Ginger is one of the world’s ten favourite spices. (Govindarajan V.S., 1969) Ginger has enormous healing potential and is widely used in majority of the oriental therapeutic formulation for thousands of years.
As a food, ginger is an important ingredient in every ethnic and traditional food preparations. It has been used in every possible food recipes from seasoning, flavouring to preservation. It is also part of many traditional health concoctions from tea & pill of flatulence, indigestion, nausea, stomach discomfort, analgesic, anti-ulcer and aphrodisiac.
 

Phyto-Chemicals & Therapeutic use:

Ginger possesses one of the most powerful phyto-chemical found in nature. This healing compound was discovered by Thresh in 1879. (Lawrence B., 1984) He subsequently isolated this oily substance and name it “Gingerol”. (Felter H.W., 1983) “Shogaols” is another therapeutic phyto-chemical present in ginger. Gingerol & shogaols together with other active constituents synergistically made ginger a powerful healing food that is effective in arresting the following conditions:

  • Anti-nausea – Clinical studies demonstrated ginger was effective in preventing motion sickness. (Mowrey D.B. et al, 1982)
  • Anti-emetic – Double-blind randomised study demonstrated ginger was better than placebo in decreasing incidence of vomiting and cold sweating. (Grontved A. et al, 1988)
  • Anti-inflammatory – Subject experienced full or partial relief of pain, decrease in swelling and improvement/recovery in joint function after injected with ginger extract. (Ghazanfar S.A., 1994) Study using oral administration of powdered ginger on subject with rheumatism and musculoskeletal disorders also reported varying degree of relief from pain & swelling. (Srivastava K.C., 1992)
  • Anti-Cancer – Gingerol has been investigated for its effect on cancerous tumor in the bowel, breast tissue, ovaries, the pancreas, among other tissues, with positive results. (Jeong C.H. et al, 2009)(Lee H. et al, 2008)(Rhode et al, 2007)(Park, Yon Jung et al, 2006)

In traditional healing, ginger is prescribed for treatment of dyspepsia, flatulence, colic, vomiting, diarrhoea, spasms, stomach complaints, cold & flu, stimulate appetite, migraine headache & rheumatic and muscular disorders. (African Pharmacopoeia, 1985)(Bisset NG, 1994)(Chang H.M., 1986)(German Commission E Monograph, 1988)(Ghazanfar S.A., 1994)(Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China, 1992)(Standards of ASEAN Herbal Medicine, 1993)(Srivastava K.C., 1992)
 

Side-Effects & Toxicity:

No documented side effects and toxicity of consuming ginger as a food substance. However, patients taking anticoagulant drugs or those with blood coagulation disorders should consult a qualified health practitioner prior taking ginger herbal preparations.
 

By: HEI Wellness

References:

African pharmacopoeia, Vol. 1. 1st ed. Lagos, Organization of African Unity, Scientific, Technical & Research Commission, 1985.

Bisset NG. Max Wichtl’s herbal drugs & phytopharmaceuticals. Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press, 1994.

Chang HM, But PPH, eds. Pharmacology and applications of Chinese materia medica, Vol. 1. Singapore, World Scientific Publishing, 1986.

Felter H.W., and Lloyd J.U. King’s American Dispensatory. Portland, Ore:Eclectic Medical, 1983, 2110.

German Commission E Monograph, Zingiberis rhizoma. Bundesanzeiger, 1988, 85:5 May

Ghazanfar SA. Handbook of Arabian medicinal plants. Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press, 1994

Govindarajan V.S. “Ginger – Chemistry, technology, and quality evaluation: Part 1.” Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 17, No.1 (1982):1-96 (p.1) citing Parry J. Spices. Vols. 1 and 2, New York: Chemical Publishing Co, 1969.

Grontved A et al. Ginger root against seasickness. A controlled trial on the open sea. Acta otolaryngology, 1988, 105:45–49.

Jeong, C.-H.; Bode, A. M.; Pugliese, A.; Cho, Y.-Y.; Kim, H.-G.; Shim, J.-H.; Jeon, Y.-J.; Li, H. et al. (2009). “

[6]-Gingerol Suppresses Colon Cancer Growth by Targeting Leukotriene A4 Hydrolase”. Cancer Research 69 (13): 5584–91

Lawrence B. “Major tropical spices – Ginger (Zingiber Officinale Rosc)” Perfumer and Flavorist 9. Oct/Nov. 1984: 2-38(p32).

Lee, H; Seo, E; Kang, N; Kim, W (2008). “[6]-Gingerol inhibits metastasis of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells”. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 19 (5): 313–9

Mowrey DB, Clayson DE. Motion sickness, ginger, and psychophysics. Lancet, 1982, i:655–657.

Park, Yon Jung; Wen, Jing; Bang, Seungmin; Park, Seung Woo; Song, Si Young (2006). “[6]-Gingerol Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Cell Death of Mutant p53-expressing Pancreatic Cancer Cells”. Yonsei Medical Journal 47 (5): 688–97.

Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (English ed.). Guangzhou, Guangdong Science and Technology Press, 1992.

Rhode, Jennifer; Fogoros, Sarah; Zick, Suzanna; Wahl, Heather; Griffith, Kent A; Huang, Jennifer; Liu, J Rebecca (2007). “Ginger inhibits cell growth and modulates angiogenic factors in ovarian cancer cells”. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 7: 44.

Srivastava KC, Mustafa T. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) in rheumatism and musculoskeletal disorders. Medical hypotheses, 1992, 39:342–348.

Standard of ASEAN herbal medicine, Vol. I. Jakarta, ASEAN Countries, 1993.