Ginger, a world-renowned herb, aids digestion, circulation, nausea

Better Nutrition, July, 1996 by James F. Scheer

One of the least publicized, yet most promising, supplements in the herbal market is the seasoning that spices up such culinary delights as ginger snaps and ginger breads -- (you guessed it) ginger. Far more than a seasoning, ginger is a nutritional supplement that is both new and old. Its history supports its modern-day popularity and use.

Two thousand years ago, Chinese doctors used fresh ginger to manage nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Older men and women in ancient cultures in Africa reportedly drank ginger root in water to enhance their sexual desire. Jean Carper mentions that today's New Guinea women utilize dried ginger root as a contraceptive. In India, solicitous mothers insist that their children with whooping cough sip fresh ginger tea.

Morning sickness and motion sickness

Taking a cue from Oriental medical history, alternative doctors in the United States have tried ginger for morning sickness and, particularly, for motion sickness and have found it to be effective and safe.

In a double-blind, comparative test at Brigham Young University, Utah, researchers found ginger root to be more effective in coping with motion sickness than the popular, over-the-counter drug, Dramamine.

Volunteer students, who were selected because of their high susceptibility to motion sickness, were divided into three groups. Each group was given a capsule of ginger root -- roughly a half teaspoon of powdered ginger -- Dramamine, or a placebo.

Every volunteer was blindfolded and then spun around in a tilting chair for as long as he or she could handle the spin, up to a maximum of six minutes. Fifty percent of the those taking ginger root endured the test for the full six minutes, while no one taking Dramamine or a placebo could last that long.

Throughout written history, ginger root has been a help to pregnant women who experience the nausea and vomiting known as morning sickness. It has also proved effective in preventing nausea after major gynecological surgery -- more effective than Metodepramide and a placebo, as demonstrated in a comparative study of 60 women.

Ginger offers a multitude of other health benefits. It improves digestion, prevents and manages stomach ulcers, protects against symptoms of colds and flu, stimulates blood circulation, acts as an anti-inflammatory, normalizes menstruation, works as an aphrodisiac, prevents abnormal blood coagulation, lowers cholesterol, acts as an antioxidant, and as an antihistamine, reducing allergy symptoms.

The ancient Chinese used it to increase the flow of saliva and digestive juices for improved digestion. In India, where hard-to-digest legumes are frequently served, ginger proves to be effective; it is often sliced into certain dishes during cooking for its benefits to digestion. Doctors in China have also found it helpful in coping with stomach ulcers.

Ginger's long list of health benefits

The American Botanical Council's newsletter HerbClip states that ginger "acts like cayenne to improve circulation throughout the tissues."

For arthritis and rheumatic conditions, ginger has been shown to be a very potent inhibitor of the formation of inflammatory compounds.

Several studies have found ginger to prevent colds and, when they already exist, to reduce their symptoms and to speed recovery.

HerbClip also reveals that ginger may be effective in maintaining women's health: "It has long been recommended for irregular menstruation. It stimulates and warms the uterus, promotes menses, and frees spasm. It is also useful in delayed, scanty or no menstruation with constant cramps, dull red clots and chilliness."

In addition, a Cornell University study reveals that gingerol, an active ingredient in ginger, prevents abnormal blood coagulation, guarding against heart attacks. Ginger also reduces blood cholesterol by improving liver function. A little-known action of ginger is as an antioxidant to prevent damage to cells by free radicals.

Nutrition centers sell ginger root most often in the form of capsules and teas. The most effective ginger supplement contains pungent compounds, such as gingerol and shogaol.

REFERENCES

Carper, Jean. The Food Pharmacy. New York: Bantam Books, 1988.

"Monograph on Ginger," HerbClips, American Botanical Council, December 25, 1995.

Salaman, Maureen and Scheer, James F. Foods That Heal. Menlo Park, Calif.: Statford Publishing, Inc., 1989.