Ginger "JIN-jer"
What are other names for this remedy?
Type of medicine: natural remedy
Scientific and common names: Zingiber officinale roscoe,
Amomum zingiber, Zingiberis rhizoma, ginger, African ginger, black ginger, ginger root, gingembre,
Jamaica ginger, imber
What is ginger?
Ginger is used to make a popular drink (ginger ale), and as a
spice or condiment. Ginger plants have thin leaves approximately 6 inches long,
and large pale yellow and purple flowers. The root is used medicinally.
What is it used for?
Ginger has been used to:
- ease menstrual cramps,
arthritis, fever, and headaches
- help prevent nausea and
vomiting from motion sickness or after surgery or chemotherapy
- improve appetite and digestion
and treat heartburn, bloating and gas
- prevent morning sickness
- treat high cholesterol and
atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
- treat colds, cough, and the flu
- treat arthritis
- treat vertigo
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve uses
for natural remedies. The FDA does not inspect or regulate natural remedies the
way they do prescription medicines.
How is it taken?
It can be taken as a capsule, pill, tea, or tincture, or the
fresh root can be eaten. You may make ginger tea from the raw herb. You may
also chew the raw fresh herb or use it to flavor food. Swallow ginger root
capsules or tablets with a large drink of water. Follow the directions printed
on the product label or given by your healthcare provider.
What if I overdose?
Symptoms of an acute overdose have not been reported.
What should I watch out for?
Talk with your healthcare provider before taking ginger if you
have:
- a bleeding disorder
- diabetes
- heart disease
- high or low blood pressure
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the
healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this remedy. Before you have
surgery, stop taking this remedy. It may cause you to bleed more.
Diabetics: This medicine may affect your blood sugar level and
change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to
your healthcare provider about this.
Females of childbearing age: If you are pregnant or
breast-feeding, do not take this remedy without your healthcare provider's
approval.
Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any natural
remedy that you are using or thinking about using. If your provider does not
tell you how to take it, follow the directions that come with the package. Do
not take more or take it longer than recommended. Ask about anything you do not
understand. Remember:
- Natural remedies are not always
safe.
- You should not take them if you
are pregnant or breast-feeding without your healthcare provider's
approval. They should not be taken by infants, children, or older adults
without your provider's approval.
- They affect your body and may
interact with prescription medicines that you take.
- Natural remedies are not
standardized and may have different strengths and effects. They may be
contaminated.
What are the possible side effects?
Along with its desirable effects, this remedy may cause some
unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects
may go away as your body adjusts to the remedy. Tell your healthcare provider
if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Serious: Unusual bruising or bleeding.
Other: Stomach upset, heartburn, diarrhea.
What products might interact with this remedy?
When you take this remedy with other medicines, it can change
the way the remedy or the medicines work. Vitamins and certain foods may also
interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects.
Before taking this remedy, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
- medicine that reduces the
chance of blood clots forming such as aspirin, heparin, ticlopidine
(Ticlid), enoxaparin (Lovenox), dalteparin (Fragmin), clopidogrel
(Plavix), and warfarin (Coumadin)
- calcium channel blockers such
as nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), felodipine (Plendil), amlodipine
(Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor), and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin)
- diabetes medicines such as
insulin, acarbose (Prandase, Precose), acetohexamide (Dymelor),
chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol,
Glucotrol XL), glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase), metformin (Glucophage),
miglitol (Glyset), pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia),
repaglinide (Prandin), tolazamide (Tolinase), and tolbutamide
- natural remedies such as
angelica, anise, arnica, asafoetida, capsicum, celery, chamomile, devil's
claw, fenugreek, garlic, ginkgo, Panax ginseng, gotu kola, horse chestnut,
horseradish, licorice, papain, psyllium, red clover, turmeric, and willow
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil, Nuprin),
naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan), ketoprofen, nabumetone (Relafen),
indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), sulindac (Clinoril),
piroxicam (Feldene), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), and oxaprozin
(Daypro)
