Can You Use Ginger For Cancer?

Ginger has many health benefits. Read on to learn how it improves nausea and pain. Also, find out how you can use ginger for cancer.

What Is Ginger?

Ginger is a member of a plant family that includes cardamom and turmeric. Its spicy aroma is due to the presence of ketones. The main ones are gingerols. They are primary components of ginger often studied in scientific research. 

The rhizome is the stem from which the roots grow. It is the central part of ginger that we consume. Ginger's name comes from the Middle English gingivere. This spice dates back over 3000 years. 

The Sanskrit word is srngaveram, which means to horn root. In Greek, they called it ziggiberis. The Latin word for ginger is zinziberi. Ginger does not grow in the wild, and its origin is uncertain.

Indians and Chinese have produced ginger as a tonic root for over 5,000 years. They used it to treat many ailments. India is the largest ginger producer. 

Ginger was a flavoring agent long before recorded history. It was an essential trade product exported from India to the Roman Empire over 2000 years ago. 

Ginger's primary value was its medicinal properties. It continued to be a sought-after commodity in Europe even after the fall of the Roman Empire. 

Arab merchants controlled the trade in ginger and other spices for centuries. In the 13th and 14th centuries, a pound of ginger was worth the same as a sheep.

In medieval times, they imported ginger preserved to make sweets. Queen Elizabeth I of England got the credit for the invention of the gingerbread man. It became a popular Christmas treat.

There are various forms of ginger.

Different Uses Of Ginger

Ginger comes in many forms: fresh, dried, pickled, preserved, crystallized, candied, or ground. Its flavor is peppery and sweet, with a strong and spicy aroma. The concentration of essential oils increases as ginger ages. 

If the main purpose of the ginger is oil, you need to harvest it at 9 months. Ginger is often pickled in sweet vinegar and is popular with sushi. Dried or pulverized ginger is common in cookies, cakes, and curry mixes.

Ginger harvested at 5 months old is not yet mature and has thin skin. The rhizomes are tender and mildly flavorful. Young ginger is best in fresh or preserved form.

We have identified at least 115 components in fresh and dried ginger varieties. Gingerols are the major components of fresh ginger. There are more shogaols in dry ginger, a major gingerol in dehydration products.

Ginger is one of the most commonly consumed dietary condiments in the world. It contains many bioactive components. Ginger has many health benefits. Read on to learn how you can use it to improve your health.

Health Benefits Of Ginger

Ginger has a long history of use in various forms of traditional medicine. It aids digestion, reduces nausea, and helps fight the flu and common cold. Later, you will learn how to use ginger for cancer.

Ginger's unique fragrance and flavor come from its natural oils. Gingerol is the main bioactive compound in ginger and is responsible for many of its medicinal properties.

Ginger may be effective against nausea. It can help with pregnancy-related nausea, commonly known as morning sickness. A 2016 review revealed that gingerols and shogaols prevent nausea and vomiting.

However, the amounts of those compounds can vary depending on the form of ginger. Dried ginger had the most gingerol, followed by fresh ginger and powdered ginger tea. 

Doses of 0.5 gram and 1.0 gram were most effective at reducing nausea. Of the seven studies analyzed, five showed ginger to be beneficial.

Two found no beneficial outcomes. The authors of the review suggest that the mixed results are due to the forms and preparations of ginger.

Ginger may improve nausea as much as traditional treatments.

Ginger Improves Nausea As Much As Traditional Treatments

Most studies on ginger's ability to reduce nausea happened in pregnancy and chemotherapy studies. But you can use it in any form of nausea. 

One review found that ginger alleviates nausea and vomiting compared to a placebo. It provides similar effects to other traditional treatments used for vomiting during pregnancy. 

Another health benefit of ginger is treating indigestion.

Improve Indigestion With Ginger

Ginger may help manage indigestion by speeding up food through the stomach. Functional dyspepsia is when a person has indigestion.

This condition causes abdominal pain, bloating, feeling too full, gases, and nausea. It often occurs with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

In one study, scientists found that consuming ginger and artichokes improved indigestion. They ate them before a main meal, and compared to a placebo, they improved functional dyspepsia.

Several studies investigated ginger's effects on the gas in the intestinal tract. A 2018 review said ginger's enzymes can help break up and expel this gas, relieving discomfort.

Research shows that ginger may help increase movement through the digestive tract. It suggests that it may relieve or prevent constipation.

Ginger has a beneficial effect on the enzyme pancreatic lipase. It aids digestion in the small intestine. Ginger may help ease discomfort related to digestive problems, including:

If you suffer from bloating and gas, ginger may help relieve that.

Ginger May Relief Bloating And Gas

Studies on ginger supplementation have shown that it may improve gastric emptying. It causes relief from bloating and gas.

