Ginger has been popularly used to relieve the discomfort of stomach pains while being an essential spice, or a cooking ingredient. But a recent study regarding the properties of ginger broadens the portfolio of ginger’s medical value and revealed that ginger is also effective in relieving sore muscles.

In Chinese culture, ginger has been used to cure upset stomach and nausea. The researchers said that ginger has not been previously studied for its muscle pain relieving properties. The Journal of Pain published the study and the report focused on the potency of ginger against muscle injuries caused by strenuous exercise.

The research included the use of 2 grams of raw and heat-treated ginger to each of the 74 healthy participating adults. The members of the group performed different exercises for a series of 11 days while taking the ginger supplement or an empty dummy pill.  The experiment showed that the consumption of raw or heat-treated ginger has moderate to large effects in the reduction of exercise-induced muscle pain. Amongst the researchers was Christopher D. Black of Georgia College and State University Department of Kinesiology in Milledgeville, Georgia.

The variance in efficacy of raw and heat-treated ginger was minimal by 25 percent to 23 percent respectively. The researchers pointed at ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties as the primary contributing factor that made it effective in relieving muscle pain. The result of the experiments contradicted previous findings stating that heat-treated ginger optimizes its efficiency in relieving muscle pain.

Properties of Ginger

Ginger is available in abundant supplies and is primarily exported from Asian countries. The perennial reed-like plant produces white or pink flower buds and is also used as a landscaping plant due to its aesthetic appeal. It grounds as high as 3 to 4 feet depending on the variety. The ginger plant is traditionally reaped after the stalks have withered and are immediately washed or scraped to prevent it from sprouting new stalks. Globally, India is the leading supplier of ginger, contributing up to 30 percent of the world’s supply.

The unique flavor and odor of ginger is caused by the mixture of its compounds: shogoals, zingerone and gingerols. 3 percent of fresh ginger is composed of these volatile oils. Studies showed that gingerols in ginger increases the motility of the laboratory animal’s gastrointestinal tract. It is also proven to have sedative, analgesic, antibacterial and antipyretic properties consequent to the continuous studies and research regarding ginger’s potential medical value. In a study conducted by the University of Michigan, ginger demonstrated significance to the elimination of ovarian cancer cells. Ginger oil had also shown to prevent skin cancer in laboratory mice. Ginger also has an appetizing value by stimulating the mouth to produce saliva and make swallowing easier.

Health Benefits of Ginger

Ginger’s medical significance is classified as carminative and stimulant. It’s frequently used to treat gastroparesis, dyspepsia, slow motility and indigestion, colic, and constipation. Repulsive-tasting medicines also use ginger to subdue the medicine’s natural taste and to make it easier to swallow. The US Food and Drug Administration recognizes ginger safe for human consumption and there are no known adverse effects of ginger to the body even when taken in high dosage.

Ginger as Pain Reliever

People are finding pain relief from ginger. Organic remedies like ginger have been used by different cultures as an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs which may either have long-term side-effects or which may not be readily available. Ginger’s ability to stop prostaglandins from causing the blood vessels in the brain from becoming inflamed make it effective in relieving migraine. It is also used as relief for menstrual cramps, heartburns, seasickness, morning sickness, and muscle inflammation. Ginger is also effective in preventing diabetic nephropathy.

Ginger against Ovarian Cancer

A study conducted by the University of Michigan’s Comprehensive Cancer Center showed that ginger has potential efficacy in preventing ovarian cancer. Isolated and cultured ovarian cancer cells were treated with a mixture of ginger powder. The cancer cells all died and the reason for the death was dramatic. Some of the cancer cells died through apoptosis or by virtually committing suicide while the rest died by killing each other or through autophagy.  Pharmaceutical drugs used in killing ovarian cancer cells results to various side effects including the development of ovarian cancer cells’ tolerance to the procedures.

The discovery of ginger as a potential substance that can effectively kill ovarian cancer cells and the way it kills them may eliminate this problem. Further studies will include the efficacy of ginger in killing ovarian cancer cells that had developed tolerance to chemotherapy treatment. The researchers gave a disclaimer saying that the result of their research is only an introduction of more research to come. Since the experiment involved isolated cancer cells, they would need to test the efficiency of the procedure in live animals to determine possible side-effects in a living organism. But the organic nature of ginger initially rids of this notion and the researchers said that, upon completion, compounds in ginger responsible for the killing of ovarian cancer cells can be contained in a capsule and taken orally.

Ginger’s known anti-inflammatory properties may also be effective in the development of ovarian cancer cells. The researchers added that ginger has similar, if not better, effects in killing ovarian cancer cells. While still under further research, ginger finds purpose in cancer patients by reducing nausea caused by chemotherapy.

Ginger in Preventing Colon Cancer

Gingerol, the substance that gives ginger its characteristic flavor, has shown potency in inhibiting the growth of colorectal cancer cells. This was according to a study conducted by the Hormel Institute in the University of Minnesota. The research group lead by Professor Ann Bode used laboratory mice lacking an immune system. The colorectal cancer cells in the mice showed reduced rates in growth after a thrice a week feeding regimen of extracted gingerol from ginger. There were twenty mice fed with half a milligram of gingerol before and after the introduction of colorectal cancer cells and a control group that were not fed with gingerol. The mice were euthanized after the tumors had reached 0.06 cubic inch. The control group was euthanized after 28 days, while the mice fed with gingerol had 38 days to live.

Sources
webmd.com
en.wikipedia.org
sciencedaily.com
eurekalert.org
healthdiaries.com