April 19, 2005 – The results of a systematic review1 clinical trials and observational studies indicate that the ginger rhizome (Zingiber officinale) relieves nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (or early pregnancy sickness) without causing the side effects often associated with conventional antiemetics.
Nausea of pregnancy affects 70% to 85% of pregnant women, and almost half of them are accompanied by vomiting. However, antiemetics can have teratogenic effects, that is, they are likely to cause birth defects. In addition, they act on the brain or the inner ear while the action of ginger is exerted only on the stomach.
In 1999, the World Health Organization recognized the merits of the traditional use of the ginger rhizome to prevent nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy.
Italian and British researchers have just published the results of a systematic review which confirm this traditional use. In four double-blind clinical trials involving 246 pregnant women, ginger was found to be more effective than placebo at preventing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. The results of two comparative trials involving 429 subjects indicate that it is as effective as pyridoxine (vitamin B6), a classic antiemetic prescribed by prescription to pregnant women. In all of these trials, no teratogenic effects were associated with ginger. To this, we must add the results of a cohort study, conducted among 187 pregnant women, which indicate that this natural remedy is safe during pregnancy.
It is generally recommended that pregnant women stick to the equivalent of 2 g of dried ginger per day. You can chew or suck on a slice of fresh ginger, or prepare an infusion with freshly grated ginger. In this case, take into account that a dose of 1 g to 2 g of powdered dried ginger is equivalent to approximately 10 g of fresh ginger, i.e. a slice of rhizome (of medium diameter) of approximately 6 mm to 7 mm thick.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
1. Borrelli F, Capasso R, Aviello G, Pittler MH, Izzo AA. Effectiveness and safety of ginger in the treatment of pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting.Obstet Gynecol. 2005 Apr; 105 (4): 849-56.