Ginger's medicinal properties have been celebrated by medical texts from China, India and Japan dating back to the 16th century, and modern researchers are investigating the scientific basis of its reported powers. One benefit of ginger under scrutiny is its purported ability to soothe the pain and inflammation caused by arthritis. So far, no research has unequivocally supported the anecdotal evidence of ginger's benefits for people with arthritis, but some small studies including a study published in the journal "Arthritis and Rheumatology" in 2001 have found mild to moderate positive effects from using ginger to treat arthritis pain.
Step 1
Make ginger tea by steeping about 2 inches of sliced ginger root in hot water for 15 to 20 minutes. Add honey, lemon or sugar to taste. Arthritis Today's Supplement Guide recommends drinking up to four glasses of ginger tea a day for arthritis pain relief.
Step 2
Consume 1 to 4 grams of ginger in the form of powder, capsules, tablets or fresh ginger every day, splitting the total amount of ginger into several smaller doses throughout the day for best results, suggests MedLine Plus, the online health information portal published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
Step 3
Limit your total ginger intake to 4 grams per day to prevent the stomach discomfort that can occur with large quantities of ginger. Since a number of arthritis medications, including traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, can also cause stomach discomfort, people with arthritis should pay close attention to the amount of ginger they consume.
Tips and Warnings
- Powdered forms of ginger may cause more stomach problems than other forms of ginger, according to MedLine Plus. In some cases, ginger may interact with medications used to treat arthritis. It's a good idea to check with your rheumatologist or other health care provider before adding ginger to your self-care regimen for arthritis pain.
- People who have gallstones or who take blood thinners should talk with their doctors before using ginger to treat arthritis symptoms.
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