|
The Health Benefits of Ginger
For over 5000 years ginger
was revered as the "universal medicine" by the ancient Orientals
of China and India and highly sought after by spice traders.
Today, ginger
remains a component of more than 50 percent of the traditional herbal
remedies and has been used, over the centuries, to treat nausea, indigestion,
fever and infection and to promote vitality and longevity.
It is claimed that Ginger
can save tens of thousands of lives and billions of dollars in lost workdays.
The world's favourite spice is reputed to have qualities that may prevent
heart attacks, arthritis pain, aid digestion, prevent colds and flu, skin
cancers and aid weight loss.
 Confucius
and Pliny praised it, Nostradamus included recipes for wine and ginger
preserved in honey and the Koran speaks of a fountain of ginger
flavoured water. British University's Professor Roger Collier developed
a ginger
and garlic cocktail which he claims thins the blood, dissolves clots and
lowers blood pressure. Further, these tests showed that ginger
cuts down on bad UDL and raises good HDL cholesterol, contains no fat
or sugar and can be added to foods to heighten flavour without adding
calories.
Preliminary research reported in the International
Journal of Obesity in October 1992, shows that ginger
boosts weight loss by calorie burning. By measuring a complicated series
of reactions in rats, researchers found that ginger
made the tissues use more energy.
The best example of ginger's anti-inflammatory
potential is in the treatment of arthritis. "According to Paul Schullick's
in 'Ginger,
Common Spice or Wonder Drug', " trials in Denmark showed that more
than three quarters of those tested experienced relief in pain and swelling"
Other conditions associated with inflammation are asthma, painful menstruation
and migraines.
The Danish studies, also reported in this book,
show an amazing side effect when the usual winter colds disappeared. Ginger's
anti toxic properties have an anti viral, anti fungal, anti histamine
and anti bacterial effect which is basically what we are swallowing with
anti-biotics, cold and flu tablets, cough mixtures and aspirin.
Ginger
tea brewed from the fresh root has been used in India and China for centuries
as an after meal drink to aid digestion. Ginger's
enzymes catalyse protein digestion in the stomach quickly and leave little
time for nausea. The effect for a normal plane or car traveller, especially
children or pregnant women, is obvious.
Case Western University dermatology researchers
found that ginger oil helps prevent sun cancer in mice in preliminary
tests released last year. Researchers covered mice in ginger
oil and then exposed them to chemicals that create cancer. The ginger
inhibited the growth of skin cancers on the mice. Research will continue
on this path which is of great interest to Queensland which is the skin
cancer capital of the world.
 But
perhaps all this research is just the health professionals re-discovering
what their ancestors already knew. The faculty of Medicine founded in
Salerno by four legendary physicians included a Greek, a Roman, a Jew
and an Arab Doctor. They all taught that good health came from diet and
nutrition bound up together. Ginger
was included in their medicine as a digestive element and widely used
in medieval cooking.
It quenches thirst, revives, excites the brain, and
in old age awakes young love again.
Source: Common Spice or Wonder Drug, Paul Schullick;
The History of Food, * Murray M. Pizzorno (1991); Encyclopedia of Natural
Medicine.
The Medicinal Properties of Ginger
Ginger
grows best in tropical and sub tropical areas, which have good rainfall
with hot and humid conditions during the summer season. This member of
the Zingiberaceae family originated in Southeast Asia and has been introduced
to many parts of the globe
where it proliferates in suitable environments.
 Belief
in the medicinal properties of ginger
existed in ancient Indian and oriental cultures where ginger
was used alone or as a component in herbal remedies.
This practice continues today in many areas of the
world, including Africa, Brazil, China, Fiji, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru,
Sudan and Thailand. Ginger was introduced to Europe and other areas by
Dutch, Portuguese, Arab and Spanish explorers or traders from around the
13th to 16th centuries.
The rhizome or "root" is the part
of the plant that is harvested and is found entirely under the surface
of the soil. The vast majority of the harvested ginger
is consumed fresh or in dehydrated form, while some commercial ginger
is sugar preserved. In Australia, ginger
for sugar preserving is harvested after five months before fibre content
reaches a level that affects eating quality. Drying of ginger
commences after seven months for manufacture of dried whole root and ginger
powder.
In recent times there has been scientific research
undertaken to test out the validity of the medicinal claims made about
ginger. A study of the research shows that there have been some exciting
results with respect to the medicinal properties of ginger
including, anti-emetic effect or control of nausea and vomiting, prevention
of coronary artery disease, healing and prevention of both arthritic conditions
and stomach ulcers. In addition, ginger
has been shown to be effective against tumor growth, rheumatism, migraine
and is active as an antioxidant in the body.
