Studies report that ginger can reduce blood pressure and reduce cholesterol which all help to decrease risk of coronary artery disease. One study showed that ginger is as effective as prescription drugs such as Reglan to treat nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy.

Last week there was a big write-up in the Los Angeles Times, so most of my patients cut out the article and asked me if it is okay to take ginger.

We have known for quite a while that ginger ale can help some patients with nausea and vomiting.  A study in the British journal Lancet in 1982 showed it was actually more effective than Dramamine® in preventing motion sickness in seasick Danish sailors.  In another test conducted at Brigham Young University, 36 students were asked to take either 100 mg. of Dramamine (dimenhydrinate), two capsules of Ginger or a placebo. They had to sit in a special rotating chair. None of the students who took Dramamine or the placebo could do the whole six minutes, but half of the students with ginger could finish.  We usually recommend two capsules before your travel and every four hours.

Ginger has also some other interesting effects such as an anti-inflammatory and can help to fight a flu, bronchitis and sore throat because it contains antiviral compounds such as gingerols, shogaolsm and sesquiterpenes which can reduce fevers, pains and cough. Ginger also contains a proteolytic enzyme called zingipain which can help in patients with bunions and arthritis pains. Ginger can be also applied  externally as a compress and can reduce pain particular for  fibromyalgia, joint stiffness, abdominal cramps and skin inflammations.

We usually recommend preparing a warm ginger tea to help break a high fever and rid mucus buildup in the sinuses by drinking a cup every 2-3 hours.

There is one issue you need to check with your physician:  if you have a history of  blood-clotting problems, you need to discuss whether you can take ginger. We know that ginger can prevents blood clots, therefore discuss with your oncologists that you are taking ginger because it can influence blood clotting.

Patients who got ginger (Zingiber Officinale) in capsules twice a day for three days before chemo and three days after reported significantly less nausea that those who were treated with placebo.  All patients in the study also received standard anti-nausea therapy on the day of chemo.

Almost 650 patients, mostly women, were randomly assigned to ginger supplements or a placebo in a blinded trial that will be reported at the 2009 ASCO annual meeting.

Julie Ryan, PhD, MPH, who headed the study at the University of Rochester, told reporters at an ASCO press briefing,

As many as 70 percent of patients who undergo chemotherapy experience nausea and vomiting. We found that patients who received traditional anti-nausea drugs along with ginger supplements prior to chemotherapy experienced significantly less nausea associated with their chemotherapy. However, as with all supplements, patients should speak with their doctors first before taking ginger.

SOURCE: Ryan et al., Ginger for Chemotherapy-related Nausea in Cancer Patients, ASCO 2009 Abstract #9511.

Ginger root

Although ginger is often recommended as a simple remedy for chemotherapy nausea, ginger capsules don’t seem to work any better than a sugar pill to improve the effects of standard nausea drugs.

In a randomized study, 162 patients received either ginger capsules or a placebo for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Neither the patients or their doctors knew which they were getting.  All patients were already receiving an 5-HT₃ inhibitor such as Zofran® or Kytril®.  Some were also being treated with Emend® (aprepitant).

All patients in the trial had already had at least one episode of nausea or vomiting during chemotherapy.  They were given either 1 gram or 2 grams of ginger within a capsule or a identical looking placebo in addition to their regular anti-nausea medicine for three days after chemotherapy.

Researchers found no different in either acute nausea and vomiting on the day of chemo or delayed nausea over the next few days.  Combining ginger with Emend actually increased acute nausea and vomiting.

Despite blinding, patients were able to guess accurately whether or not they were actually getting ginger or a sugar pill.

There were no significant differences in side effects between the two groups, although the patients who got ginger capsules had less fatigue.

Dr. Suzanna M. Zick and her colleagues at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor concluded,

Ginger provides no additional benefit for reduction of the prevalence or severity of acute or delayed CINV when given with 5-HT₃ receptor antagonists and/or aprepitant.

SOURCE: Zick et al., Supportive Care in Cancer, Online First, November 13, 2008.