Tidbits on Ginger....

[Guest guest]

....from whole health md:

 

Ginger

 

What Is It?

Health Benefits

Dosage Information

Guidelines for Use

General Interaction

Possible Side Effects

Cautions

 

 

What Is It?

 

Revered around the world for its pungent taste, ginger (Zingiber

officinale) is a natural spice that is also widely prized for its

medicinal properties. Since ancient times, traditional healers in a

diverse array of cultures have used this plant primarily to help

settle upset stomachs. Chinese herbalists have relied on ginger as a

medicine and flavoring for more than 2,500 years. The early Greeks

mixed it into breads (hence the first gingerbread), and North

American colonists sipped nausea-quelling ginger beer, the precursor

of modern ginger ale. Today, many cultures continue to rely on

ginger for controlling nausea and also for reducing inflammation.

 

A botanical relative of marjoram and turmeric, the ginger plant is

indigenous to southeast Asia and is now also extensively cultivated

in Jamaica and other tropical areas. It's the plant's aromatic

rhizome (or underground stem) that's used for culinary and medicinal

purposes.

 

 

Health Benefits

 

Ginger's effectiveness as a digestive aid is due largely to its

active ingredients: gingerols and shogaols. These substances help to

neutralize stomach acids, enhance the secretion of digestive juices

(stimulating the appetite), and tone the muscles of the digestive

tract. Research confirms the presence of anti-inflammatory

properties in ginger as well.

 

 

Specifically, ginger may help to:

 

Relieve nausea. Standard anti-nausea medications often work through

the central nervous system, causing drowsiness. Ginger isn't likely

to cause this reaction, however, because it acts directly on the

digestive tract. In studies of women undergoing major gynecological

or exploratory (laparoscopic) surgery, those who took 1 gram of

ginger before the procedure experienced significantly less

postoperative reaction to anesthesia and surgery--namely, nausea and

vomiting--than did those who were given a placebo. Ginger also may

be useful in easing the nausea that frequently follows chemotherapy

treatments.

 

Combat motion sickness. In a widely cited study of Danish naval

cadets, those given 1 gram of powdered ginger daily had much fewer

incidents of cold sweats and vomiting (classic symptoms of

seasickness) than did those given a placebo. A number of other

studies have demonstrated similar findings concerning ginger's

calming effect on motion sickness.

 

Reduce dizziness. Ginger's anti-nausea action also helps dispel

dizziness, particularly when the dizziness is aggravated by motion

sickness. Older people, who can be unsteady on their feet, may

particularly benefit from ginger's steadying influence.

 

Limit flatulence. Because ginger soothes the digestive tract, it can

be useful in relieving flatulence. Supplements or freshly grated

ginger root mixed with diluted lime juice work well for this purpose.

 

Control chronic pain. Ginger helps indirectly to relieve chronic

pain by reducing inflammation and, particularly when taken in

standardized extract form, by lowering the body's level of natural

pain-causing compounds called prostaglandins. Localized chronic pain

may also respond well to ginger oil massages.

 

Ease the pain of muscle aches and rheumatoid arthritis. Ginger oil

massaged into sore or aching muscles offers a measure of relief from

muscle strain, in part because of the herb's anti-inflammatory

properties. When taken in standardized extract form, ginger may

additionally lower the level of the body's natural pain-causing

compounds called prostaglandins. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may

also respond to treatment with ginger, either in massage oil or

standardized extract form. In a study of seven women with rheumatoid

arthritis, reduced joint swelling and pain were reported following a

daily regimen of up to 1 gram of powdered ginger or 5 to 50 grams of

fresh ginger.

 

Minimize symptoms of the common cold, allergies, and other

respiratory conditions. Ginger is a natural antihistamine and

decongestant. It seems to provide a measure of relief from cold and

allergy symptoms by dilating constricted bronchial tubes. It's often

included in herbal decongestant blends that are designed for

sinusitis and other respiratory complaints.

Note: Ginger has also been found to be useful for a number of other

disorders. For information on these additional ailments, see our

Dosage Recommendations Chart for Ginger.

