Benefits of Ginger

Health Benefits of Ginger 

The rhizome (root) of ginger (Zingiber officinale) is an important kitchen spice and also possesses a myriad of health benefits. The rhizomes have been used since antiquity in the various traditional systems of medicine to treat:

  • arthritis, rheumatism, sprains, muscular aches, pains,
  • sore throats,
  • cramps,
  • hypertension,
  • dementia,
  • fever,
  • infectious diseases,
  • catarrh,
  • nervous diseases,
  • gingivitis, toothache,
  • asthma,
  • stroke
  • diabetes.
  • gastric ailments like constipation, dyspepsia, belching, bloating, gastritis, epigastric discomfort, gastric ulcerations, indigestion, nausea and vomiting (24)

Also see the excellent review of ginger health benefits (35)

Some additional recent literature research papers:

  1. Anti- tumor promoting activities:
    1. Anti-angiogenic activity in vivo and in vitro (1)
    2. Suppresses liver carcinogenesis by scavenging the free radical formation and reducing lipid peroxidation (11)
    3. Effects against Acute Monocytic Leukemia cells (AML) – in vitro (16)
    4. Reduces proliferation in normal-appearing colorectal epithelium and increases apoptosis relative to proliferation, especially in the differentiation zone of colon (36)
    5. Protective effects against the mutagenic effects of colchicine (23)
    6. Reduces chemotherapy induced nausea (37)
  2.  Cardiovascular
    1. Ginger has positive effects in partial abdominal aortic constriction (PAAC) induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy. (32)
    2. 10 weeks of ginger supplementation and resistance training lowered C-reactive protein CRP in obese men. (27)
    3. Lowers blood pressure and palpitations (18)
    4. Ginger is considered a novel angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist (2)
    5. It caused vasodilation in rats and rabbits, following induced vasoconstriction, and exhibited calcium channel-blocking activity similar to verapamil . (38)
    6. The only human trial to address ginger and hypertension found a synergistic effect between ginger and nifedipine. (39)
    7. Can also promote the positive inotropic effect of adrenaline by stimulating its release from the adrenals (40)
    8. The blood pressure-lowering effect of ginger is mediated through blockade of voltage-dependent calcium channels. (41)
  3.  Renal (kidney) protection
    1. Prevents cisplatin-induced acute renal failure in rats (3)
    2. May be a potential agent in preventing the development of diabetic glomerular hypertrophy. (4)
    3. Ginger could be beneficial as an adjuvant therapy in patients with acute renal failure and Chronic renal failure to prevent disease progression and delay the need for renal replacement therapy.(33)
  4. Gynecology
    1. Reduces nausea in pregnancy; does not reduce the number of vomiting episodes (17)
    2. Improves primary dysmenorrhea in young women (19)
  5.  Migraine
    1. Due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-histaminic properties ginger may relieve headaches and migraines. Anecdotal evidence seems to confirm this. (24)
  6.  Diabetes
    1. Ginger has a significant effect on metformin, increasing its activity. This may be a very important addition to diabetic therapy. (30)
    2. Ginger decreased hyperglycemia by 29.81%with a corresponding amelioration of elevated urinary protein, sugars, specific gravity as well as renal growth in animal model. Thus may be a potential agent in preventing the development of diabetic glomerular hypertrophy. (4)
    3. Ginger prevents formation of advanced glycation end products  in animal models (6)
    4. Ginger has potent hypoglycemic, insulin secretory and hypolipidemic effects. These effects are at least, partly mediated by increasing glycogenesis.(8)
    5. Anti -hyperglycemic, anti-oxidant and hypo cholesterolimic effects (12)
    6. Anti-inflammatory effects in type 2 diabetic patients (13)
    7. Anti diabetic effects of ginger mainly through inhibition of glucose diffusion (26)
  7.   Mental Health
    1. The current data suggest that chronic ethanol exposure may decrease ACh synthesis while ginger extract restores Ach levels and exhibits protective capability and cognitive enhancing properties during ethanol withdrawal. (29)
    2. Anti-Depressant
      1. Ginger has an anti -depressant effect in forced swim test in diabetic mice (5)
  8. Musculo-skeletal
    1. Ginger-turmeric rhizomes mixture may be effective against RA severity and complications (42)
    2. Improves knee pain osteo-arthritis (43, 44)
    3. Knee pain ameliorated by ginger and ibuprofen (45, 46)
  9. Eye Diseases
    1. Ginger prevents or delays diabetic cataracts in animal models (6)
  10. Gastric Effects
    1. Ginger has Anti-helicobacter pylori effect in vitro (7)
    2. Effective in preventing gastric ulcers induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs like indomethacin, aspirin], reserpine, ethanol, stress (hypothermic and swimming), acetic acid and Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric ulcerations in laboratory animals. Nausea and Vomiting
    3. Ginger has anti-ulcer potential due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The healing activity may be due to its cytoprotectivity effect coupled with its anti-secretory activity.(31)
  11. Cholesterol and general Lipids Control
    1. Hypolipidemic effects were demonstrated in an animal model. Total cholesterol, LDL and TG were lowered and HDL increased. (8)
  12. Dental Effects
    1. Ginger has an anti-bacterial effect on streptococcus mutans and lactobaccili, important etiologic agents in carries formation. (9)
    2. Effective against micro-organisms and endotoxins in root canals (28)
  13. Respiratory Conditions
    1. Fresh ginger has anti-viral activity against human respiratory syncytial virus in human respiratory tract cell lines (34)
    2. Active Components of Ginger Potentiate beta-agonist induced relaxation of airway smooth muscle by modulating cytoskeletal regulatory proteins (10)
    3. A diet supplemented with ginger in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) may be beneficial for gas exchange and could decrease duration of mechanical ventilation and length of stay in intensive care unit.(20)
    4. Reduces rat trachea hyper-reactivity (RTHR) and lung inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).(21)
  14. Obesity
    1. 10 weeks of either ginger supplementation or progressive resistance training protects against oxidative stress and therefore both of these interventions can be beneficial for obese individuals; however, when combined the effects cancel each other out.(22)
    2. Ginger decreased glucose level, bodyweight, leptin, insulin, amylase, lipase and tissue lipids in high fat diet–induced obese rats. (14)
  15.  Infectious Diseases
    1. Fresh ginger has anti-viral activity against human respiratory syncytial virus in human respiratory tract cell lines (34)
    2. Potent anti-microbial activity in vitro (25)
    3. Ginger has anti-parasitic effects against Toxoplasma gondi and inhibits inflammatory cytokine secretions (15)

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