea properties are the most well documented.
It has been tested for effectiveness against nausea caused by:
Motion Sickness
In one
clinical trial, researchers gave powdered ginger root to half a
group of novice sailors who reported being prone to motion
sickness. The other half were given a placebo. The
group who took ginger root reported significantly less nausea
and cold sweats than the placebo group. While medications
like scopolamine seem to be more effective at reducing nausea
than ginger root, they also carry far more serious side effects,
making ginger root a safe, natural choice to relieve motion
sickness.
Pregnancy and Morning Sickness
In at
least two research studies, fresh ginger root proved to be more
effective than a placebo in relieving pregnancy related nausea
and morning sickness. Doctors recommend that ginger root
only be taken for the first two months of pregnancy, and that
only fresh ginger be used.
Nausea Following Surgery
Several
studies have shown that ginger root is more effective at
reducing nausea in the days following surgery than a placebo,
but the results are not completely conclusive.
Nausea Related To Chemotherapy
In their
guidelines for using complementary and alternative medicines,
the American Cancer Society cites a study from India in which
ginger root extract increased the effectiveness of a common drug
given to soothe nausea caused by chemotherapy.
-
May slow or prevent tumor growth in cancer
The
American Cancer Society also reports that preliminary results
from animal studies show that ginger root has some effect on
preventing or slowing the growth of tumors. They state
that the results warrant further investigation to learn if the
same results will be achieved in humans.
-
May help reduce chronic pain
Because
ginger root dampens the body’s production of prostaglandins, it
may help to reduce the severity of chronic pain due to
rheumatoid arthritis and muscle aches. Ginger root also has an
anti-inflammatory effect which may contribute to reducing the
incidence of chronic pain.
Possible
Side Effects of Ginger Root:
Ginger
root is a widely used culinary herb that has no reported harmful
side effects. There have been rare reported cases of those
taking extremely large doses suffering from heartburn.
Summary:
There is
a great deal of tradition – several thousand years worth – and
considerable recent evidence that ginger can both prevent and
relieve nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. In addition, taken on a
daily basis, it serves as a mild appetite stimulant and
digestive toner to keep your digestive system working well.
Because the most promising results from studies involved
standardized extracts of ginger root rather than the fresh or
dry root, we choose to take ginger root as part of a total
nutritional and health supplement. Taken this way, it helps to
support and complement the effects of other ingredients.
