Ginger Extracts

Mechanism

Ginger posesses antiemetic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and cardiotonic properties. Ginger is a cholagogic agent that promotes the flow of bile into the intestine, especially through contraction of the gallbladder. Pharmacologically active components of the oleoresin include gingerols, a class of structurally similar cardioactive compounds, and shogaols. The gingerols produce concentration-dependent inotropic effects through activation of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium adenosine triphosphatase.

Safety

·                                 Ginger, in all available forms, is very safe to take for a wide variety of ailments.

·                                 Some people report heartburn after taking ginger.

Dosage

Standardized extract in pill form: Take 100 to 200 mg every four hours or up to three times a day.
For motion sickness: Take l00-150 mg two hours before departing and then every four hours afterward as needed.
For aching muscles: Add a few drops of ginger oil to 1 tablespoon of a neutral oil (such as almond oil), blend well, then rub the mixture into the painful area.
For rheumatoid arthritis: Take 100-200 mg three times a day or drink up to four cups of ginger tea daily.
For chronic pain: Either take 100-150 mg three times daily or blend a few drops of ginger, lavender, and birch oils with 1 tablespoon of a neutral oil (such as almond oil), and gently massage the mixture into the affected areas.
For cold and allergy relief: Drink up to four cups of ginger tea daily as needed. Folk practitioners also recommend chewing fresh ginger, drinking real ginger ale, or squeezing juice from a fresh ginger root and mixing it with a spoonful of honey