10 Best Amazing Benefits of Ginger Extract for Health

Why ginger for your health? Here we are presenting the most ancient herbal medicine. In Ayurveda, ginger is known as Sringavera; the botanical name is zingiber officinale. Ginger has been used as medicine since the Vedic period and is called “maha aushadhi," which means great medicine. In traditional medicine, it was used as a carminative, antiflatulent., anti-inflammatory, etc. In every household in India, it has been used as a cooking spice. At least once in your life, ginger might be your lifesaver. If you face any gas issues, digestive issues, or any kind of flu or cold, our mother used to be a doctor, and this ginger extract became our medicine.Ginger is native to Asia, where. It has been widely used for arthritis, cramps, sprains, sore throats, rheumatism, muscular aches, pains, and vomiting. According to the Indian Ayurvedic medicinal system, ginger is mainly advised to enhance the proper digestion of food and mild stomach upset.Today, health care professionals may recommend ginger to help prevent or treat nausea and vomiting from motion sickness, pregnancy, and cancer chemotherapy. It is also used to treat and reduce the pain of osteoarthritis and may even be used in heart disease.

10 Amazing Benefits of Ginger Extract:

1. Use for post-operative stage: A fixed dose of 1 g of ginger is more effective in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. 
2. Reduce hypertension: Ginger extract consumption can lower blood pressure levels because of the calcium channel blocker and ACE inhibitor.
3. Joint pain: Ginger can help with joint pain because it has anti-inflammatory properties and contains nutrients that support healthy joints.
4. Improved digestive system: Ginger may be good for aiding digestion, lowering gastrointestinal pain, and speeding up the movement of the GI tract.
5. Fever and cold: Ginger has been used for thousands of years as an herbal remedy for the treatment of colds and flu. It may ease a dry or asthmatic cough as it has anti-inflammatory properties and soothes a sore throat. 
6. Cardiovascular: Some studies state that ginger may have cardioprotective effects; it lowers cholesterol and prevents blood clotting. So it will help to prevent heart disease, which leads to a heart attack or stroke. So ginger is a best cardiotonic 
7. Fight germs: Ginger antimicrobial potential against pathogens The chemical compounds that ginger is composed of can stop the growth of harmful bacteria, E. coli and Shigella. They can also kill viruses, which commonly cause lung infections.
8. Morning sickness: Ginger can be an effective remedy for nausea and vomiting, even during pregnancy. Several studies suggest ginger is safe in pregnancy.
9. Alleviate mood swings: Ginger is an effective Indian herb to reduce mood swings because of the presence of plenty of antioxidants in it.
10. Improve immunity: Ginger's antioxidant properties can help strengthen your immune system and fight against the pathogen. 270

What is Ginger Extract?

Extraction of a herbal plant is a method of separating the plant's active properties from secondary products such as alkaloid, flavonoid, steroids, etc. using standard extraction procedures. Simply put, it means the extraction of juices or constituent elements from an herb.

Why we separate them is because they are rich in products such as vitamins, antioxidants, proteins, bioactive components, and potentially beneficial materials. It will act quickly and give better results, especially if skin gives an immediate reaction. 

So ginger extract, which means a concentrated liquid substance extracted from the root of the plant, will activate the properties of sueb as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiemetic, anfi obesity, etc. Mainly the extract continues ginger and shogaol, which are believed to be responsible for the health. 

The extracts are mainly made by fresh or dried ginger root or steam.

You can make a pure ginger extract that consists of all the major contents. First of all, peel it completely and stir well, like to expose the fiber texture of the ginger, and mix it with a little bit of water, then squeeze it well, collect the decoction in a clean bowl, and use it with sugar, honey, or other Indian herbal medicine based on 'your health condition.

Uses of Ginger Extract for health:

In Ayurveda, ginger is considered a "universal medicine" due to its wide range of therapeutic properties.

