ginger for pain Archives - Amazing Health Advances

10 Extraordinary Health Benefits of Ginger You Need to Know

The AHA! Team — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 05:58:31 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – Ginger has long been recognized as a flavorful and versatile herb in the kitchen. But you may be surprised to learn that it also has many benefits beyond your favorite culinary creations. If you have ever taken ginger ale to relieve an upset stomach, you probably have some inkling about its effectiveness as a natural remedy. But you would probably be surprised to discover that settling a queasy stomach is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the many health benefits associated with this extraordinary herb. Ginger has powerful healing properties It is well-researched, with studies supporting a long list of traditional uses passed down for generations. The use of ginger may support a broad array of antibacterial, antioxidant, and even antiparasitic effects. It has also been credited as an anti-inflammatory agent, opening the door for its potential use in treating many chronic illnesses. Ginger can be consumed fresh, dried, or in extract form. It can also be made with tea or as a supplement. Here are just 10 of the many beneficial uses for this versatile herb: 1. Normalize blood circulation Because it contains the minerals zinc, magnesium, and chromium – which help to improve blood flow – ginger is known for helping to support normal blood circulation. It may also aid in preventing chills, fever, and excessive sweating. In addition, there is evidence from one study that ginger could aid in preventing a heart attack. 2. Prevention of colon cancer According to a University of Minnesota study, the same substance that gives ginger its distinctive flavor appears to play a role in inhibiting the growth of human colorectal cancer cells. The research results strongly suggest ginger compounds may help combat colorectal carcinomas. Other studies have suggested ginger is effective in the battle against several other aggressive cancers, including cancers of the lung, ovaries, breast, pancreatic, prostate, and skin carcinoma. 3. Diabetes prevention There is evidence that ginger may play a role in diabetes prevention. Recent studies have found that ginger is beneficial in preventing and treating the disease, along with its ability to lower blood sugar, fats, and cholesterol. Research also supports the use of ginger for lessening the complications of diabetes and reducing bodily damage caused by the disease. 4. Natural antibiotic There are many reasons to avoid the overuse of antibiotics, from the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria to the need to maintain healthy intestinal bacteria. Ginger appears to offer a healthier alternative, exhibiting effective antibiotic action. Again, research also supports using ginger as an antibacterial against respiratory and periodontal infections. 5. Anti-inflammatory Many chronic diseases that are the most prevalent in today’s society can be traced to inflammation. Research has shown that ginger can be very helpful in managing the symptoms of chronic illness. It has also been shown to have the ability to inhibit nitrous oxide production and pro-inflammatory cytokines, which may affect neurodegenerative diseases. Lessening inflammation could make ginger useful in treating arthritis, prostate disease, cancer prevention, and general inflammation. 6. Detoxification The toxins and impurities in today’s environment are at war with our bodies on a daily basis. Pesticides, pharmaceuticals, GMOs, bacteria, pollutants, EMFs, and the effects of processed food all contribute to diminishing health and aging. However, studies suggest ginger has a preventive effect on many toxins, lessening their toll on the human body. 7. Relief from nausea and gastric distress Your grandmother was right when she served you that old fashion ginger ale for an upset stomach. Research supports the idea that you can alleviate nausea and gastric distress. This herb can also promote a healthy intestinal environment and contains an anti-spasmodic agent to relieve the pain of gastric distress. Other benefits include the relief of motion sickness, nausea, morning sickness and the prevention of ulcers. 8. Protection from radiation Research has shown that you can reduce the negative effects of radiation. For example, some studies suggest that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can help to protect against radiation-induced damage to various tissues, including the kidneys, by lowering the risk of oxidative stress and inflammation. 9. Menstrual pain relief A double-blind study found ginger to be as effective at relieving menstrual pain as common over-the-counter remedies, such as ibuprofen. 10. Reduced arthritic pain Studies have shown that ginger is just as effective as commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals at relieving pain due to inflammation of gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis. There is evidence it may be even more effective. How to easily incorporate plant medicine into your diet Adding this herb to your daily routine doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s one of the most versatile herbs for sweet and savory dishes. Whether you prefer fresh, dried, powdered, or extract form, there are plenty of simple ways to enjoy its benefits. Start your day with ginger tea. A warm cup in the morning can help wake up your digestion and support overall wellness. Steep fresh slices of this herb in hot water, or use a tea bag for convenience. Blend it into smoothies: Fresh or powdered form of this herb adds a spicy kick to your favorite smoothie and offers digestive and anti-inflammatory benefits. Try pairing it with citrus fruits, carrots, or turmeric for a powerful nutrient boost. Use it in cooking: Grate fresh ginger into stir-fries, soups, and curries for a burst of flavor and health benefits. It also works well in marinades and salad dressings. Bake with it: This herb can add warmth to baked goods like muffins, cookies, and breads. Combine it with cinnamon and nutmeg for a comforting, aromatic treat. Enjoy ginger shots: For a concentrated dose of ginger’s goodness, try blending this fresh herb with lemon juice and honey for an energizing shot. Make ginger-infused water: Drop a few slices of this herb into your water bottle for a refreshing, subtly spiced drink throughout the day. Sprinkle ginger powder: For an easy way to include this herb in your diet, add a pinch to oatmeal, yogurt, or even your morning coffee. By incorporating ginger into your meals and drinks, you’ll enhance the flavor of your food and reap the many health benefits this powerful herb offers. Enjoy! Sources for this article include: NIH.gov NIH.gov NIH.gov Medicalnewstoday.com To read the original article click here.

