Ginger

Zingiber officinale

Ginger belongs to the Zingiberaceae plant family, which also includes turmeric and cardamom.  Ginger comes from the Sanskrit word ‘horn-root,’ and grows in Jamaica, India, Haiti and Hawaii.

Ginger has been both a food and a medicine since ancient times.  It was widely used in ancient Greece, Arabia, Rome and China and is still popular in Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western Herbal medicine today.

Ginger is a warming digestive tonic which relieves nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, colic, bloating and flatulence; thus historically, the root has been used to aid digestion.

Ancient Greeks wrapped Ginger inside their bread and ate it as an after-dinner digestive.  This practice led to their invention of gingerbread.

English society concocted ginger beer to soothe the stomach and in the 1800’s, the Eclectics used ginger powder and tea for several digestive complaints, including indigestion, gas, nausea, and infant diarrhoea.
In Western Herbal medicine, Ginger is used for the nausea and vomiting of motion sickness; for morning sickness of pregnancy and for drug-induced nausea (for example, with chemotherapy or anaesthetics.)  It is also useful for loss of appetite, dyspepsia and flatulence.  It may have an anti-inflammatory effect in arthritis.
Experimental studies have shown that Ginger exerts a myriad of different pharmacological effects on the body.  Most commonly demonstrated are as an anti-nauseant, anti-inflammatory and digestive.

Beginning in the 1980s, several studies have shown that Ginger is useful in aiding digestion.

A 1999 German study reported the results from twelve volunteers who took Ginger twice daily when fasting and then with a meal.  In both instances, Ginger was linked to increased digestive movement through the stomach and duodenum.

There have been many clinical trials of Ginger’s efficacy in relief of nausea –

• Ginger was better than placebo and as effective as stemetil, (an anti-nausea drug) in post-operative patients.
• Studies investigating seasickness, morning sickness and chemotherapy-induced nausea favoured Ginger over placebo.
• Ginger provided relief from pregnancy-induced nausea in 67% of women treated.

The Japanese use Ginger as an antidote for fish poisoning, especially with sushi.  Ginger is thought to fight harmful intestinal bacteria such as E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus, without killing beneficial bacteria.  Ginger aids the growth of Lactobacillus,a beneficial bacteria, in the intestines while killing Schistosoma and Anisakis, which are harmful parasites.

Because ginger is an antibacterial, it can be used to treat ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori.
Ginger's anti-inflammatory abilities have also been shown to help reduce hip and knee pain in some osteoarthritic patients.

In one study of Ginger’s efficacy, 75% of arthritic patients experienced relief in pain and swelling, whilst 100% of patients with muscle pain experienced relief.  None of the patients reported adverse effects during the duration of Ginger consumption which ranged from three to thirty months.

Ginger may lower cholesterol levels by impairing cholesterol absorption, facilitating the conversion of cholesterol into bile acids and increasing bile elimination.

In a 1998 study, Ginger was shown to lessen the effect of cholesterol on arteries. Ginger can be taken with onions and garlic. These agents all work in harmony to stimulate the pancreas and decrease cholesterol.

Cautions and Contraindications.

Ginger in high doses is not recommended for children, pregnant women or with anticoagulants such as warfarin.
Heartburn, peptic ulcer, gall-stones and allergy.