Ginger root is an herb that is most commonly used as a culinary spice. This root, however, can also be an effective medicinal remedy, holding anti-nausea and carminative properties that can help treat and prevent many gastrointestinal and stomach issues that include motion sickness, colic, upset stomach, gas, diarrhea, and nausea and vomiting caused by cancer treatment. Ginger has been deemed an effective treatment for NVP, or nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, states the journal "Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology."
About Ginger
Ginger, native to southeast Asia, comes from the zingiber officinale plant. The rhizome or underground stem or root is the part of this plant that is used as a medicinal remedy. Ginger root can be found in fresh, dried, powdered, juice, oil, tincture, capsule, extract or tea form. Ginger root has been used for over 2,000 years to aid in digestion and treat nausea, diarrhea and upset stomach. For pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, the University of Maryland Medical Center suggests that 1g of ginger per day, whether it be by way of a cup of tea or as a capsule or extract, is a safe and effective way to relieve these symptoms.
Scientific Evidence
Although many, according to MedlinePlus, still believe that using ginger in any form during pregnancy is controversial, scientific evidence proves otherwise. In a study published in the September 2007 issue of the "Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand," researchers found that ginger is as effective as dimenhydrinate in the treatment of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and has fewer side effects. During this study, 170 pregnant women who experienced symptoms of nausea and vomiting were randomly split into two groups, one that received one capsule of ginger twice per day or one that received an identical capsule of dimenhydrinate, a popular treatment for nausea and vomiting, twice daily for seven days. The results showed that ginger and dimenhydrinate have the same impact on the symptoms of nausea and by the end of the seven days, had the same impact on vomiting episodes. The big difference between the two treatments was that ginger appeared to have fewer side effects than dimenhydrinate and was actually preferred by participants. In another study published two years later in the March issue of the "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine," ginger was again deemed an effective herbal remedy for pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting. In this study, 67 pregnant women who suffered from these pregnancy-related symptoms were split into two groups, either receiving 250mg of ginger for four days or a placebo with the same prescription form. The participants who received the ginger found an 85 percent improvement over those who took the placebo, who only experienced a 56 percent improvement. In the same year, published in the December issue of "Midwifery," another study proved that ginger is even better than vitamin B-6, which is commonly used to relieve pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting symptoms. During this study, 70 pregnant women were given either 1g of ginger per day or 40mg of vitamin B-6 per day for four days and monitored for three months. The participants who used the ginger showed significantly greater improvements in their nausea and vomiting episodes compared to those who used the vitamin B-6 therapy.
How Ginger Works
Ginger contains active phenol compounds known as gingerols and shogaols. These active ingredients are what is believed to reduce nausea and inflammation that cause vomiting. Once ginger hits the stomach, it helps neutralize the stomach acids by promoting the secretion of digestive enzymes. MedlinePlus states that ginger also has the ability to relax the stomach muscles and calm down the activity in the intestines that usually occurs when your body is feeling nausea.
Precautions
It is important to consult a doctor before using ginger during pregnancy. Although ginger scientifically has been proven as a safe treatment, there is a slight chance, about 1 to 3 percent, that ginger might affect fetal sex hormones or induce miscarriage. There may also be minor side effects that may occur while consuming ginger including mild heartburn, diarrhea, belching, upset stomach and irritation of the mouth. Ginger should not be used if gallstones are present, if surgery is scheduled or if blood thinners are prescribed.
References
- "Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology"; Contemporary Approaches to Hyperemesis During Pregnancy; P.C. Tan, et al.; April 2011
- MedlinePlus; Ginger; March 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Ginger
- "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine"; Effects of Ginger Capsules on Pregnancy, Nausea, and Vomiting; G. Ozgoli, et al.; March 2009
- "Midwifery"; Comparing Ginger and Vitamin B6 for the Treatment of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy: A Randomised Controlled Trial; J. Ensiyeh, et al.; December 2009
- "Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand"; A Randomized Comparison of Ginger and Dimenhydrinate in the Treatment of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy; D. Pongrojpaw, et al.; September 2007
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