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Ginger Powder as a Pain-Killer?

AHA Publisher — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 07:00:32 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – There have been at least eight randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of ginger for pain. You may recall that I’ve previously explored the use of spinach for athletic performance and recovery, attributed to its “anti-inflammatory effects.” Most athletes aren’t using spinach to beat back inflammation, though; they use drugs, typically non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, which is used by up to 95 percent of collegiate athletes and three quarters of kids playing high school football. They aren’t only using it for inflammation, though, but also prophylactically “prior to athletic participation to prevent pain and inflammation before it occurs. However, scientific evidence for this approach is currently lacking, and athletes should be aware of the potential risks in using NSAIDs as a prophylactic agent,” which include gastrointestinal pain and bleeding, kidney damage, and liver damage. There was one study in particular that freaked everyone out: A study of thousands of marathon runners found that those taking over-the-counter pain killers before the race had five times the incidence of organ damage. Nine were hospitalized—three with kidney failure after taking ibuprofen, four with gastrointestinal bleeding after taking aspirin, and two with heart attacks, also after aspirin ingestion. In contrast, none of the control group ended up in the hospital. No pain killers, no hospital. What’s more, the analgesics didn’t even work. “Analysis of the pain reported by respondents before and after racing showed no major identifiable advantages” to taking the drugs, so it appeared there were just downsides. What about using ginger instead? That’s the subject of my video Ground Ginger to Reduce Muscle Pain. In that marathon study, as you can see below and at 1:33 in my video, the most common adverse effect of taking the drugs was gastrointestinal cramping. Ginger, in contrast to aspirin or ibuprofen-type drugs, may actually improve gastrointestinal function. For example, endurance athletes can suffer from nausea, and ginger is prized for its anti-nausea properties. Okay, but does it work for muscle pain? There have been at least eight randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of ginger for pain—for everything from osteoarthritis to irritable bowel to painful periods. I’ve made videos about all of those, as well as its use for migraine headaches. Overall, ginger extracts, like the powdered ginger spice you’d get at any grocery store, were found to be “clinically effective” pain-reducing agents with “a better safety profile than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.” As you can see below and at 2:22 in my video, the ginger worked better in some of the studies than in others, which is “likely to be at least partly due to the strong dose-effect relationship that [was] identified and the wide range of doses used among the studies under analysis (60-2000 mg of extract/day).” In terms of reduction of pain, as you can see below and at 2:32 in my video, the best results were achieved with one and a half or two grams a day, which is a full teaspoon of ground ginger. The drugs work by suppressing an enzyme in the body called cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which triggers inflammation. The problem is that they also suppress cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), which does good things like protect the lining of your stomach and intestines. “Since inhibition of COX-1 is associated with gastrointestinal irritation, selective inhibition of COX-2”—the inflammatory enzyme—“should help minimize this side effect” and offer the best of both worlds. And, that’s what ginger seems to do. As you can see below and at 3:11 in my video, two ginger compounds had no effect against COX-1, the “good” enzyme, but could dramatically cut down on COX-2, the pro-inflammatory one. Okay, but does ginger work for muscle pain? Not acutely, apparently. You can’t just take it like a drug. When folks were given a teaspoon of ginger before a bout of cycling, there was no difference in leg muscle pain over the 30 minutes, as you can see below