Important ginger uses are: 

• Alleviate chronic pain
• Improve testosterone level
• Good to reduce mood swings
• Cures diarrhea
• Improve the taste buds
• Best of sexual functions in both male and female
• Good for migraine,
• Reduce lower back pain
• Initiate weight loss
• Retain health and youthfulness.
• Nitric oxide production
• Improved blood flow to test is
• Elevate LH production
• Good for kidney function
• Improve fertility
• Build appetite
• Boost bone health
• Relieve joint pain
• Stimulating lymphatic system
• Anti flatulence
• Cleanses the colon
• Encourage sweating and flush toxins.
• Cracks the sinus passage for respiration
• Healthier skin
• Weight loss aids
• Reduce stress. 
• Reduce acne
• Increase sperm_count
• Good for food poisoning 
• Treating cellulite
• For skin benefits
• Reduce inflammation
• Anti-aging and skin toning,
• Hair growth and reduce hair fall
• Reduce belly fat. 
• Lower cholesterol 
• Reduce asthma
• Natural antiseptic
• Natural antibiotic
• Strengthen ligaments
• Antidepressant 
• Wound healing
• Antioxidant
• Morning sickness 
• Improves mucus clearing
• Reduce sea sickness 
• Good for side effects of chemotherapy.
• Antihistamine
• Treatment for allergies
• Anti toxic
• Anti viral
• High antioxidant
• Increase cardiovascular function
• Relieve digestive issue 
• Solution for motion sickness
• Prevent colds and flu.
• Improve blood circulation
• Prevent colon cancer
• Boosts immunity
• Treat respiratory problems
• Treatment of ovarian cancer
• Reduce pains 
• Relieve stomach discomfort
• Improve nutrient absorption
• Heals ulcers
• Help reduce muscle pains and sores. 
• Antifungal 
• Reduce nausea
• Improve diabetic neuropathy
• Prevent cancer
• Relieves * Excessive gas & bloating
• Reduce sore throat and cold

Ginger For Women:

Ginger may have numerous health benefits due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea, and other properties. It may help you lose weight, manage arthritis, or reduce menstrual symptoms. These results indicate that ginger does indeed raise body surface temperature. Moreover, our study showed that ginger extract could improve sexual hormone changes compared to the PCO-induced group with no treatment. We observed that ginger extract could have a positive and dose-dependent effect in improving serum levels of LH, FSH, estrogen, and progesterone in PCOS.

Menstrual cramping by mouth during the first 3-4 days of a menstrual cycle somewhat reduces painful menstrual periods. It seems to work about as well as some pain medications, like ibuprofen, mefenamic acid, or Novafen. Taking ginger with medicines such as mefenamic acid also seems to be helpful.

• Morning sickness: In pregnancy's first 3 months, most of the women should face morning sickness, and ginger is considered to be an effective remedy for morning sickness. You can take them in capsules, candies, snaps, real ginger ale, and tea made with fresh-grated ginger or juice. In the first trimester, ginger might improve nausea and vomiting. 
• Mood swings: Constituents of ginger have been found to help with mood by reducing depression and anxiety. Ginger's natural soothing properties may also help in easing mood swings and irritability often associated with PMS. Prostaglandins are responsible for mood changes during menopause, and ginger helps to reduce them. Soothing properties can help ease mood swings. Also, presents of antidepressing content help the mood swing.64
• Sexual activity: Ginger may offer sexual health benefits for women, including enhanced blood circulation and hormonal balance. reduce oxidative stress and boost sexual arousal, potentially transforming your sex life. 
• Infertility: Ginger's anti-inflammatory properties include regulating periods and lowering inflammation in the reproductive system. Also, it helps with the production of high-quality cervical mucus, which is absolutely essential for the egg to be able to implant. But overconsumption of ginger in the form of tea is thought to have contraceptive properties as it can induce menstruation and naturally prevent pregnancy.

Ginger For Men:

Ginger has many potential health benefits for men. It may increase blood flow, which can lead to better erections. It may protect against coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, cerebrovascular disease, and fatty liver disease and also boost your sexual health. Early Consuming ginger could improve sperm quality, especially when combined with some Indian medicine. dried form of ginger root enhances testosterone production. Aging men can consume ginger daily to retain their stamina and youthfulness.

