Cramp bark and ginger have traditional uses as herbal remedies for relieving menstrual pain in women. Although cramp bark is still sometimes recommended for treating painful menstruation, ginger is more commonly used to relieve nausea and treat arthritis. Before you take cramp bark or ginger for any purpose, consult your doctor about the correct dosage and potential health risks.
History
Historically, cramp bark has been used as an herbal remedy for treating painful menstruation, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Ginger root has been used for thousands of years to treat digestive problems, arthritis, colic and even heart problems, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Like cramp bark, ginger has also been used to relieve menstrual pain.
Modern Uses
Today, cramp bark is still sometimes recommended for treating dysmenorrhea, a condition involving painful menstruation in women. Cramp bark might also help to relieve nausea, vomiting and chills associated with dysmenorrhea. Ginger isn’t as commonly used in modern-day herbal medicine for treating menstrual pain, but instead it’s more often recommended as a natural remedy to prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting. You might take ginger root to relieve nausea and vomiting related to morning sickness during pregnancy, motion sickness, chemotherapy and surgery or vertigo, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Ginger might also help in treating pain and inflammation related to osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as symptoms related to allergies, back pain, migraines and irritable bowel syndrome. Ginger has some potential to help to prevent or treat atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases, as well as ease drug withdrawal symptoms, says Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. No widely accepted scientific evidence supports the use of cramp bark or ginger for preventing or curing any medical condition, however.
Function
Cramp bark appears to treat dysmenorrhea by relieving smooth-muscle spasms in the uterus. Ginger root and rhizomes contain the constituents called gingerol and shogaol, which seem to provide the anti-nausea actions, notes the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Ginger’s anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving actions are believed to come from its volatile oils.
Dosages
You might take 4 to 8 mL of cramp bark tincture three times daily or make a tea taken three times daily by simmering 2 teaspoons of dried bark in 1 cup of water for 10 to 15 minutes, says the University of Michigan Health System. To relieve menstrual cramps, you might steep 2 tablespoons of fresh, shredded root in hot water and drink it two or three times per day. For arthritis, you might take 2 to 4 grams per day of ginger extract, tea or juice, or you might apply ginger oil to the affected area as a compress or poultice, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. For nausea, you might consume 2 to 4 grams of fresh ginger root each day or take 1 ½ to 3 mL of liquid ginger extract. Before you take cramp bark or ginger, ask your doctor about the dosage that’s right for you.
Scientific Evidence
No human clinical trials have been conducted on the use of cramp bark or ginger in treating menstrual pain. But, an animal study published in the Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine in 1972 found that cramp bark can effectively stop uterine spasms in smooth muscles, says the University of Michigan Health System. On the other hand, many human studies have investigated ginger’s effects on nausea and inflammation. A 2001 study of people with osteoarthritis of the knee that was published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism found that taking ginger root extract helped to relieve their pain and inflammation, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Ginger might help to prevent nausea from chemotherapy, according to a preliminary clinical trial published in Dermatology Nursing in 1995. Finally, a study published in Acta Oto-Laryngologica in 1988 determined that ginger root could treat seasickness.
Dangers
The main danger in taking cramp bark is that very little scientific research has been performed on the herbal remedy and its true effects in humans is relatively unknown. Ginger has been studied more extensively, so there is evidence that the herb could cause heartburn and worsen gallstones. Ginger can increase the effects of blood-thinners like anticoagulants and insulin or other diabetes medications, causing potential bleeding risks and hypoglycemia, warns the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
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