Ginger Root Powder
Ginger root powder is a spice that has been used for medicinal purposes in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. Ginger contains chemicals that can reduce nausea and swelling, and it works in the stomach, intestines, brain, and nervous system to control nausea. Ginger root powder is most commonly used to prevent nausea, including morning sickness in pregnancy, motion sickness, and chemotherapy or operation-induced nausea. It is also used for menstrual cramps, osteoarthritis, diabetes, migraine headaches, and other conditions. However, there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses.
There are several case studies that have investigated the benefits of ginger root powder. One study found that taking ginger by mouth during the first 3-4 days of a menstrual cycle somewhat reduces painful menstrual periods. It seems to work about as well as some pain medications like ibuprofen, mefenamic acid, or Novafen. Another study identified six studies overall that met inclusion criteria that investigated oral spice supplementation for rheumatoid arthritis. The one study that assessed ginger was double-blinded and administered ginger powder 750 mg twice daily or placebo for. The updated American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons clinical practice guideline on the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee (2021) recommends that ginger extract may be helpful in reducing pain and improving function for patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee.
The recommended dosage of ginger root powder is typically 1-3 grams by mouth daily for up to 12 weeks. For other usages of ginger, 1g is typically used. However, it is important to minimize ginger intake to below 4 grams of ginger per day if noted adverse side effects are experienced.
Ginger root powder is generally considered safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and daily approved intake of up to 4 grams is deemed safe. With higher doses, ginger root can exacerbate gastrointestinal disturbances such as gastrointestinal reflux, heartburn, and diarrhea. It can potentially cause warfarin toxicity, potentiating the drug’s anticoagulant properties and leading to bleeding. It can lower blood pressure and dosage should be optimized. Age, sex are factors that should be considered when determining dosage. Research shows that ginger is safe for most people to eat in normal amounts such as those in food and recipes.
