| Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) is nothing new. It has | | | | should avoid it. |
| been used in Ayurvedic medicine for 5,000 years. | | | | - People with gallstones shouldn't take ginger as it |
| Ayurvedic means 'science of life' in Sanskrit. This | | | | increases the release of bile. |
| ancient system of healing is becoming increasingly | | | | - Although it is freely for sale for the relief of |
| popular as we become more aware of the | | | | morning sickness, the safety of it during |
| connection between our body and mind. | | | | pregnancy has not been proven. |
| Ayurvedic medicine first came into the West with | | | | - Use ginger with extreme caution if you are |
| the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, 30 years ago. His | | | | taking a blood-thinner such as Warfarin, Heparin or |
| name may be familiar to you because he taught | | | | Aspirin. Ginger has been shown to prevent blood |
| the Beatles transcendental meditation. More | | | | cells clumping together, by a thinning action. |
| recently, Ayurveda has been made even more | | | | - Don't take it if you have heart problems (or |
| popular by the works of Deepak Chopra. | | | | suspected heart problems - or if you are on any |
| Ginger has most commonly been used for settling | | | | heart medication. |
| stomachs - but it is becoming increasingly popular | | | | - Avoid it if you are a diabetic or on medication to |
| as a headache remedy, receiving many positive | | | | control your blood sugar. Some ginger |
| endorsements from Doctors and Neurologists. | | | | supplements are high in sugar. |
| How does it work? | | | | - Be very careful if you are taking any other |
| No one is quite sure. | | | | supplements which can cause blood thinning - such |
| It appears to lessen the frequency and intensity | | | | as garlic. If in doubt, check with your doctor, |
| of headache symptoms. It is believed that this is | | | | research thoroughly or avoid. |
| because of the way it prevents inflammation in | | | | I'm ok - how do I take it? |
| blood vessels. Preventing inflammation stops them | | | | Ginger is freely available and comes in many |
| enlarging and pressing on nerves, giving rise to the | | | | forms. Choose which you prefer. It can be taken |
| headache. | | | | in: |
| It has been known to have a positive effect on | | | | - Tablet or capsules |
| nausea (which is a symptom of migraine and | | | | - Drunk as a tea or tincture |
| headaches) and motion sickness for over twenty | | | | - Applied as a paste |
| years. In 1982, the British medical magazine for | | | | Once you have chosen a method, only use that |
| Doctors, The Lancet, published a study on | | | | one. If you want to take it in another form, stop |
| Dramamine. This was a popular drug for motion | | | | the first one before starting the second. Taking it |
| sickness. The study found ginger to be twice as | | | | in too many forms makes it hard to monitor how |
| effective. | | | | much your intake is and could lead to an |
| It is thought that the ginger may be acting on the | | | | overdose. |
| digestive or central nervous system. It appears to | | | | How do I know if I've taken too much? |
| reduce both nausea and vomiting. When taken at | | | | Symptoms can include: |
| the first sign of a migraine, it does give some | | | | - Feeling sleepy |
| relief. | | | | - Feeling confused |
| Trials for arthritis in Denmark found that over | | | | - Feeling dizzy |
| three quarter of people tested, found an | | | | - Having an irregular heartbeat |
| improvement in pain and swelling after adding | | | | Take care to note |
| ginger to their diet. Migraine is just one other | | | | Please note that Ginger has not been tested and |
| condition associated with inflammation. An | | | | evaluated by the FDA. Also, there are no |
| amazing, unexpected side effect was that those | | | | regulated standards for the manufacture of |
| tested, didn't suffer with the colds that they were | | | | Ginger products. There have been rare incidences |
| used to. | | | | where contaminated supplements have been sold. |
| It sounds great! Is it safe for everyone to take? | | | | To avoid problems, make certain to buy |
| Sadly, no. There are a few groups of people who | | | | supplements from a reliable source. |