Ginger

Ginger

Ginger – An Amazing And Versatile Medicinal Herb

Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) a relative of turmeric, is an incredibly versatile and powerful medicinal herb.  This spicy yellow root, commonly used to cleanse the palate between bites of sushi, has also been used as medicine for over a thousand years.  Due to its ability to reduce the toxicity of other herbs, and because of its adaptogenic and additive effects, it is used by practitioners of Asian medicine to “harmonize” herbal formulas, making them more effective and easier to digest.

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The list of things ginger is said to treat is manifold, therefore I’ll focus on some of what I consider to be the more important aspects (and may expand this article to cover more in the future as time allows).

• Cancer – Ginger has been shown to inhibit cell growth and modulate angiogenic[1],[2] factors in several types of cancer, including ovarian[3], breast[4], colon[5], prostate[6], and others.[7]
• Type II Diabetes and Prevention – Studies show that ginger may be preventative of type II diabetes, and may also protect against the degenerative effects of high blood sugar on organ systems in the body.  One study states “The mechanisms underlying these actions are associated with insulin release and action, and improved carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. The most active ingredients in ginger are the pungent principles, gingerols, and shogaol. Ginger has shown prominent protective effects on diabetic liver, kidney, eye, and neural system complications.”[8]
• Ulcers – Ginger can help prevent or treat ulcers due to its antibacterial activity.  It has been shown to significantly reduce H. Pylori load (the bacteria that causes ulcers), and to reduce inflammation via the COX-2 pathway by up to 50%, and to stop erosion of the epithelial lining of the digestive tract.[9]
• Nausea (Morning Sickness, Motion Sickness, Chemotherapy Induced Nausea) – Ginger has been shown to reduce nausea from a host of causes.  Chemotherapy induced nausea[10], morning sickness[11],[12] and motion sickness among them (although there are mixed studies on its efficacy for motion sickness)[13],[14].  The mechanisms behind this effect aren’t yet known, but it is suspected that the antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effects of ginger may be involved.
• Arthritis/Inflammation – Ginger reduces cytokines as well as western pharmaceuticals[15], and inhibits COX-2[16] and PGE2 (prostaglandins)[17].  It is thought that compounds in ginger have multiple, and synergistic effects on reducing inflammation and pain for both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.  Ginger has also been shown to be effective for pain in primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain).[18]
• Antibiotic – For hundreds of years ginger has been used to treat, and prevent seafood poisoning, and digestive complaints that may have had bacterial infections at their root.  Now studies prove that ginger destroys E. Coli, H. Pylori, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and many other bacteria.[19],[20],[21]
• Improves Digestion – Besides the already listed benefits of ginger for nausea, and for ulcers, it appears that ginger also speeds gastric emptying[22], and acts as a carminative, breaking up intestinal gas and expelling it.[23]  The symptoms of slow gastric emptying are nausea, vomiting, and abdominal fullness after eating.

Dosage

Ginger is safe to use as a food, and shows very little toxicity.  When used medicinally, taking 3-9gms of fresh ginger a day is the standard dosage in Traditional Chinese Medicine.  Dried ginger can be taken in smaller doses of about 3gms.

Precautions

Ginger has an additive effect on many medications; meaning it increases their activity in the human body.  Therefore, it is important to talk to your doctor or licensed acupuncturist about any medications you are taking before you use ginger.  In particular, it may increase the effects of blood thinners and lead to serious complications.  If you are taking any of the following medications, be particularly careful to speak to your doctor before taking ginger:  NSAIDs (ibuprofen, aspirin, Motrin, etc.), blood thinners (Warfarin/Coumadin, Heparin), heart medications, diabetes medications or other medications that control blood sugar (Glucophage/Metformin, Glucotrol, etc.).

NOTE

The information provided above is educational only and is not meant to act as, or substitute for, medical advice.  Seek advice from a licensed acupuncturist or herbalist when considering using herbal medicine.

Warmest and Best,

Craig Swogger, L.Ac
Offering Acupuncture in Santa Monica and Los Angeles


[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16081047

[2] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17175086

[3] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2241638/

[4] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3433172/

[5] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3208778/

[6] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3426621/

[7] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23638641

[8] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3519348/

[9] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849670/

[10] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3361530/

[11] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2990891/

[12] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11275030

[13] http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/21/health/21real.html

[14] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2062873

[15] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3546442/

[16] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3018740/

[17] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2837120/

[18] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3518208/

[19] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3418209/

[20] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3070620/

[21] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849670/

[22] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3016669/

[23] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92775/