and at 3:34 in my video. “However, ginger may attenuate the day-to-day progression of muscle pain.” Taking ginger five days in a row appears to “accelerate the recovery of maximal strength following a high-load…[weight-lifting] exercise protocol.” When you put all the studies together, it seems “a single dose of ginger has little-to-no discernable effects on muscle pain,” but if you take a teaspoon or two for a couple days or weeks, perhaps in a pumpkin smoothie or something, you may be able to reduce muscle pain and soreness, and “accelerate recovery of muscular strength…” Is fresh ginger preferable to powdered? Maybe not. As you can see below and at 4:12 in my video, there are all sorts of compounds in ginger with creative names as gingerols, gingerdiols, and gingerdiones, but the most potent anti-inflammatory component may be compound called shogaols. Interestingly, dried ginger contains more than fresh, which “justifies the uses of dry ginger in traditional systems of medicine for the treatment of various illnesses due to oxidative stress and inflammation.” In that case, why not just give the extracted shogaol component in a pill by itself? As you can see below and at 4:41 in my video, each of the active ginger components individually reduce inflammation, some more than others, but the whole ginger is greater than the sum of its parts. However, you can boost shogaol content of whole ginger by drying it, as they are the major gingerol dehydration products. Indeed, they’re created when ginger is dried. Heating ginger may increase shogaol concentration even more, so could heated ginger work better against pain than raw? You don’t know, until you put it to the test. A study examined the effects on muscle pain of 11 days of a teaspoon of raw ginger versus ginger that had been boiled for three hours. As you can see below and at 5:22 in my video, there was a significant reduction in muscle soreness a day after pumping iron in the cooked ginger group—and the same benefit was achieved with the raw ginger. Either way, “daily consumption of raw and heat-treated ginger resulted in moderate-to-large reductions in muscle pain following exercise-induced muscle injury.” Here’s the link to the video I mentioned: Flashback Friday: Foods to Improve Athletic Performance and Recovery. Key Takeaways The vast majority of college athletes and high school football players may use ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) both to treat inflammation and, prophylactically, to prevent pain and inflammation. The latter has potential risks, including gastrointestinal (GI) pain and bleeding, as well as damage to the kidney and liver. In a study of thousands of marathoners, taking painkillers before racing resulted in five times the incidence of organ damage and GI cramping was the most common adverse effect. The analgesics didn’t even work. In contrast to aspirin or ibuprofen-type drugs, ginger, which has anti-nausea properties, may actually improve GI function. Ginger extracts (e.g., the powdered ginger spice readily available in grocery stores) have been found to be “clinically effective” pain-reducing agents with a better safety profile than NSAIDs. Best results have been achieved with 1.5 to 2.0 g a day (about a teaspoon of ground ginger). NSAIDs suppress both the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme, which triggers inflammation, as well as cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), which protects stomach and intestinal linings; inhibition of COX-1 has been linked with GI irritation. Ginger appears to have no negative effect on the “good” COX-1 enzyme but may dramatically reduce the pro-inflammatory COX-2 enzyme. Although ginger may not acutely improve muscle pain, taking a teaspoon or two for consecutive days or weeks may reduce muscle pain and soreness, as well as hasten recovery of muscular strength. Shogaols may be the most potent anti-inflammatory component in ginger, and dried ginger contains more than fresh, so powdered ginger may be preferred to fresh. Shogaols are created when ginger is dried, but heating ginger doesn’t seem to work more effectively against pain than raw ginger. Indeed, “daily consumption of raw and heat-treated ginger resulted in moderate-to-large reductions in muscle pain following exercise-induced muscle injury.” To read the original article click here.