• Sperm quality: Ginger may also improve semen quality and sperm fertility by reducing oxidative stress and altering sex hormone levels.
• Sexual performance: Ginger may help with sexual health. Its active compounds can reduce blood pressure levels, stimulate blood flow to your sexual organs, increase energy levels, and make you feel more affection. 
• Reduce erectile dysfunction: Ginger may be effective in treating erectile dysfunction (ED). A 2017 study found that an oral combination of ginger with other herbal Indian medicines seems to be as effective for age-related erectile dysfunction. If you struggle with getting or maintaining an erection during sex, ginger is a good option.
• Enhance testosterone: one in which ginger enhances testosterone production, oxidative stress conditions It increases the number of luteinizing hormones (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH). 
• Joint pain: Anti-inflammatory properties in ginger help to reduce joint pain and nourish the damaged areas with its antioxidant contents. 
• For diabetes: Ginger has antidiabetic properties and is to be used to control hyperinsulinemia in patients with T2DM and regulate insulin production. It also has alternative effects in preventing or reducing diabetic complications such as micro-vascular retinopathy. 
• Muscle pain: Ginger has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that can relieve muscle pain and soreness.
• Healthy weight loss: Ginger helps to maintain better gut health and improve digestive power, so it may reduce noticeably healthy weight loss and support heart health.

Ginger For Joint Pain:

The Indian medicine Ginger is considered an important herb to help reduce arthritis pain and inflammation. Inflammation means when the immune system tries to prevent damage to the body and it leads to severe pain and swelling in joints. So this is considered the most common symptom of osteoarthritis, autoimmune arthritis, and some other type of arthritis as well. Osteoarthritis is a joint disease such as degeneration of cartilage, inflammation, dysfunction, etc. that is mostly seen in old age.

Ginger contains nearly forty types of antioxidants that contribute to reducing the activity of several chemical substances that promote the inflammation and pain of joints. Thus antioxidants such as gingesos, shogaols, and diarylheptanolds in ginger allivate the symptoms and are produced by arthritis.

Continued intake of 2 grams of Indian ginger per day is advised, and it will take at least 2-3 months for better results. 68

If compared with turmeric, ginger came out with a better result because of the presence of gingerol. The natural antioxidant present in the root of ginger has the property of being anti-inflammatory, which helps to relax the muscles, joints, and ligaments inflammation, protect the cartilage, and act as a best bone supporter.

It is an effective Indian medicine that helps to reduce inflammation due to exercise-induced muscle damage and cramps. It can be alternatively used either in the form of oral or topical.

How to eat Ginger for Health?

• Raw: you can eat them in their raw form or slice of freshly prepared, raw ginger in your mouth to help soothe a tummy ache and indigestion.
• Tea: Add a few pieces of fresh ginger to hot water to make tea. Chopped raw ginger in boiling water to make an immune-boosting, throat-soothing tea.
• Paste: it's considered a cherished remedy in Ayurveda. and used in medicinal preparation as well as in food.
• Powder: Dried form of ginger used to be triturated coarsely for consumption as a form of medicine as well as on food.
• Pickled ginger: Pickled ginger is often served with most Indian food to cleanse the palate and reduce bacterial contamination.
• Ginger in cooking: Add finely chopped fresh ginger or powdered ginger to stir-fries.
• Ginger Candy: it can help fight germs and helps rid your body of harmful bacteria. 
• Ginger syrup: It contains nutrients and bioactive compounds that may manage nausea, prevent infections, and reduce the risk of cancer.
• Add to food: stir-fry, soups, curries, desserts, and smoothies can all benefit from minced ginger.
• Ginger juice: Make a daily shot of ginger juice at home. Help to prevent bloating
• Cocktails and mojitos: In the modern-era moat of the Indian, he's used in the form of mojitos, cocktails, soda water, etc. To activate taste buds
• Ginger ale : is a carbonated beverage made with ginger root and a sweetener such as sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or a low-calorie sweetener.

