Ginger, or Zingiber officinale, is a culinary spice that naturally grows in the tropical areas of Asia, Australia, India and West Africa. Ginger plants feature aromatic, thick beige underground stems, called rhizomes. Asian, Arabic and Indian cultures have long used these root to treat a variety of health conditions, and modern research has verified that ginger does contain medicinal benefits. Ginger supplements come in dried, liquid, tea, capsule, oil and tablet forms. Talk to your doctor before you use ginger for health purposes.
Reduces Nausea
The active ingredients in ginger helps to treat nausea. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, study subjects who consumed powdered ginger experienced significantly reduced levels of nausea and vomiting than the subjects who took a placebo. However, ginger supplements do not seem as effective as motion sickness medications. Consuming ginger can reduce the length and severity of nausea episodes during cancer chemotherapy, although it doesn't appear to help treat chemotherapy-related vomiting. Consuming 1 g of ginger about 60 minutes before surgery can help alleviate postoperative nausea and vomiting.
Prevents Morning Sickness
Ginger appears to reduce the severity of nausea and vomiting associated with morning sickness. Consuming 1 g of ginger every day can help treat pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, but only use ginger up to four consecutive days. Consult your physician about the benefits and potential risks of taking ginger supplements during pregnancy.
Reduces Inflammation
Practitioners of traditional medicine systems have long used ginger to reduce inflammation. According to the UMMC, study subjects with osteoarthritis who took ginger extract two times a day needed less pain-killing drugs and experienced less physical pain than the subjects who received a placebo. The active chemicals in ginger might also help reduce joint pain in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, but more research needs to verify this claim. Talk to your health care provider before you use ginger to treat arthritis symptoms.
Other Benefits
According to the UMMC, early research indicates that consuming ginger might help lower your cholesterol levels and stop your blood from clotting, both of which can prevent blockages from forming in your arteries. According to Drugs.com, ginger exhibits anti-tumor properties in animal and test tube experiments, but clinical studies need to verify that ginger kills cancer cells in humans. Herbalists have traditionally used ginger to treat colic, diarrhea, flatulence and hangovers. Fresh ginger was also used to treat bacterial dysentery, malaria, migraine headaches, toothaches and poisonous snakebites.
Warnings
Talk to your doctor before you consume ginger because it can interfere with the effects of prescription blood-thinning drugs. Don't use ginger supplements if you suffer from any kind of bleeding disorder. Eating ginger might lower your blood sugar levels, so talk to your doctor before using this herb if you suffer from diabetes. Although side effects are rare, you might experience mild heartburn, mouth irritation, belching and diarrhea.
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