One of the most detailed literature studies
on ginger
and its medicinal properties is found in Research Herbalist Paul Schulick`s
book - "Common Spice or Wonder Drug? Ginger"
(1993, Herbal Free Press, Brattleboro, Vermont, USA). This book is recommended
to any person interested in exploring the uses of ginger as a natural
remedy and maintainer of good health. His work links early herbalists
claims with modern scientific research and lists over 300 references.
^Top
Antiemetic
and Anti-Motion Sickness
Powdered ginger root has been compared to standard drugs used in combating
postoperative nausea and vomiting. Tests have shown that the requirement
for postoperative antiemetics was lower in those patients receiving ginger.
Ginger is "an effective and promising prophylactic antiemetic, which
may be especially useful for day case surgery." (1)
It has been reported that ginger was effective
in reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting in a group of 60 women after
major gynecological surgery. "There were statistically significantly
fewer recorded incidences of nausea in the group that received ginger
root compared to the placebo". (2)
Patients who undergo photopheresis will suffer
nausea due to the taking of the drug 8-MOP which is required during the
treatment. In a controlled trial, it has been shown that the ingestion
of ginger prior to 8-MOP, may substantially reduce the nausea effect.
(3)
The possibility of side effects such as gastric emptying
after taking ginger as an antiemetic has been investigated. When 16 healthy
volunteers were allocated 1 gram of ginger or placebo randomly in a double-blind
crossover trial, it was found that ginger ingestion had no effect on gastric
emptying. It was reported that, "The antiemetic effect of ginger
is not associated with an effect on gastric emptying. No adverse effects
were noted." (4)
One of the most famous reports on the effects of ginger
on motion sickness was reported in the British medical journal The Lancet
(5).
In this clinical trial, 39 men and women who reported
"very high susceptibility to motion sickness" were tested. Motion
sickness was induced by being subjected to a rotating, tilted chair while
blindfolded under controlled conditions. It was found that ginger was
significantly more effective in reducing motion sickness than the antihistamine
dimenhydrinate and a placebo.
A Danish controlled trial on the open sea involved
eighty naval cadets who were "unaccustomed to sailing in heavy seas".
It was reported that "ginger root reduced the tendency to vomiting
and cold sweating significantly better than the placebo did". (6)
Pharmacological studies of the antimotion actions
of ginger would indicate that ginger is effective in controlling motion
sickness by the direct action of ginger's active components on the gastric
system. (7,5)
^Top
Anti-inflammatory
(Rheumatism)
More than 200 potential drugs have been tested through the 1990`s in order
to find a cure for rheumatism and musculoskeletal ailments. These have
included non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, gold
salts, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, methotrexate and cyclosporine.
None of these have found to be safe. (8)
A Danish study has found that ginger ingestion
is significant in relieving pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis,
osteoarthritis and muscular disorder patients.
In this study 56 patients (28 rheumatoid, 18
osteo, 10 muscular) were studied over periods ranging from 3 months to
2.5 years. Three quarters of the 46 arthritis patients experienced,"to
varying degrees, relief in pain and swelling." All of the muscular
discomfort patients experienced, "relief in pain." Over the
period of the testing, no patients reported any adverse effects from consistent
ginger consumption. (8) Other studies have produced similar
results, where patients reported that ginger " produced better relief
of pain, swelling and stiffness than the administration of non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs". (9)
Gingerols found in Ginger, have been identified
as active compounds which are potent inhibitors of the biosynthesis of
prostaglandins, which, in an oversupply situation will cause inflammation.
(10)
^Top
Anti
Ulcer
A common side effect of treating inflammation with modern drugs is that
ulcers in the digestive system can be created or their condition made
worse. Ginger can not only relieve the symptoms of inflammation, it also
protects the creation of digestive ulcers. Paul Schulick states, "Whatever
advantage non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have in the strength of
their anti-inflammatory or thermoregulatory effects, ginger compensates
for it with an absence of side effects and alternative effects."
(11)
Extensive laboratory testing, often involving the
use of rats, has brought about the identification of six anti-ulcer compounds
contained in ginger.(11)
^Top
Ginger
and the Circulatory System
Ginger has been found to be beneficial in reducing platelet aggregation
which leads to coronary artery disease, while having no effect on blood
lipids or blood sugar. Healthy people, patients with C.A.D.(coronary artery
disease) and non-insulin dependent diabetes sufferers were all the subjects
of an Indian study which found that a 10g single dose of powdered ginger,"significantly
reduced platelet aggregation" in C.A.D. patients.(12)
Rats have been clinically studied with the introduction
of ginger after having their cholesterol levels artificially increased.
Researchers state," Inclusion of 1% cholesterol in the diet of rats
increased serum cholesterol levels significantly, but addition of fresh
ginger together with the cholesterol significantly reduced this increase.
