Health and Herbs
Ginger Powder 100g

Ginger extracts may help reduce inflammation, leading to less pain for osteoarthritis patients. A 2001 study published in "Arthritis and Rheumatism" found that patients with knee pain resulting from osteoarthritis experienced less pain after taking a ginger extract twice daily for six weeks. It can take several weeks for ginger to work to reduce inflammation, advises the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Ginger combined with feverfew in a tablet placed under the tongue may help reduce migraine pain in patients who experience a mild headache as a precursor to a migraine. A 2011 study published in "Headache" found that more patients who took a sublingual with feverfew and ginger at the onset of a mild headache reported reduced or eliminated pain after two hours than patients who took a placebo. It is unknown whether ginger on its own is effective for treating migraine pain.

Ginger is generally safe for most people, but there are possible side effects and complications. The most common side effects are heartburn, stomach upset and diarrhea. These side effects can be reduced in some people by taking ginger with a meal, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Talk to your doctor before using ginger if you're on blood thinners, diabetes medications or medications for high blood pressure. Ginger can increase bleeding, and blood thinners make this risk more of a concern. The herb can also lower blood sugar and blood pressure, so if you're on other medications that have these effects, using ginger could lower your blood sugar levels or blood pressure to potentially dangerous levels.