Side Effects of Ginger: 

• For any questions about ginger or any other food ingredient and how it might affect your health, a clinical dietitian can provide information and guidance. Ginger is safe for most people to eat in normal amounts, such as those in food and recipes. The use of these Indian herbs is useful for strengthening the body and treating disease. 
• However, It is rare to have side effects from ginger. If increased consumption may lead to mild heartburn, diarrhea, and burning sensations in the mouth or nose. People with gallstones and pregnant or breastfeeding women should talk to their doctors before taking ginger. Do not take ginger if you have a bleeding disorder or if you are taking blood-thinning medications, including aspirin. but people on anticoagulant therapy should be cautious. 
• Ginger can irritate the mucous membranes, so wash hands after preparing ginger and before touching the face. People with a history of food allergies and those with compromised immune systems should be avoided. Ginger may lower blood sugar. If you have hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. You should avoid it, so until more is known, people with diabetes can enjoy normal quantities of ginger in food but should steer clear of large-dose ginger supplements.
• Ginger as a food or medicine, Ginger is used as a flavoring agent in Indian food. The juice of Indian herb ginger rhizome used as a seasoning of Indian dishes will activate the taste buds and improve the quality of food. Ginger can be consumed fresh, dried, powdered, or made into oil or juice. It can be taken in raw form also, but without cooking, it is not enjoyable. Eating ginger encourages efficient digestion, so food doesn't linger as long in the gut. Add ginger to a variety of sweet and savory dishes, especially salad dressings. Intake of ginger juice in the form of juices, mojitos, or cocktails is also preferable.
• Ginger is also available in topical gels, ointments, and aromatherapy essential oils.

Conclusion

Ginger may offer benefits for heart health, headaches, and nausea, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Some research indicates that ginger may improve digestive health, reduce inflammation, and relieve pain, among other benefits. However, a person may not experience positive health effects from simply adding more ginger to their diet. Ginger is a natural spice that is used to add a pungent flavor to food. It used to have various life benefits, including nausea and vomiting, gastrointestinal function, pain, inflammation, some kinds of cancer, menstrual cramps, erectile dysfunction, skin and gut clarity, and preventing fever, flu, nausea, and other symptoms. It mostly had properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardiactonic, etc. Ginger's beneficial antibacterial properties can help prevent the growth of oral bacteria that cause gum disease. And also, it had severe side effects, most importantly, being difficult for those with hypoglycemia. Whoever is consuming blood thinner medicine, especially aspirin, etc., may cause some kind of difficulty. So always ask experts before it happens. Or either scientifically proven medical preparation can save the place and improve the quality of life. However it's necessary for future clinical trials to address the functional characteristics of ginger.Ginger is considered to be the most important classical Indian medicine and has been used for thousands of years in Indian Ayurvedic herbal traditions.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ’s)

1. Can ginger raise your blood pressure?

No, Giner can reduce blood pressure in certain ways. Ginger acts as a natural calcium channel blocker and ACE inhibitor, while both medications are used to treat high blood pressure and lower the high heart rate.Taking ginger along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood before it. 

2. People who should not take ginger extract? 

People who are hypotensive, taking blood thinners, have cardiovascular disease, pregnant or breastfeeding women, etc. should not take ginger without talking to their doctors. Why? Because there is a possibility that it may worsen your health. 

3. Is ginger good for the bones?

Ginger improves osteogenesis and enhances bone tissue growth. Ginger has been demonstrated to be effective against bone-related disorders such as osteoarthritis. Increase osteoblast viability, increase bone formation, cartilage deformity, muscle damage, etc.—the anti-inflammatory property that helps bone health. The ginger treatment is shown to enhance bone formation and reduce bone loss.

4. Is too much ginger bad for the liver?

In more than 100 clinical trials of ginger, there were no reports of hepatotoxicity or clinically apparent liver injury. While ginger is a commonly used botanical, it does not appear in lists of herbs known to cause liver injury or reported to pharmacovigilance registries. 

5. Is it safe to take ginger every day?

Ginger is safe to eat daily, in the amount of 2 grams per day, by mouth daily for up to 12 weeks. advicable dose of 1 gram daily if you're pregnant. 4 grams of ginger per day to reduce inflammation. 

References:

• Tripathi, A. S., & Jadon, R. S. (2021). Recent Updates on Pharmacological Activities of Zingiber officinale (Ginger). Natural Products and Bioprospecting, 11, 263–292.
• Chaiyakunapruk N. The efficacy of ginger for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting: a meta-analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006;194(1):95-9.

Dr. Alakha AS, BAMS

Dr. Alakha graduated, BAMS physician from MGR University P.S. Varier Ayurveda College in Kottakkal