Ginger has been used medicinally for at least two millennia, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Fresh and dried ginger root is used in cooking and teas, and it is sold in extracts, oils, tinctures and capsules for supplementation. While evidence exists for some of its purported benefits, medicinal use of ginger is based more on tradition and inconclusive research than on scientific proof. Always consult your doctor before using ginger root, or any herbal remedy.
Upset Stomach Remedy
The oldest known medicinal use for ginger root--going back more than 2,000 years--is to treat an upset stomach and gastrointestinal problems. Modern science has honed in on more specific benefits of ginger for remedying gastrointestinal distress. Short-term use of ginger to stop pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting is one of the better-established uses, according to MedlinePlus. Ginger root may also help ease the nausea associated with chemotherapy, nausea and vomiting occurring during surgical recovery, and symptoms of motion sickness, says the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Inflammation Remedy
Ginger root has also long been used to reduce inflammation, and its use to treat inflammatory health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, has spread among health care professionals, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. The anti-inflammatory effects of the herb are attributed to a compound called gingerols, explains the George Mateljan Foundation's website The world's healthiest foods. However, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine points out that it is still considered unclear whether ginger has the ability to help treat inflammatory conditions.
Anticancer Activity
Ginger root's ability to prevent and treat certain cancers is being studied, as of 2010. Altough no claims can be made definitively, ginger shows promise in at least two circumstances. The gingerol in ginger may slow the growth of colorectal cancer cells, states the George Mateljan Foundation. Also, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers report that ginger can initiate the death of ovarian cancer cells.
Heart Disese Prevention
Although nothing can be said conclusively, ginger root may help prevent heart disease by lowering LDL cholesterol and keeping blood platelets from sticking together, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Giner
- MedlinePlus: Ginger (Zingiber Officinale Roscoe)
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Ginger
- The world's healthiest foods: Ginger
- University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center: Ginger Causes Ovarian Cancer Cells to Die, U-M Researchers Find
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