Medicinal Benefits of Ginger
Renata Trister DO
Medicinal Benefits of Ginger
Ginger has over 40 pharmacological actions.
To summarize these include antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal and anti-parasitic properties.
Ginger is an anti-inflammatory, and therefore useful for pain relief.
Ginger is also a thermogenic substance with beneficial impacts on metabolism.
The medicinal uses of ginger have been known for at least 2,000 years in cultures all around the world. Although it originated in Asia, ginger is valued in India, the Middle East and Africa.
The most commonly used medicinal portion of the ginger plant is the root-stem, which grows underground.
Ginger (like many natural plant compounds) is anti-inflammatory, which makes it a valuable tool for pain relief. In 2001, research showed that ginger oil helped reduce knee pain in people with osteoarthritis. Therefore ginger may be used instead of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) to decrease joint pain, muscle soreness and menstrual pain.
Along with help for muscle and joint pain, ginger has been found to reduce the severity of migraine headaches as well as the migraine medication Sumatriptan – with fewer side effects.
Ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties make it beneficial for many chronic inflammatory diseases.
Ginger also can benefit in treatment of diabetes. According to one comprehensive review, a clinical trial that was performed found that after consuming three grams of dry ginger powder for 30 days, diabetic participants had a significant reduction in blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol. It’s thought that ginger has a positive effect on diabetes because it:
Inhibits enzymes in carbohydrate metabolism
Increases insulin release and sensitivity
Improves lipid profiles
Ginger also has also been established to have a protective effect on the diabetic’s liver, kidneys, central nervous system, and eyes.
Ginger is most famously used for treating digestive upsets. It is one of the best natural remedies for motion sickness or nausea.
Taking one gram of ginger daily may help reduce nausea and vomiting in pregnant women, and those suffering from motion sickness.
Ginger is great for indigestion. Ginger relieves pain and is an antispasmodic agent, which may explain its beneficial effects on your intestinal tract.
Finally, ginger is a thermogenic or metabolism boosting substance with beneficial impacts on overall metabolism and fat storage. Research suggests that consuming thermogenic ingredients like ginger may boost your metabolism by up to 5 percent.