Sep 07, 2021

Is Ginger Root Anti-Inflammatory? Learning About This Unique Herb

Human history is chock-full of examples of ingenuity, resourcefulness, and putting together the puzzle pieces. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in the medical world. We have found, cultivated, and enhanced natural remedies to cure our ails for thousands of years. Plants, animals, and even culinary wonders dominated our pharmacological advancements to treat both physical and mental conditions long before we had "modern medicine."

One of these culinary and medical wonders is ginger. Humans have been using this popular remedy for almost 5,000 years to treat everything from nausea to pain, with varying degrees of success. And now that modern medical science can help us parse truth from placebo, we thought we’d ask: is ginger root anti-inflammatory?

What is Ginger?

Ginger root, more commonly referred to as ginger, is a tropical plant that flourishes in warm climates. Though it originated in Southeast Asia, it's found in tropical climates worldwide, from Africa to the Caribbean. It's closely related to other spices and herbs like galangal, cardamom, and turmeric. And, although it's renowned as a natural remedy, it's also one of the most commonly consumed dietary condiments in the world. ¹⁴

Ginger in the Body

Ginger root contains over 115 constituents in fresh and dried forms. While not all of these may be beneficial, we know of at least 14 bioactive compounds that produce varying effects in the human body. These primarily fall in the gingerol family, which is responsible for ginger’s unique antioxidant properties that: ⁴

Reduce oxidative stress
Decrease age-related oxidative stress markers
Inhibit superoxide production
Reduce oxidative DNA damage

While more research on its mechanisms is needed, ginger appears to work partly because it gathers in the gastrointestinal tract. This may lead to increased absorption, as well as generally enhanced benefits in the intestines. Further evidence supports this theory, as ginger has been shown to have high bioavailability in the bloodstream. As a result, many of its properties appear to promote a healthy digestive system.⁴

One of the most well-known effects is ginger’s tendency to reduce nausea and vomiting. While word of mouth has touted ginger’s abilities effects for centuries, recent clinical studies have confirmed that ginger is often an effective antiemetic. This is likely due to its ability to expel intestinal gas that causes feelings of sickness and nausea. At the same time, at least one study has suggested ginger may be more effective than Dramamine in combating motion sickness. ⁴

All of this information helps us round out our understanding of ginger and the body. However, it doesn’t address our principal question – is ginger root anti-inflammatory?

We’re not quite there yet. First, let’s take a brief look at the second half of our puzzle: inflammation.

What is Inflammation?

Although it might seem silly to have a refresher on inflammation – after all, most people know what it’s like to have your finger swell up after you smash it in your car door – it’s an important bodily process to understand.

According to Harvard Health, inflammation is “the body’s natural response to protect itself against harm.” When you injure yourself, your body sends out swarms of white blood cells to the wounded site. This process causes the affected area to swell up, which results in redness, heat, and pain or stiffness. At the same time, your body increases blood flow to the wounded area – the direct cause of the warmth and redness. And if your white blood cells leak into your tissues or joints, this can cause additional irritation and swelling. ²³

When you experience inflammation as the result of a wound or infection, it's known as acute inflammation. However, it's also possible to encounter chronic inflammation, which is much longer-lasting. Many conditions can cause chronic inflammation, including arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, and even asthma. And, while acute inflammation can be uncomfortable and painful, chronic inflammation can be debilitating. ³

Inflammation is a common immune response to injurious stimuli – but it's rarely pleasant. Furthermore, when our bodies experience inflammation due to a misguided immune response, such as an autoimmune disorder, it can make life more difficult. Thus, having a natural, healthy anti-inflammatory on hand is important for many people who want to avoid long-term (or even short-term) pharmaceutical therapies.

Is Ginger Root Anti-Inflammatory?

While ginger is often used for its antiemetic and antioxidant properties, it’s also been touted as an anti-inflammatory agent for centuries. And now, thanks to modern clinical practices, we have the evidence to back up these claims.

So, to answer our question in a nutshell: yes. Ginger root does promote anti-inflammatory responses in the body. But don’t just take our word for it – let’s examine the science.

The Science Behind Ginger’s Anti-Inflammatory Abilities

Some evidence to back up this claim comes from a series of animal studies on [6]-gingerol. This key constituent is a pungent piece of ginger's overall makeup – and it turns out, it may be key to ginger's anti-inflammatory prowess.

In one study, [6]-gingerol was found to have both general anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain-relieving) properties in mice. ⁵ Another study proved that [6]-gingerol tangibly increased heat production in the affected limbs, which contributed to decreased inflammatory and pain responses. ⁶

Scientists have also studied ginger as a treatment for chronic inflammation, such as arthritis. For instance, one rat model examined ginger’s effects by inducing arthritis in a group of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Each rat was injected in the paw and joint with a bacterium. Then, they were given ginger oil and eugenol orally for 26 days. The study concluded that the rats showed a significant suppression in swelling in the affected body parts. ⁷

There have also been a handful of human trials on the effectiveness of ginger on inflammation. One double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study examined 261 patients with moderate-to-severe knee pain over six weeks. Each patient received either ginger extract or a placebo twice daily. At the end of the study, the authors found that a "highly purified and standardized" ginger extract showed a positive correlation to reduced osteoarthritis symptoms. ⁸

Another study looked at the effects of ginger on rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and muscular discomfort over a period of three months to 2.5 years. During this time, more than three-quarters of patients experienced pain relief, with many of these also noting a decrease in joint swelling. ⁹

^{So is Ginger Root Actually Anti-Inflammatory?}

While the science appears to be fairly conclusive that various forms of ginger root are anti-inflammatory, we still lack a thorough understanding of how it actually works. Thus, our work here isn’t finished yet – there will be plenty of studies to come.

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