Remedy 2: Ginger

Remedy 1: Ginger

What is it?

Ginger in the form of ginger tea is recommended during periods, along with other remedies and interventions to relieve period cramps. Effective dose is considered to be 750mg of dry ginger boiled in water to be consumed once a day.¹

Regimen:

• What - ginger tea

• How much - 750 mg (effective low dose) of dry ginger boiled in water, once a day

• When - During menstruation, along with other interventions/remedies

• How long - throughout the duration of pain

How does it work?

Ginger helps reduce inflammation by blocking certain enzymes (COX and lipooxygenase) in the body. These enzymes are responsible for making substances like prostaglandins and leukotrienes that cause pain and swelling. By stopping their production, ginger works as a natural anti-inflammatory.²

What is the efficacy?

Method: A randomized, controlled trial was conducted. The study was based on a sample of one hundred and twenty students with moderate or severe primary dysmenorrhea. The students were all residents of the dormitories of Shahed University. They were randomly assigned into two equal groups, one for ginger and the other for placebo in two different treatment protocols with monthly intervals. The ginger and placebo groups in both protocols received 500 mg capsules of ginger root powder or placebo three times a day. In the first protocol, ginger and placebo were given two days before the onset of the menstrual period and continued through the first three days of the menstrual period. In the second protocol, ginger and placebo were given only for the first three days of the menstrual period. Severity of pain was determined by a verbal multidimensional scoring system and a visual analogue scale.

Results: There was no difference in the baseline characteristics of the two groups (placebo n = 46, ginger n = 56). The results of this study showed that there were significant differences in the severity of pain between ginger and placebo groups for protocol one (P = 0.015) and protocol two (P = 0.029). There was also a significant difference in duration of pain between the two groups for protocol one (P = 0.017) but not for protocol two (P = 0.210).

Conclusion: Treatment of primary dysmenorrhea in students with ginger for 5 days had a statistically significant effect on relieving the intensity and duration of pain.²

References

1. Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. No. 345-Primary Dysmenorrhea Consensus Guideline [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): SOGC; 2017. Available from: http://medi-guide.meditool.cn/ymtpdf/DB1F12EB-1AB3-4109-A70D-EE6083682539.pdf

1. Rahnama P, Montazeri A, Huseini HF, Kianbakht S, Naseri M. Effect of Zingiber officinale R. rhizomes (ginger) on pain relief in primary dysmenorrhea: a placebo randomized trial. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012;12:92.