Ginger was shown to be antihypercholesterolaemic."(13)
It has also been reported that ginger inhibits the biosynthesis of cholesterol
in rat liver.(14)
Paul Shulick makes the point, "that literally
hundreds of thousands of lives can be saved emphasizes that ginger should
be in everyone`s daily supplement routine."(11)
^Top
Antioxidant
Ginger contains antioxidant properties that even outperform commonly used
chemical antioxidants. " Ginger is rated in a number of studies to
possess a free radical-inhibiting index even greater than that of commercial
antioxidant preservatives BHA and BHT." (11)
Ginger has been found to inhibit lipid peroxidation
in rat liver microcosms(15) and successfully scavenge
superoxide anions.(16) In an American study 21 compounds
(including gingerol related compounds) were isolated from ginger. It was
found that "most of the isolated compounds exhibited stronger antioxidative
effect than alpha-tocopherol"(vitamin E). (17)
The antioxidant powers of ginger have been proven
in applications where ginger extract was added to meat products. "The
antioxodative effectiveness of ginger extract was further tested with
fresh, frozen and precooked pork patties. The shelf life of all products
determined by TBA value was improved by the inclusion of ginger extract."
(18)
^Top
Other
Properties Of Ginger
Researchers have found that extracts of ginger possess anti-skin tumor
effects when placed directly on the skin of mice. (19)
In addition it has been found that gingerol from ginger inhibits the tumor
promoter Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) activation. (20)
Ginger treatments have been found to be useful
in treatment of migraine, where it is proposed that pain relief from ginger
may occur without any of the side effects that occur with standard treatments.
(21) Ginger has also been successfully trialled in tests
with 30 women who were suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum,
which is a severe nausea, which can complicate a large proportion of pregnancies.
After the trial it was found that relief was "significantly greater"
with oral ginger powder capsule treatment. (22)
Ginger has been shown to be effective against
the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including
Escherichia Coli, Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus
aureus and Streptococcus viridans. (11,23) A 1990 Japanese
study showed that the gingerol and shogaol components of ginger could
kill Anisakis larvae. Anisakis being one of the principle parasites which
find hosts in millions of people around the globe.(24)
In addition to the previously mentioned antiemetic properties of ginger
there are many other benefits associated with the digestive system. Chinese
medicine has incorporated ginger in remedies for the digestive system
for centuries and it is regularly used as a calmative for stomach upsets.
Other digestive benefits from ginger are the natural enzyme action on
protein digestion(25), stimulation of digestion, pro-biotic
support of the natural gut flora, anti-diarreal properties and liver protection.(11)
^Top
References
These are the reference sources which have been used to compile the above
information. Please refer directly to the references for additional details.
(1) Zingiber officinale (ginger)--an
antiemetic for day case surgery Phillips S, Ruggier R, Hutchinson SE Department
of Anaesthetics, Kingston Hospital, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey.
ANAESTHESIA 48 (8): 715-717 (Aug 1993)
(2) Ginger root--a new antiemetic.
The effect of ginger root on postoperative nausea and vomiting after major
gynaecological surgery Bone ME, Wilkinson DJ, Young JR, McNeil J, Charlton
S
Department of Anaesthesia, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London.
ANAESTHESIA 45 (8): 669-671 (Aug 1990)
(3) Zingiber officinale (ginger)
used to prevent 8-Mop associated nausea. Meyer K, Schwartz J, Crater D,
Keyes BDERMATOL NURS 7 (4): 242-244 (Aug 1995)
(4) Zingiber officinale does
not affect gastric emptying rate. A randomised, placebo-controlled,crossover
trial. Phillips S, Hutchinson S, Ruggier R Kingston Hospital, Kingston
upon Thames, Surrey.
ANAESTHESIA 48 (5): 393-395 (May 1993)
(5) Motion sickness, ginger,
and psychophysics.Mowrey, D.B., Clayson, D.E.
LANCET 1 (8273): 655-7 (Mar 1982)
(6) Ginger root against seasickness.
A controlled trial on the open sea.Grontved A, Brask T, Kambskard J, Hentzer
E
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Svendborg Hospital, Denmark.
ACTA OTOLARYNGOL (Stockh) 105 (1-2): 45-49 (Jan 1988)
(7) The anti-motion sickness
mechanism of ginger. A comparative study with placebo. Holtmann S, Clarke
AH, Scherer H, Hohn M
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Grosshadern Medical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians
Universitat,Munchen, Germany.
ACTA OTOLARYNGOL (Stockh) 108 (3-4): 168-174 (Sep 1989)
(8) Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
in rheumatism and musculoskeletal disorders.Srivastava KC, Mustafa T
Department of Environmental Medicine, Odense University, Denmark.
