The bioactive compound gingerol in ginger has proven anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. It is used in varied traditional medicine to treat digestive problems, nausea and fight flu and common cold.
Ginger is known to relieve gastrointestinal (GI) irritation, stimulate saliva, bile production and suppress gastric contractions and helps the movement of food and fluids through the GI tract.
.Ginger has proven effective in relieving nausea and vomiting post-surgery, and for patients undergoing chemotherapy. It has shown to be effective in treating morning sickness.
.The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger are effective in reducing advancement of muscle pain and exercise induced muscle soreness. Osteoarthritis is a common bone disorder many older people suffer from.
A study conducted by University of Medical Science (Iran) has proved ginger's effectiveness in reducing blood sugar values and HbA1C in diabetic and have potent hypolipidemic effect.
A very common traditional use of ginger is in reducing severe menstrual pain. It has proven to manage and reduce pain as effectively as the drugs mefenamic acid and ibuprofen.
Ginger has a potent effect in reducing bad cholesterol, triglycerides and increasing good cholesterol in both animal and human study published in Journal Food and Function.
Ginger extract has been studied for beneficial effect as an alternate medicine in the treatment of cancer. The anti-cancer properties relate to 6 gingerol, which is effective against pancreatic cancer, breast cancer and ovarian cancer.