Don’t race out and purchase the ingredients for a batch of ginger snaps or start seasoning all your meat and teas with ginger just to feel all the benefits ginger has to offer. This spice has been said to reduce inflammation in the joints and potentially relieve pain. Many products on the market utilize ginger for pain relief, but the results vary in regards to the effectiveness of the spice.
Ginger’s Speculated Benefits
You can find supplements on the market consisting of ginger. It’s available in various forms including capsules, oils, tinctures and extracts. You’re able to purchase fresh ginger root to brew your own tea. You may use ginger fresh or dried, and it’s possible to steam the oil from the root. Ginger is supposed to reduce pain and inflammation in the joints, in particular, in those who have osteoarthritis and other forms of arthritis discomfort.
Anti-inflammatory drugs work by preventing the formation of compounds that cause inflammation. Ginger works in the same manner; it blocks the anti-inflammatory compounds, prostaglandins and leukotrienes, from forming. Unlike anti-inflammatory drugs though, ginger also has an anti-inflammatory effect that reduces inflammation while breaking down the acid in the synovial fluid in the joints.
History of Using Ginger
Supplements consisting of ginger are becoming more and more common. However, ginger has a long history for use in the medical field for nausea and joint pain. Ginger has remained the most widely cultivated herb throughout the years. Greek literature from 200 B.C. touts about the benefits of ginger. China, the Middle East and Europe have a history of using ginger for medicinal purposes as well. Ayurvedic medicine began using ginger to treat arthritis centuries ago. Additionally, hundreds of years ago, the Japanese began using ginger to soothe joint and spinal pain. In the United States, doctors have prescribed ginger for pain but mainly for discomfort associated with menstruation.
Downfalls of Ginger
Although ginger has been deemed as safe for most people, not everyone responds well to it. In some cases, people have mild side effects like diarrhea, heartburn and stomach discomfort. Women who’ve taken ginger reported it causing heavy menstrual bleeding. When applied to the skin, it’s possible for ginger to cause skin irritation. Ginger has been given to pregnant women, but some controversy surrounds the safeness of expected women taking the herb because it may interfere with fetal sex hormones.
Effectiveness of Ginger
It’s not known exactly what in ginger gives it its anti-inflammatory properties, but researchers believe the oils and phenol compounds in it are the active ingredients. More specifically, researchers believe the gingerols and shogols may be two of the active compounds in it. The effectiveness of ginger is completely dependent upon the patient. Some patients find relief from their knee pain and other joint discomfort while others don’t receive any of the inflammatory benefits of ginger.
On the contrary, the results of numerous studies conducted on ginger and joint pain aren’t promising. Not to mention, it can take several weeks before the ginger starts to take effect.
According to a study consisting of 261 people noted by the University of Maryland Medical Center, some people who took ginger extract twice per day had less pain and required fewer pain medications when compared to those taking a placebo.
But another study compared the results of taking ginger with taking ibuprofen. Those who took ibuprofen had the same amount of pain relief as those who took ginger.
A few studies conducted back in 2001 that were published in the journal, Arthritis & Rheumatism, indicated ginger reduced arthritis more so than a placebo. The studies had mixed results, though.
Many trials have proven ginger wasn’t effective at relieving joint pain caused by arthritis. Other research published by WebMD showed ginger was effective in reducing osteoarthritis pain. One study revealed taking 250 mg of a ginger extract four times per day relieved arthritis pain. A study conducted on a supplement comprised of ginger and alpinia may reduce pain and stiffness.
The large-scale studies show ginger isn’t effective for pain relief. A study published in the International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare in 2008 concluded more research was needed to determine if the spice was effective. Ginger doesn’t seem to be effective at relieving joint pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
Bottom line about ginger and its impact on joint pain is that there just isn’t enough information supporting its usage. You may want to consider other treatments or at least still use a pain reliever until you know how you’ll respond to it.
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