2. Ginger may help relieve arthritis and muscle pain
Ginger extract improves knee pain in osteoarthritis patients
A study has found that ginger extract is effective in treating osteoarthritis of the knee. For the randomized, placebo-controlled study, 261 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee experiencing moderate-to-severe pain were given ginger extract or a placebo twice a day for 6 weeks.1✅ JOURNAL REFERENCE
PMID: 11710709
Although the effect of the ginger extract was moderate, it was statistically significant for reducing symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee.
A topically applied ginger extract improves osteoarthritis of the knee symptoms
Topical application of an extract of ginger has been found to improve osteoarthritis of the knee symptoms. Sixty individuals between the ages of 50 and 75 years old who had osteoarthritis of the knee rubbed the ginger extract 3 times every day for 12 weeks. They experienced a statistically significant improvement in symptoms over the 12 weeks.2✅ JOURNAL REFERENCE
PMID: 26591397
Ginger helps reduce muscle pain
Researchers have discovered that consuming ginger every day helps to reduce exercise-induced muscle pain. Although ginger had already been proven to act as an anti-inflammatory in rodents, its effect on exercise-induced muscle pain in humans was largely unexplored. Two studies looked at how 11 days of consuming raw, as well as heat-treated ginger, affected muscle pain.3✅ JOURNAL REFERENCE
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2009.12.013
The 74 study participants were divided into 2 groups and for 11 consecutive days consumed 2 grams of either raw or heat-treated ginger in capsule form or a placebo capsule. On the 8th day, 18 elbow flexors extensions were performed with a heavy weight to induce moderate injury to the muscle of the arm. An assessment was made before the exercise and also for 3 days after for function of the arm, pain, inflammation, and a biochemical involved in pain.
The results revealed that the exercise-induced pain was reduced by 25% after consuming ginger every day and that treating the ginger with heat did not enhance the effect.
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