ginger herbal

ginger herbal

Ginger has been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine to treat problems such as vomiting, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, coughing, and rheumatism. Tibb and Ayurvedic medicine also uses ginger to treat inflammatory joint diseases including rheumatism and arthritis.

Proposed Medical Benefits of Ginger

Ginger root is used today to provide relief for symptoms of motion sickness including sweating, vomiting, dizziness, and nausea. No conclusive results were found when studies compared commercial medications with ginger. Signs of similar results between the two did seem apparent in the studies.

Ginger has other uses including relieving arthritis pain, ulcerative colitis, menstrual discomfort, headaches, fevers from flu and colds, and sore throats. Gastrointestinal problems including heartburn and gas can also be treated with ginger. The muscles of the gastrointestinal tract can be strengthened by the use of garlic. Ginger is also used to treat arthritis, both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. It is thought that garlic can also provide relief for toothaches, but no scientific evidence exists to support this.

Ginger Constituents

Volatile oils in ginger are what cause the taste, smell, and medical effectiveness. About 1-4% of ginger is oil. Ginger contains pungent constituents, shogaols and gingerols, which make it effective for relieving vomiting and nausea. Bisabolene and zingiberene are the aromatic constituents of garlic.

Dosage and Administration

For treating and preventing motion sickness, ingest 500 mg of ginger powder (dried) between 30 to 60 minutes prior to traveling. 500 mg should be taken as needed every 2 to 4 hours. Pregnant women should not use ginger for a prolonged amount of time, but can take as much as 1 gram daily to treat nausea.

There are no recommendations for dosage in children.