Ginger root reduces chemotherapy nausea by 40 percent

Ginger is an incredibly versatile spice; it’s recommended for travel and morning sickness and recent research showed it could also be used in the third world to inexpensively treat bacteria-induced diarrhoea, which is the leading cause of infant death in many countries. It is certainly a popular remedy for conditions as wide apart as arthritis and supporting the cardiovascular system, and certainly for treating stomach upsets. It eases stomach cramps, calms any upset and helps increase the amount of bile, for better digestion.

Now it seems there is proof in a study reported by the American Society of Clinical Oncology that it could also help with the nausea experienced by as many as 70% of patients after receiving chemotherapy. MLA University of Rochester Medical Center carried out a study by using ginger capsules, in conjunction with anti-nausea drugs, before their treatment on 644 cancer patients.The figures speak for themselves, with 40 percent of patients reporting much less severe and frequent attacks of nausea when they took the ginger supplement three days before they had their chemotherapy, and for three days afterwards. It’s important it is taken before the chemotherapy to allow the spice time to do it’s work in the body, it’s thought that it is the anti-inflammatory benefit of ginger is an important factor here in preparing the body to withstand the drugs onslaught. The recommended way to take it is in ginger supplements though some crytallised ginger or the odd slice of gingerbread won’t harm either.

This is the biggest study undertaken on this natural spice, and the first to investigate whether ginger could make a difference if taken before the chemotherapy occurs.

I have mentioned the various homoeopathic treatments available to help with the side effects of homoeopathy, but it is good to also have another option, and ginger certainly has a long pedigree in natural medicine as it has been in use by the Chinese for over 2,500 years.