06/08/2023
Did you know that people have been using ginger to relieve muscle aches, headaches, congestion, cough, sinusitis, nausea, and indigestion for over 2,000 years?
I find ginger is wonderful for easing indigestion and minor aches and pains, but it also has many uses in women’s health. For instance, in the 2018 guidelines of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, one of the top non-pharmacological recommendations for managing nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (morning sickness) is to take 250 mg of dried ginger four times per day. Now that is a strong endorsement! (Note: dried ginger is superior to fresh ginger for alleviating nausea.)
Ginger is also highly effective in reducing menstrual cramps—a remedy I’ve recommended to women for decades. A meta-analysis of seven randomized control trials found that ginger was more effective than placebo and provided similar relief as medications commonly used to ease menstrual cramps. The amount used in the studies is easy to achieve with capsules or by drinking ginger tea (750–2000 mg per day starting at the onset of me**es and taken for 3–5 days).
When young women experience both heavy periods and cramping, ginger can be very helpful. In a randomized study of teenage girls experiencing heavy menstruation, participants were given either 250 milligrams of ginger or a placebo the day before through day three of their menstrual cycle for three months. The researchers reported a significant reduction in bleeding.
And finally, ginger can also be helpful when a migraine hits. A review of three studies found that ginger alone, or added to standard migraine treatment, can relieve pain and ease nausea and vomiting.
With such impressive benefits, you may want to keep some ginger tea, ginger candy, or dried ginger capsules around! As always, talk to your health care professional before taking any new medication, herbal remedy, or dietary supplement if you are taking prescription medications or living with a serious chronic illness.
—————
References:
S; DJWZXKDSP. Efficacy of ginger for alleviating the symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.). https://loom.ly/r_YNdIk Published December 16, 2015. Accessed October 26, 2021.
Chen L, Cai Z. The efficacy of ginger for the treatment of migraine: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies. Am J Emerg Med. 2021 Aug;46:567-571. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2020.11.030. Epub 2020 Nov 17. PMID: 33293189.
Kashefi F, Khajehei M, Alavinia M, Golmakani E, Asili J. Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) on heavy menstrual bleeding: a placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Phytother Res. 2015 Jan;29(1):114-9. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5235. Epub 2014 Oct 8. PMID: 25298352.
ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 189 Summary: Nausea And Vomiting Of Pregnancy
