Tagged with “ginger”

Ginger for Pain, Fever, Nausea, and Your Heart

For centuries, ginger has been used for its antispasmodic, anti-nausea action and its ability to relieve nausea, vomiting, indigestion, and to calm an upset stomach. There are also reports that ginger can decrease dizziness and vertigo and some studies report that it improves the heart’s overall functioning.

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. Continue reading…

Posted by Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD on May 26th, 2009
Posted in: From the Desk of Dr. Lenz | 2 Comments »
Tags: ginger, Managing Symptoms and Side Effects, nausea

Ginger Helps Relieve Chemo Nausea

Adding ginger capsules to standard treatment for chemotherapy nausea reduced nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy.

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. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on May 25th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: ASCO 2009, chemotherapy, ginger, nausea

Ginger Capsules Don’t Boost Nausea Medicines During Chemotherapy

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).

Posted by Kate Murphy on December 9th, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | 1 Comment »
Tags: chemotherapy, ginger, nausea