Ginger May Help Reduce Arthritis Related Knee Pain

[Guest guest]

I may be in the minority, but I still feel that things like ginger

should be considered whole foods and taken with all of their

components, rather than treating them like drugs and singling out

their " active ingredients " as we understand them right now... Which

is always subject to change...

 

There are so many wonderful ways to take ginger too! I like to

juice it with my carrots, make a tea out of it, or add it to meals

when I am cooking... Then for a firey special treat there is

candied ginger... Yum!

 

Other comments?

Misty L. Trepke

http://www..com

 

Ginger May Help Reduce Arthritis-related Knee Pain

 

http://healthy.net/scr/news.asp?Id=8724

 

Knee pain from arthritis is one of the most common medical problems

in the United States today. Treatment options include pain

medications, knee injections, physical therapy and surgery.

As we continue to age, there will be an increased demand for good

pain relief. However, rising medical costs may ultimately limit

access to newer medications, physical therapy and invasive

procedures.

 

Inexpensive and safe dietary supplements such as glucosamine,

chondroitin and methyl-sulfonyl-methane (MSM) have been shown to

reduce the pain associated with osteoarthritis. A common spice -

ginger - may soon be added to that list. In a recent study in the

journal OsteoArthritis and Cartilage, ginger was shown to be

effective in reducing arthritis-related knee pain and increasing

function.

 

Ginger comes from the root of the plant Zingiber officinale. It has

been used as a spice, condiment and medicine for more than 2,500

years. Today, ginger is available as a spice, raw, pickled, and in

capsule form at grocery and health food stores.

 

The active ingredient in ginger is an oil called gingerol. It

accounts for the aroma as well as the therapeutic properties.

Historically, ginger has been used as a treatment for the nausea

associated with motion sickness and following surgery. It also

reduces platelet stickiness, but only at very high doses (more than

10 grams a day).

 

Twenty-nine patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were enrolled

in a double-blinded, crossover study. Some of the patients took 1

gram of ginger a day. The study authors followed levels of pain,

function and swelling of the knee. Only the patients taking ginger

had a reduction in pain and knee swelling. They also had a

significant increase in knee function.

 

These results go beyond simply reducing pain. Patients whose knees

hurt are often limited in their ability to exercise. The sedentary

lifestyle associated with knee pain can lead to serious, life-

threatening conditions such as heart disease, cancer, obesity,

diabetes and high blood pressure.

 

Is ginger better than medications or other dietary supplements? We

don't know. Future research could include comparisons to pain

medications and dietary supplements like glucosamine. One area of

interest would be evaluating specific combinations, such as ginger

and glucosamine. I have seen very good relief of knee pain for my

arthritis patients when I prescribe combinations of pain medications

and glucosamine. Ginger may also be an option.

 

- Patrick B. Massey, M.D., Ph.D., is medical director for

alternative and complementary medicine for Alexian Brothers Hospital

Network. His Web site is www.alt-med.org.

[Guest guest]

Misty,

 

I'm with you, when it comes to whole foods! Whole foods are always

better than isolated nutrients. After all, the nutrients all work

synergistically together. That's why I'm generally against vitamin

pills, with all their bits and pieces of stuff. I love that candied

ginger, too! But it does have a lot of sugar on it. Do you know how

they make it? Because, ginger is so hard, and the candied ginger is

very chewy. What do they do to it? Maybe I don't want to know.

 

Carol

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Misty L. Trepke [mistytrepke]

Wednesday, March 24, 2004 10:38 AM

 

[s-A] [AltMedForum] Ginger May Help Reduce Arthritis Related

Knee Pain

 

I may be in the minority, but I still feel that things like ginger

should be considered whole foods and taken with all of their

components, rather than treating them like drugs and singling out

their " active ingredients " as we understand them right now... Which

is always subject to change...

 

There are so many wonderful ways to take ginger too! I like to

juice it with my carrots, make a tea out of it, or add it to meals

when I am cooking... Then for a firey special treat there is

candied ginger... Yum!