 

 

Dosage Information

 

Special tip:

 

--Select ginger supplements standardized to contain the " pungent

compounds, " namely, gingerols and shogaols. These are the plant's

critical active ingredients.

 

Ginger can be used in the following forms and dosages for the

majority of conditions mentioned:

 

--Standardized extract in pill form: Take 100 to 200 mg every four

hours or up to three times a day.

 

--Fresh powdered ginger: Take 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon every four hours

or up to three times a day.

 

--Fresh ginger root: Take a 1/4- to 1/2-inch (peeled) slice every

four hours or up to three times a day.

 

--Ginger tea: Drink several cups a day. Tea is available in

prepackaged bags or can be prepared by steeping 1/2 teaspoon of

grated ginger root in 8 ounces of very hot water for five to ten

minutes. A cup of tea, when steeped for this amount of time, can

contain about 250 mg of ginger.

 

--Ginger ale: Drink several cups a day; an 8-ounce glass contains

approximately 1 gram of ginger. Be sure to select products made with

real ginger.

 

--Crystallized ginger: Enjoy two pieces of crystallized ginger a

day; about 500 mg of ginger is present in a 1-inch-square, 1/4-inch-

thick piece of ginger prepared this way.

 

 

For motion sickness: Take l00 mg two hours before departing and then

every four hours afterward as needed.

 

For aching muscles: Add a few drops of ginger oil to 1 tablespoon of

a neutral oil (such as almond oil), blend well, then rub the mixture

into the painful area.

 

For rheumatoid arthritis: Take 100 mg three times a day or drink up

to four cups of ginger tea daily.

 

For chronic pain: Either take 100 mg three times daily or blend a

few drops of ginger, lavender, and birch oils with 1 tablespoon of a

neutral oil (such as almond oil), and gently massage the mixture

into the affected areas.

 

For cold and allergy relief: Drink up to four cups of ginger tea

daily as needed. Folk practitioners also recommend chewing fresh

ginger, drinking real ginger ale, or squeezing juice from a fresh

ginger root and mixing it with a spoonful of honey.

Be sure to check out our Dosage Recommendations Chart, which has

therapeutic dosages for specific ailments at a glance.

 

 

Guidelines for Use

 

Take ginger capsules with a glass of water or other fluid.

 

To prevent postoperative nausea, start taking ginger the day after

surgery. Only do so under a doctor's guidance, however.

 

If you are undergoing chemotherapy, take ginger with food to reduce

the chance of stomach irritation.

 

 

General Interaction

 

There are no known drug or nutrient interactions associated with

ginger.

 

 

Possible Side Effects

 

Ginger, in all available forms, is very safe to take for a wide

variety of ailments.

 

Some people report heartburn after taking ginger.

 

 

Cautions

 

Don't treat pregnancy-related nausea with ginger for longer than the

first two months of pregnancy. Similarly, don't take more than 250

mg four times a day during pregnancy without consulting your

obstetrician.

 

Avoid medicinal amounts of ginger if you have gallstones unless your

doctor advises you otherwise; the herb increases bile flow.

 

Because ginger can make blood platelets less sticky--and thus

increase the risk for bleeding--it's probably a good precautionary

measure to stop taking ginger three to four days before any

scheduled surgery. Start up again right after surgery.

 

 

Ailments Dosage

 

Allergies Drink up to 4 cups a day of ginger tea.

 

Cancer 100-300 mg every 4 hours as needed for nausea

 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome 100-300 mg 3 times a day (depending on

standardization)

 

Chronic Pain 100-300 mg standardized extract or 300 mg freeze-dried

herb or 500 mg of whole-root herb 3 times a day

 

Flatulence 250-500 mg 2 or 3 times a day as needed.

 

Muscle Aches and Pains Blend a few drops ginger oil into 1 tbsp.

neutral oil, such as almond oil, and massage into the affected area.

 

Nausea and Vomiting 200 mg every 4 hours as needed.

 

Rheumatoid Arthritis 500-1000 mg 3 times a day. Or drink up to 4

cups of ginger tea daily

 

Sports Injuries 200 mg 3 times a day.