Table of Contents
Ginger Health Benefits
Well-known for its unique taste and various positive health effects, ‘Ginger’ has been extensively used for cooking and medicinal purposes since ancient times. It has loads of nutrients and bioactive compounds that are very useful and expected to give exciting health benefits. Basically, ginger is a flowering plant native to China. The underground part of the ginger plant is the part that is used as a spice and is called ginger root. Studies suggest that ginger health benefits may extend from relieving joint pain to positive effects against inflammation. Ginger health benefits are known to include its antioxidant properties as well; which helps in boosting our immunity.
Ginger can be consumed in fresh, dried, powdered, or in liquid form as an oil or juice. Ginger tea is also very common and many health benefits are associated with it. Gingerol, the main bioactive compound in ginger, is found in abundance in ginger oil and is responsible for ginger’s unique flavor and fragrance. Most of the positive health effects linked to ginger come from gingerol. It has antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory characteristics and gives most of the positive health effects. Ginger for pain relief and ginger for inflammation has been in use as an over the counter medicine for a long time and research studies testify to this as well. Some studies recommend ginger because it may help to reduce nausea, morning sickness, and also it can be effective in easing cold and flu. The article below sheds some light on the medicinal and general uses of ginger.
What is Ginger Good For?
The question ‘What is ginger good for?’ has a long answer but we’ll try to be brief. Ginger is one of the most used spices in our food. Besides its fragrance and flavor, its magical health effects make it worthy of the term ‘superfood’. Research has shown exhilarating results that regular use of ginger may help in easing cold and flu, relieving pain and inflammation, and also it appears to be extremely helpful in nausea. Sometimes ginger is used in aromatherapy and its fragrance is used to relieve postoperative nausea. In some cases, ginger may help lower the blood sugars and cholesterol levels in our body and may reduce the chances of heart disease. Some women consume ginger powder at the start of the menstrual period hoping to alleviate menstrual pain.
According to some researchers, this phenomenal root may help in fighting infections and also in improving brain function. Moreover, ginger has a good taste and refreshing fragrance and is easy for oral intake. Ginger may help against periodontal disease (a serious gum infection in the mouth) because it has an antibacterial effect, so taking it by mouth might be good to keep the oral bacteria from growing.
Is Ginger Good for Inflammation?
People seem to ask, ‘Is ginger good for inflammation?’ The answer is a potential yes as suggested by many research studies. Sometimes, our immune system does not work as it should. This malfunction can lead to recurrent or persistent low-level inflammation in our body. This chronic inflammation may cause different medical conditions like psoriasis arthritis and asthma. An anti-inflammatory diet may help to manage concerns. Some recent studies support the anti-inflammatory effect of ginger, which means that it may be helpful for reducing the pain and swelling in joint pain and general inflammations. It might give a sigh of relief to people having symptomatic pain of rheumatoid or osteoarthritis. It can be applied on the skin in the form of a ginger compress or ginger patch or it may be taken orally for various inflammation issues in the body.
Regarding the dosage, users are confused about how much ginger per day for inflammation is recommended. Experts are of the opinion that doses of at least 3 grams of ginger per day seem to be needed. Lower doses might not help.
Ginger for Pain relief: Ginger May Reduce Joint Pain
A recent study suggests that ginger may help to soothe exercise-induced muscle pain. According to this study around 34 people were examined for 11 days to see how ginger affects muscle pain. It was concluded that the heat treatment of ginger enhances its hypoalgesic (decreased sensitivity of pain stimuli) effects. Ginger contains antioxidant-like compounds, called phytonutrients, which have an anti-inflammatory effect in the body so it may be helpful in treating sores and joint pain. In one study, astonishing results were obtained for elbow related, exercise-induced muscle pain on consuming 2 grams of ginger daily for one and a half weeks.
Ginger for Joint Pain
Ginger for joint pain is extensively used as well. Ginger has powerful anti-inflammatory compounds that may help against ‘osteoarthritis’. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in our hands, knees, hips, and spine. This health condition involves joint pain and muscle stiffness. In a recent study, a controlled trial of 247 people with joint pain in their knees was held. The results were satisfactory and it was observed that people who took ginger extract felt less pain and required less synthetic pain relaxants. One small study suggests that ginger oil in combination with mastic, cinnamon, and sesame oils may reduce muscle pain and stiffness when applied topically on the area of inflammation.
How to Take Ginger for Inflammation?
Ginger can be consumed in fresh, dried, and powdered forms and also in the form of ginger oil or juice. ‘Ginger-tea’ is very famous for its positive health effects and is usually taken to ease colds and cough. Also, concentrated ginger rhizome extract or oil can be applied topically on the skin for relief against pain and muscle stiffness. Ginger has a unique fragrance and in some cases, it is used in aromatherapy to fight postoperative nausea and anxiety. ‘How to take ginger for inflammation?’ is a question asked by many users. Ginger may be consumed directly in powdered form for osteoarthritis. A mixture of ginger oil with different herb oils is used topically for joint pain and inflammation.
How Much Ginger May Be Taken Per Day for Inflammation?
Doctors recommend consuming a maximum of 3–4 grams of ginger extract per day. If you’re pregnant, don’t consume more than 1 gram of ginger extract per day. Ginger is not recommended for children under the age of 2. When ginger is used for inflammation, studies suggest that it may be administered in powdered form. In a recent study, a group of 100 patients with osteoarthritis in their knees were given doses of ginger in the powdered form twice a day, for a period of 3 days up to 3 months. The research concluded with impressive results after 3 months of supplementation with ginger. A significant reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines was observed during a period of 3 months in patients 50 to 70 years of age.
Topically applying ginger oil on the affected area may also serve the purpose. A study in 2015 involving sixty patients with knee osteoarthritis applied ginger oil 3 times a day for 12 weeks. During this period, the inflammation was significantly reduced and patients experienced reduced levels of pain along with other symptoms.