No time like right now, to invest in taking better care of your immune system. Ginger has been my “go to” herb for decades in the forms of tea, as a cooking spice as well as capsules as a supplement to other vitamin and diet deficiencies. I have experienced noticeable improvements and/or management of allergies, headaches, joint and muscle inflammation and nausea.
Ginger root, also known as zingiber officinale or zingiberis rhizome. The Chinese name is shen jiang. Ginger is native to Asia often used as a food as well as medicine. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), ginger is used to remove “cold”, “wind” and “dampness”, while stopping the reverse flow of qi (energy). Use of ginger in Western countries has been mostly for gastrointestinal symptoms and respiratory ailments. Preclinical studies show ginger being antiemetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and possibly helps to protect against Alzheimer’s disease.
Ginger has been used for many ailments including but not limited to the following:
- stimulates appetite
- helps relieve drug withdrawal symptoms
- improves respiratory ailments
- reduces nausea and vomiting
- relieves indigestion
- treats diarrhea
- reduces rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
Some people should avoid ginger consumption for certain issues such as those having surgery or bleeding ailments, because ginger has blood-thinning effects. Warfarin or other blood thinners may be less effective due to ginger increasing the risk of bleeding.
Those with gallstones should refrain from consuming ginger because it can increase the flow of bile and other potential cholagogic effects.
Individuals who take insulin or medications to lower blood glucose should avoid ginger because it may increase larger reductions in glucose levels.
Upon my further reading and research, it appears as if different sources might discourage ginger consumption during pregnancy (increase bleeding) while other sources state that it is fine to use during pregnancy to relieve morning sickness and accompanying nausea. Individuals should avoid ginger supplements during pregnancy or lactating because of unknown human gestational development.
Perhaps the best course of action, would be for the individual to check with their healthcare providers to get a better understanding of the pros and cons of using ginger while pregnant.
Reference:
John Diamond, M.D. W. John Diamond, M.D. The Clinical Practice of Complementary, Alternative, and Western Medicine. Boca Raton: CRC Press LLC, 2001. 7.
Herbs and Pregnancy
https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/consuming-ginger-during-pregnancy/
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