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Daily Whipped Frappe for Healthy Joints

AHA Publisher — Wed, 25 May 2022 07:00:17 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Looking for an easy, once-daily, effective drink for joint health? We’ve got a delicious one for you! Our Whipped Frappe for healthy joints promotes less pain, less inflammation, and less consumption of medications. What’s more, it’s easy to make and delicious. Just 6 ingredients: try this daily health shot today! Daily Whipped Frappe for Healthy Joints Ingredients 4 ounces low-carb non-dairy milk (coconut milk or almond milk) 1 scoop Keto Zone Hydrolyzed Collagen (Chocolate or Vanilla) 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric 1 /2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground pepper Instructions Place all ingredients in a mug (if using a hand-blender) or blender. Blend until whipped and frothy. Add crushed ice. Enjoy! Nutrition info: 549 calories, 49 grams fat, 6 grams net carbs (8 grams carbs, 2 grams fiber), 22 grams protein 5 Amazing Ingredients for Healthy Joints This amazing frappe is overflowing with effective ingredients for healthy joints. Here’s how each supports joints, reduced inflammation, reduced pain, and overall wellness. 1. TURMERIC FOR INFLAMMATION AND HEALTHY JOINTS Turmeric contains an amazingly strong compound called curcumins. While it’s still unknown exactly how they work to decrease joint pain, turmeric’s effects are well documented. In fact, a recent meta-analysis of curcumin studies concluded that the curcumins in turmeric extract were effective in treating arthritic pain (1). What’s more, animal studies show that curcumins protect cartilage. (2). Additionally, a study of 50 people who suffer from arthritis found a 58% decrease in stiffness and pain after 90 days with curcumin treatment. In fact, the participants’ C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation, decreased by 16-fold! 2. GINGER FOR PAIN AND JOINT HEALTH The active medicinal ingredients in ginger are phytochemicals, known as gingerols and shogaols. Ginger has long been used as an herbal remedy to relieve many ailments from stomach issues like nausea and motion sickness to bacterial infections (3). But when it comes to pain, gingerols’ anti-inflammatory action comes to the forefront to help. In fact, studies, case studies, and anecdotal reports show that ginger is an effective pain reducer. In one case study from 2014, ginger effectively relieved osteoarthritis within 24 weeks, without any negative side effects (4). Another study from 2014 showed the effectiveness of topical ginger creams for joints (5). And, more studies conclude that gingerols possess anti-inflammatory and analgesic results (6) . 3. CINNAMON’S ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES Chronic inflammation in the body can lead to disease and illness over time, so consuming anti-inflammatory foods can help fight harmful inflammation. A study from 2018 found that cinnamon supplementation resulted in a significant decrease of serum levels of CRP (an inflammation marker), improvements in blood pressure, and improvements in joint health (less tender or swollen joints) (7). 4. REDUCED JOINT PAIN AND INFLAMMATION WITH BLACK PEPPER Piperine, the primary component in black pepper, is a strong anti-arthritis nutrient. In fact, study after study has shown reduced pain, increased healing, and decreased pathology in arthritic animals and humans (8). What’s more, piperine increases the absorption of another pain-fighting food, turmeric, by up to 10x. It does this by stimulating “transporters” in our intestines that are responsible for absorbing nutrients. 5. COLLAGEN FOR HEALTHY JOINTS Hydrolyzed collagen is now well-accepted as an effective food that supports healthy joints and skin. One study from Pennsylvania State University, athletes who took a hydrolyzed collagen supplement for 6 months had less joint pain when they were active and at rest (9). A 2016 study found type II collagen helped support knee health in those with osteoarthritis (10). Furthermore, a 6-month double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled 2012 study suggested collagen hydrolysate could help improve lower back joint pain (11). Why Not Just Take Ibuprofen Instead? While ibuprofen is routinely consumed by pain sufferers, over-consumption of NSAIDS is associated with altered gut flora, potential ulcers, and other digestive issues. In fact, many experts consider it dangerous when routinely consumed. On the other hand, our whipped frappe contains ingredients that effectively support joint health while promoting full body wellness. Bottom Line No need to reach for the medicine cabinet. Try our Daily Whipped Frappe for Joint Health today. Fill your body with compounds from turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, and collagen with one delicious daily drink! To read the original article click here.

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