Ginger is used as a spice, but also as an herbal medicine. People consume fresh ginger, dried ginger, ginger extract or oil or ginger capsules, but you can also steep fresh ginger in boiling water to make ginger tea. Although the research is still preliminary, ginger may help to lower your blood pressure.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is caused when your heart has to use more force to move blood through your body. If your blood pressure is high enough, it can cause health problems, including stroke and heart disease. Dietary and lifestyle changes are the first step in treating hypertension, but you may also need to take medication.
Ginger and Blood Pressure
Preliminary research suggests that ginger may act similarly to a type of blood pressure medication called calcium channel blockers. A study published in January 2005 in the "Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology" found that ginger extract caused the blood pressure of rats to decrease in a dose-dependent manner, and noted that this was due to ginger blocking voltage-dependent calcium channels.
Side Effects and Safety
Ginger can cause side effects when used in medicinal amounts, including diarrhea, heartburn, stomach discomfort, belching and mouth irritation. Ginger may also interact with medications such as blood thinners, blood pressure medications and diabetes medications. If you suffer from a bleeding disorder or a heart condition, or if you are pregnant or nursing, you should not take ginger.
Considerations
Speak with your doctor before taking ginger. Do not self-treat your high blood pressure with ginger or use ginger in place of the treatment prescribed by your doctor. Ginger is not safe for everyone, and the evidence for the use of ginger for hypertension is still very preliminary. Further studies are needed to determine whether the blood pressure benefits found in animals also occur in people.
References
- MedlinePlus: Ginger
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Ginger
- MayoClinic.com; High Blood Pressure (Hypertension); March 2011
- "Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology"; Ginger Lowers Blood Pressure Through Blockade of Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channels; Muhammad Nabeel Ghayur, et al.; January 2005
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