Ginger is an herb native to Asia. For thousands of years it has been used as an herbal medicine in Arabia and India, as well as Asia. Ginger is a bulky root that grows partly underground and protrudes as much as a foot above the ground's surface. It has narrow, ribbed green leaves, with yellow-green flowers.
Main uses
Ginger can be dried, powdered, used in its natural form, converted into an oil or juice. It has been used to treat:
Motion sickness
Upset stomach
Morning sickness
Cold and flu
Flatulence
Diarrhea
Nausea and vomiting following surgery
Appetite loss
Other uses
Some other uses for ginger include:
Pain relief (arthritis, menstruation, joint, and muscle)
Bronchitis
Cough
Upper respiratory infection
Laxative
Antacid
Migraines
A double-blind, non-placedbo controlled study released in May 2013 compared two types of migraine treatments in 100 acute migraine patients.[5] Participants were given ginger powder or sumatriptan, a common migraine drug, to take at migraine onset. After two hours, both groups experienced significantly reduced head pain.
Ginger powder may significantly reduce head pain.
The researchers concluded that ginger worked just as well as sumatriptan with fewerside effects.
While this study shows promise, migraine patients shouldalways consult their healthcare provider before taking a new supplement.
Safety concerns and side effects
Ginger root
References
- National Institutes of Health; MedlinePlus; "Ginger;" 2013
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Herbs at a Glance; "Ginger;" 2008
- Bauer, B.; Mayo Clinic; "Ginger for Nausea: Does It Work?"; 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center; "Ginger;" 2010
- Mehdi, M. et. al.; Phytotherapy Research; "Comparison Between the Efficacy of Ginger and Sumatriptan in the Ablative Treatment of the Common Migraine;" 2013
