Interesting facts about ginger

February 10, 2012 | In: Medical facts

Ginger (JIN-ger) is a product that is made from the plant Zingiber officinale Roscoe. Products made from plants are often called botanicals or herbals.

Ginger has been used by many people for the prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness. It has also been used to prevent nausea and vomiting that may occur after surgery. While some people have found it beneficial, studies supporting this use are not good enough to prove that it is effective. No serious side/adverse effects have been reported.

Although ginger has been used in folk medicine to treat a number of other conditions, there have not been any studies to support these uses and they cannot be recommended by USP advisory panels.

Ginger has a long history of use, but only a few studies on ginger have been done in humans. Little is known about its specific effects and its interactions with medicines. Because of this lack of information, use of ginger to treat problems in children and pregnant or breast-feeding women is not recommended.

If you have a serious medical condition, you should check with your health care professional. Some conditions should not be treated with botanical or herbal products.