Pain is something almost every person experiences at one time or another, be it from an injury or from an illness. Chronic pain is a pain that just never seems to go away and, according to The American Academy of Pain Medicine, affects some 1.5 billion people worldwide. If you suffer from chronic pain, you are always looking for medications or therapies that will help ease the pain and make your life a little easier. While there are a variety of known painkillers, ranging from over-the-counter medications to prescriptions, many people are turning to natural products, like ginger, to help ease their pain. Always consult your doctor before trying a new therapy, especially if you have a health condition.
Ginger
Ginger is an herb and its underground stem, or rhizome, is used as a spice as well as in a variety of medicines. It is commonly used to treat stomach conditions such as motion sickness, colic, upset stomach, queasiness, and loss of appetite and nausea caused by chemotherapy or surgery. Dried ginger has been used to treat chest pain, low back pain and stomach pain. MedlinePlus indicates there is some evidence that ginger may be beneficial in the treatment of pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Standard Painkillers
Standard painkillers designed to treat pain come in a wide variety of options from over-the-counter medications to prescriptions written by your physician. OTC medications include acetaminophen and a variety of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen. Prescription pain medications come in a variety of different options with two main categories being COX-2 inhibitors and narcotics. COX-2 inhibitors work to block an inflammation-producing substance known as COX-2. These work well for pain, though there are serious possible side effects that should be discussed with your physician. Narcotics work well for pain, but they can be habit-forming. Examples of narcotics include oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine and codeine.
Medical Research
Numerous studies look at the connection between pain and ginger and find connections to various causes of pain such as migraines, dysmenorrhea, muscle pain and osteoarthritis. In a 2011 study published in the journal "Headache," researchers found that a combination of feverfew and ginger administered sublingually, or under the tongue, at the first onset of a migraine proved to be effective in reducing headache pain and symptoms. In a 2009 study published in the "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine," females ages 18 and older with primary dysmenorrhea, or common cramps, took 250 mg capsules of ginger four times a day for the three days before the start of their menstrual period. Results showed that the use of ginger to reduce pain was as effective as the group receiving ibuprofen. A 2001 study published in "Arthritis and Rheumatism" found that the use of highly purified ginger extract administered two times a day showed significant effects on pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.
Considerations
While ginger is tolerated well by most people, some considerations may need to be discussed with your physician. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have bleeding disorders, diabetes or heart conditions, avoid using ginger supplements. Ginger can act as a natural blood-thinning agent and can interact with medications such as warfarin and increase your risk for bruising and bleeding. For diabetics, ginger may decrease blood sugar and raise the risk of blood sugar levels dropping too low. Ginger may reduce blood pressure, and if you are taking medications such as calcium channel blockers, ginger could increase the risk of your blood pressure dropping too low. Before adding ginger supplements to treat pain, consult with your physician and make sure he is aware of all medical conditions and medications you are taking.
References
- The American Academy of Pain Medicine: AAPM Facts and Figures on Pain
- MedlinePlus: Ginger
- MedlinePlus: Pain Medications
- "Headache"; A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study of Sublingual Feverfew and Ginger (LipiGesic™ ) M) in the Treatment of Migraine; R.K. Cady, et al.; June 2011
- "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine"; Comparison of Effects of Ginger, Mefenamic Acid and Ibuprofen on Pain in Women With Primary Dysmenorrhea; G. Ozgoli et al.; February 2009
- "Arthritis and Rheumatism"; Effects of a Ginger Extract on Knee Pain in Patients With Osteoarthritis; R.D. Altman, et al.; November 2001
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