With an estimated 60%-70% of people living with asthma resorting to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to manage asthma symptoms, ginger is fast emerging as the herbal remedy for treating asthma symptoms. But is ginger more hype than cure?
Ginger retains a prominent place in traditional medicine. As a medicinal herb, ginger has been used for treating a bevy of conditions since 5,000 years ago.
Such conditions cut across the likes of hypertension, colds, arthritis, and even asthma. But what has research shown us so far regarding the effect of ginger on asthma?
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Examining the science of ginger on asthma
Studies exploring the effect of ginger on isolated human airway cells reveal that ginger works when combined with current bronchodilators' asthmatics medications (for those with breathing difficulty).
While scientists are still probing the specific mechanism behind the therapeutic effect of ginger on asthma allergies, findings so far are pointing at ginger's antioxidant (and anti-inflammatory) capabilities being responsible for the good works.
Ginger has significant bioactive content. Two of these are the bioactive compounds shogoal and ginerols. Both compounds are renowned for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties, in relation to anti-allergic properties.
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READ: How Healthy Is Ginger?
Ginger shows remarkable broncho relaxation capacities, as proven in both animal and human models. Research carried out using guinea pigs and humans as test subjects showed that isolated compounds in ginger relax airway smooth muscle within half an hour.
This is fascinating considering the tendency of the airway smooth muscle to become inflamed when exposed to asthma triggers, provoking severe asthma episodes.
Specifically in animal models, ginger has provided protection against hyper-responsive airways.
Elizabeth Townsend, a reputable biomedical engineer, in a study published in the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, explained that ginger works by suppressing the enzyme behind airway muscle constriction while concurrently activating the airway relaxation enzymes.
What are ongoing clinical trials showing?
Clinical trials are ongoing to scientifically investigate how ginger affects people with asthma.
So far, one interesting clinical trial with the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) as a collaborator has 36 asthma patients participating.
A 2mg ginger extract capsule will be administered to 18 of these participants for 56 days. The remaining 18 will get a placebo.
Leveraging tests like serum cytokines, methacholine challenge, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, and eosinophilia, this trial will investigate if 2g daily of oral ginger will suppress air inflammation, cutting down on the serum levels of inflammatory markers associated with asthma.
The trial is anticipated to finish by December 2021, from which authoritative findings shall be published.
So until then, is ginger safe to use for asthma?
Provided ginger is administered in small doses, it doesn't have substantial side effects.
Other than minor cases of nausea, vomiting, and bloating, minimal administration of ginger is not known to result in life-threatening misadventures.
However, before combing ginger as a suitable adjunctive treatment for asthma, you must first speak to your health provider. Should your doctor give you the go-ahead, here is how you can healthily consume ginger.
How to use ginger safely
Ginger can either be administered raw in natural ginger root, powdered ginger, and ginger hard candies.
When using raw ginger, ensure to remove the skin, which resembles tree bark. Now slice it befittingly (a piece would be about an inch) and wash it properly.
You may take it raw (chewing the root to a pulp), add it to soup, or administer it as ready homemade ginger tea. Your daily ginger consumption should never exceed 4 grams. This is the equivalent of one tablespoon daily.
While raw ginger is the best way to administer this herb, there is a less intense alternative in the form of ginger candies. These are readily available in pharmacy stores, your local grocery store, or even on Amazon.
Before consuming, spare some time to study the warnings and instructions (as to serving) on the package.
Lastly, you can resort to powdered ginger. This is commonly used as a food seasoning. Easily acquirable in grocery stores, the likes of Gingerbread bundt cake and whoopie pies are some fantastic recipes you can work with powdered ginger flavor.
Keep in mind that ginger powder is significantly concentrated. Consequently, your daily intake of ginger powder should never exceed two teaspoons.