MED. HYPOTHESES 39 (4): 342-348 (Dec 1992)
(9) Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
and rheumatic disorders. Srivastava KC, Mustafa T
Department of Environmental Medicine, Odense University, Denmark.
MED. HYPOTHESES 29 (1): 25-28 (May 1989)
(10) Inhibition of prostaglandin
and leukotriene biosynthesis by gingerols and diarylheptanoids.Kiuchi
F, Iwakami S, Shibuya M, Hanaoka F, Sankawa U
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Japan.
CHEM PHARM BULL. (Tokyo) 40 (2): 387-391 (Feb 1992)
(11) Common Spice or Wonder
Drug? Ginger.Schulick.P.
Herbal Free Press, Brattleboro, Vermont, USA. (1993)
(12) Effect of ginger (Zingiber
officinale Rosc.) and fenugreek (Triginella foenumgraecum L.) on blood
lipids, blood sugar and platelet aggregation in patients with coronary
artery disease. Bordla A, Verma SK, Srivastava KC
Department of Medicine, R.N.T. Medical College, Udaipur, India.
Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 56 (5): 379-384 (May 1997)
(13) Effect of ginger on serum
cholesterol levels.Janabai Giri; Sakthi Devi TK; Meeraran S
INDIAN JOURNAL OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS; 21 (12) 433-436, 4 ref. 1984
(14) Cholesterol biosynthesis
inhibitory component from Zingiber officinale Roscoe.Tanabe M; Chen YD;
Saito KI; Kano Y. CHEMICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL BULL. 1993, 41: 4, 710-713;
12 ref.1993
(15) Studies on spice principles
as antioxidants in the inhibition of lipid peroxidation of rat liver microsomes.
Reddy AC, Lokesh BR. Department of Food Chemistry, Central Food Technological
Research Institute, Mysore, India.
MOL. CELL BIOCHEM. 111 (1-2): 117-124 (Apr 1992)
(16) Scavenging of superoxide
anions by spice principles.Krishnakantha TP, Lokesh BR
Department of Nutrition & Food Safety, Central Food Technological
Research Institute, Mysore.
INDIAN J. BIOCHEM. BIOPHYS. 30 (2): 133-134 (Apr 1993)
(17) Structure of antioxidative
compounds in ginger.Kikuzaki,-H.; Kawasaki,-Y.; Nakatani,-N.
ACS-symp-ser. Washington, D.C. : AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, 1974-. 1994.
(547) p. 237-243.
(18) Antioxidant property in
ginger rhizome and its application to meat products.Lee-YB; Kim-YS; Ashmore-CR
1986 JOURNAL-OF-FOOD-SCIENCE; 51 (1) 20-23, 22 ref.
(19) Inhibition of tumor promotion
in SENCAR mouse skin by ethanol extract of Zingiber officinale rhizome.Katiyar
SK, Agarwal R, Mukhtar H. Department of Dermatology, Skin Diseases Research
Center, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University,
Ohio 44106, USA. CANCER RES. 56 (5): 1023-1030 (Mar 1 1996)
(20) Antitumor promoters from
edible plants.Ohigashi,-H.; Murakami,-A.; Koshimizu,-K.
ACS-symp-ser. Washington, D.C. : AMERICAN CHEM. SOC., 1974-. 1994. (547)
p. 251-261.
(21) Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
in migraine headache.Mustafa T, Srivastava KC
Institute of Biology, Odense University, Denmark.
J. ETHNOPHARMACOL. 29 (3): 267-273 (Jul 1990)
(22) Ginger treatment of hyperemesis
gravidarum Fischer-Rasmussen W, Kjaer SK, Dahl C, Asping U
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hvidovre Hospital, University
of Copenhagen, Denmark.
EUR. J. OBSTET GYNECOL. REPROD. BIOL. 38 (1): 19-24 (Jan 4 1991)
(23) Ethnopharmacologic investigation
of ginger (Zingiber officinale). Mascolo N, Jain R, Jain SC, Capasso F
Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples, Italy.
J. ETHNOPHARMACOL. 27 (1-2): 129-140 (Nov 1989)
(24) Lethal efficacy of extract
from Zingiber officinale (traditional Chinese medicine) or [6]- shogaol
and [6]-gingerol in Anisakis larvae in vitro. Goto C, Kasuya S, Koga K,
Ohtomo H, Kagei N
Department of Parasitology, Gifu University School of Medicine, Japan.
PARASITOL RES. 76 (8): 653-656 (1990)
(25) Ginger rhizome: a new
source of proteolytic enzyme. [Zingiber officinale]Thompson, E-H; Wolf,
I.D; Allen, C.E. J. FOOD. SCI., May/June 1973, 38 (4): 652-655. Ref.
^Top |
