This entry was posted 12 years, 7 months ago.
November 3, 2010
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is among the oldest known herbal remedies for a variety of problems and health conditions, starting from colds and the flu and ending with morning sickness and indigestion. It is especially valued in China and India where it is used almost on a daily basis in the form of ginger root tea and other products, as well as for spicing all sorts of meals. Ginger is famous for its anti-inflammatory, warming up, spasmolytic, carminative properties, antioxidant effects and many other valuable actions.
Recent scientific researches carried out by the specialists at the University of Georgia have revealed that in addition to the mentioned therapeutic powers ginger root has excellent pain control effects, especially for relieving muscle pains caused by exercise. During two studies directed by kinesiology Professor in the College of Education, Patrick O’Connor, and an assistant professor of kinesiology at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Chris Black, the effects of consuming heat-treated and raw ginger root while treating muscle pains were studied.
Two groups of volunteers, 40 and 34 participants, were treated for 11 days with capsules containing some amount of heat-treated ginger root, raw ginger or placebo. On the eighth day of the studies, the participants performed a series of exercises causing moderate muscle pain. It turned out that consuming ginger (raw or hear-treated) can assist greatly in pain control and reduce muscle pains for up to 25%.
“Muscle pain generally is one of the most common types of pain and eccentric exercise-induced muscle pain specifically is a common type of injury related to sports and/or recreation (e.g., gardening). Anything that can truly relieve this type of pain will be greatly welcomed by the many people who are experiencing it,” says P. O’Connor. You can read more about this research in the September issue of The Journal of Pain, which is released by the McCormick Science Institute.
Author Info: Hi! My name is Carla and I am a 5th year medical student at HYMS. I am interested in alternative medicine and I have done months researching the topic of herbal medicine. Besides, I like interviewing people and learning more about their experiences with one or another type of herbal treatments. I am willing to contribute to this site with my knowledge, and I would be happy to help you out to the best of my ability with any specific questions or problems related to alternative medicine.
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