Ginger root is an herbal remedy that may have hypertensive effects than can interfere with certain blood pressure therapies. While commonly available in the dried herb, tincture, tea and capsule forms, ginger root is also used as a flavoring agent for food products such as ginger bread, ginger snaps and ginger ale. Talk to your doctor if you are currently taking any blood pressure medicine and are considering adding ginger root to your diet.
Ginger and Blood Pressure Medications
According to MedlinePlus, ginger root may interfere with blood pressure medications designed to block calcium channels. Because ginger reduces blood pressure in a similar manner as blood pressure medications, symptoms such as sharp drops in blood pressure and irregular heartbeat may occur. Avoid ginger root products and supplements if you are currently taking the following medications for high blood pressure and heart disease: nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem, isradipine, felodipine and amlodipine.
Complications
The Green Earth Herbs website lists ginger as a possible culprit in interfering with certain antihypertensive medicines. Due to its hypertensive and hypotensive effects, ginger and ginger products may interfere with some blood pressure therapies. Excessive ginger consumption may be linked to increased blood flow, reducing the effect of anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs. Lastly, components of the ginger root are purported to create an inotropic effect in the body, potentially interfering with cardiac drugs and other cardiovascular therapies.
Dosage
Although generally safe for most healthy adults, ginger may cause unpleasant symptoms, such as heartburn, if taken in excess. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends keeping your total ginger intake to 4 g or less a day. Preparations for nausea, gas and indigestion typically involve .25 to 1 g of powdered root or 1.5 to 3 mL of liquid extract taken throughout the course of a day. For herbal tea concoctions, steep 2 tbsp of freshly shredded ginger root in hot water for 10 minutes and strain before drinking. Foods and beverages with ginger root ingredients generally contain no more than .5 percent ginger. In other words, you would have to drink 28 oz of ginger ale -- the equivalent of 800 g -- to consume the daily recommended limit of 4 g of ginger.
Safety Concerns
Talk to your doctor before including ginger root to your diet if you are currently taking any form of blood pressure medications, including any antihypertensives, anticoagulants, antiplatelets. While all-natural ginger ales contain quantities of real ginger root, some products use syrups and artificial flavorings instead, and may be safe for individuals taking blood pressure medication.
