Ginger root is the brownish, thick, and knotted underground stem of the Zingiber officinale plant. Its culinary use goes back more than 4,000 years, and its medicinal use goes back more than 2,000, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Ginger root's health benefits can come from its use as a cooking spice, in tea, and in supplement forms such as oils, extracts, tinctures, and capsules.
Anti-Nausea Effects
Ginger can treat nausea associated with particular conditions. According to the UMMC, 1 gram of ginger root can relieve nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy. Ginger can also diminish nausea resulting from chemotherapy treatments, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) note. The UMMC says 1 gram of ginger root, taken before an operation, can curtail nausea after the procedure. Ginger root is also a common remedy for motion sickness, website World's Healthiest Foods reports, suppressing nausea and symptoms such as vomiting, dizziness, and cold sweats.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Compounds in ginger root known as gingerols function as anti-inflammatory agents, explains World's Healthiest Foods. Ginger is commonly prescribed for conditions aggravated by inflammation, including various types of arthritis and ulcerative colitis. People with arthritis tend to see both reduction in pain and increased mobility after taking ginger.
Anti-Cancer Effects
Researchers at the University of Michigan concluded that ginger root triggers apoptosis and autophagy in ovarian cancer cells. Both are forms of cell death; the former is when cells shut themselves down, and the latter is akin to cells digesting themselves. Ginger may also inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer cells, World's Healthiest Foods reports, adding that, as of 2010, this effect had been seen only in mice, as human clinical trials had not been completed.
Side Effects
Side effects from ginger root, described as rare by the UMMC, are mostly associated with high doses, and can include heartburn and various forms of mild gastrointestinal discomfort, an unpleasant taste or irritation in the mouth, and diarrhea. NIH recommends a maximum dose of 4-5 grams, spread throughout the day, daily for adults. Ginger root can also cause a variety of allergic reactions.
Interactions
Like any herb or supplement, ginger root can have interactions with drugs or other supplements. Always consult your doctor before beginning a regimen. NIH cautions that ginger may interact with blood thinners, anticoagulants, antacids, anti-reflux agents and proton pump inhibitors, antihistamines, vasodilators, diabetes treatments, and treatments that cause drowsiness, alter heart rhythm, regulate cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation, remedy nausea, and those metabolized by the liver.
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