One clinical trial found that supplementing with ginger for four weeks reduced indigestion. People receiving ginger supplementation reported less stomach pain, bloating, belching, nausea, and heartburn.

Another study gave people with multiple sclerosis ginger supplementation. Ginger reduced constipation, nausea, and bloating.

However, ginger doesn't help to reduce irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is a digestive condition that causes stomach pain and changes in bowel movements. Ginger may help ease some digestive problems in conjunction with other traditional treatments.

Women who suffer from menstrual pain may benefit by eating ginger.

Menstrual Pain Reduce By Consuming Ginger

Ginger may help relieve dysmenorrhea, also known as menstrual pain. Some research suggests ginger is as effective as treating it as a drug.

It may be as good as acetaminophen, caffeine, and ibuprofen (Novafen). Ginger may ease pain by reducing inflammation with its gingerol compounds. 

A 2023 meta-analysis found ginger supplementation more effective than a placebo. It was as effective as NSAIDs for reducing menstrual cramps. NSAIDs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used to relieve pain.  

About 750 to 2,000 mg of ginger powder used 3-4 times daily can ease menstrual cramps. However, ginger reduces the intensity of the pain, not the duration.

Another health benefit of ginger is its ability to reduce migraines.

Ginger Can Lessen Migraines As Good As Drugs

A migraine is a headache that can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation. It often happens on one side of the head. 

Migraines cause nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. These attacks can last for hours to days. The pain can be so intense that it immobilizes you.

A double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial compared the efficacy of ginger to sumatriptan. It is one of the top-selling drugs in the world for treating migraine headaches. 

They tried using one-eighth teaspoon of powdered ginger instead of a good drug dose. Both worked as well and as fast. 

Most started in moderate or severe pain before. But, after the drug or ginger, they ended up in mild pain or pain-free. The same proportion of migraine sufferers reported satisfaction with the results either way. 

People who took the drug reported dizziness, a sedative effect, vertigo, and heartburn. The only side effect reported for ginger was an upset stomach in about one out of 25 people. This can happen if you take a whole tablespoon of ginger on an empty stomach.

Ginger is a few billion dollars cheaper and has fewer side effects than the drug. Sticking to an eighth of a teaspoon is up to 3,000 times cheaper than the drug. But you're less likely to end up with side effects. 

Ginger may also help you deal with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Joint Pain And Inflammation Go Down With Ginger

Ginger can help with osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). OA occurs when joint tissue breaks down over time, resulting in stiffness, swelling, and pain. RA is an autoimmune disease that results in joint pain and inflammation. Both conditions involve inflammation and pain.

Studies on OA and RA have shown that ginger improves pain levels. It also reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines. They are small proteins in cells that affect other immune system cells.

In one meta-analysis, 500 to 2,000 milligrams of ginger extract had a modest positive effect on reducing pain associated with OA. More research supports the use of ginger for OA than RA.

Some research suggests that shogaol and gingerol in ginger may prevent degenerative diseases. Some of them are Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis.

Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation may be key drivers of Alzheimer's disease. They can also cause age-related cognitive decline.

Anti-oxidants and bioactive compounds in ginger can inhibit inflammation in the brain. They may help prevent cognitive decline.

But the most important question still is: can you use ginger for cancer? Find out more in the next section.

Can You Use Ginger For Cancer?

Oxidative stress can happen when too many free radicals build up in the body. Free radicals are toxic substances produced by metabolism and other factors.

When they build up in the body, free radicals can cause cellular damage. It can lead to rheumatoid arthritis, heart attack, chronic inflammation, and cancer. Dietary anti-oxidants can help the body get rid of free radicals.

According to research, gingerol has powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. The main bioactive compounds of ginger have anti-oxidant properties. 

There is some evidence that these compounds may help reduce gastrointestinal cancers. Some examples include colorectal, pancreatic, and liver cancer.

In one study, 20 people with a high risk of colorectal cancer took 2 g of ginger daily for 28 days. At the end of the study, the lining of the participant's intestines showed less cancer.

A 2015 review also showed that ginger could treat gastric cancer. The review concludes that ginger may inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Or it can contribute to the death of cancer cells of other types. 

However, most studies on ginger and cancer risk have not involved humans. In vitro, animal studies suggest ginger suppresses cancer and induces cell death. It can help against a variety of cancer types.

Some include: 

These effects of ginger come from its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger can reduce various types of oxidative stress. But that is something vegetables, fruits, and berries can also do.

Most of ginger's benefits come from complementing traditional cancer treatments. Ginger is a safe option to reduce the symptoms of nausea and pain associated with cancer treatments. When you're undergoing chemo, ginger helps combat nausea or dizziness.

Ginger should not be a standalone cancer treatment. However, when combined with a well-balanced diet, it may help the body stay healthy.