Alternative

Ginger

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Ginger, Zingiber officinale

  • See Also
  1. Herbal Medicine
  • Indications
  1. Uses with good supporting evidence
    1. Morning Sickness or Hyperemesis Gravidarum
    2. Postoperative Nausea or Vomiting
  2. Uses with variable evidence to support
    1. Osteoarthritis
    2. Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea
  3. Conditions in which Ginger is ineffective (avoid)
    1. Motion Sickness
  • Dosing
  1. General range: 250 to 1000 mg orally daily to four times daily
  2. Pregnancy-induced Nausea: 250 mg orally four times daily
  • Adverse Effects
  1. Mild gastrointestinal upset (e.g. Reflux, Eructation or Diarrhea)
  2. Antiplatelet effects
    1. May increase bleeding risk (avoid within 2 weeks of surgery)
  3. Hypoglycemia
  • Safety
  1. Pregnancy
    1. Mixed safety results
      1. If used in pregnancy, then use with caution and limit to first trimester
      2. Late pregnancy use is associated with bleeding, prematurity and decreased Head Circumference in some studies
        1. Other studies have shown no increased risk of preterm birth or low birth weight
    2. Effects
      1. Ginger affects Testosterone binding
      2. Ginger affects Thromboxane synthetase activity
      3. Animal studies showed increased Embryo loss
    3. References
      1. Larimore (2000) Prim Care 27(1): 35-53 [PubMed]
  • Drug Interactions
  1. No major P450 or P-Glycoprotein interactions
  2. Warfarin (Coumadin)
    1. Possible interaction
  1. Effective, safe and well tolerated
    1. Smith (2004) Obstet Gynecol 103:639-45 [PubMed]
  2. Dose of 250 mg four times daily showed benefit in 70% of cases
    1. Vutyavanich (2001) Obstet Gynecol 97:577-82 [PubMed]
  • Cost
  1. Inexpensive (<$20 per month)
  • References
  1. (2024) Presc Lett 31(3): 18
  2. White (2007) Am Fam Physician 75:1689-91 [PubMed]