Did you know… a dash of spice might be an effective cure for the nation’s number one crippler?
There’s a reason some call arthritis the nation’s number one crippler.
More than 100 different diseases are collected into the category of arthritis, and the symptom that links all of them is inflammation.
That’s why a new study from Tel Aviv University is so exciting. The study’s authors identified an all-natural arthritis treatment that is just as effective as mainstream medicine’s beloved non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAID’s)—but without the dangerous side effects.
Sharpen your mincing knives, and prepare to embrace the health benefits of ginger.
The latest statistics indicate that approximately 80% of individuals over the age of 50 suffer from osteoarthritis. Nearly 7 million people in the United States alone suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic condition that inflames the entire body.
Aspirin and other NSAID’s are among the most common treatments for inflammation and pain, yet these drugs, especially NSAID’s, are notorious for their diminishing effectiveness and nasty side effects.
Conventional arthritis treatments cause 3,300 NSAID’s-related ulcer deaths annually.
In contrast, ginger is not only a remarkably safe and natural arthritis treatment, but studies also show it to be equally effective as aspirin and NSAIDs.
On his site Herbal Legacy, Dr. John R. Christopher writes: “Modern science is beginning to demonstrate that the range of diseases that the health benefits of ginger can positively affect as an anti-inflammatory is staggering.” Two clinical trials in Denmark went further and strongly suggested that ginger be included in all arthritis treatment programs.
Health Benefits of Ginger – A Healing Gift
While modern science has only just begun to embrace the health benefits of ginger, it has appeared in the annals of nearly every medical system throughout history. In ancient Ayurvedic texts, ginger is called “vishwabhesaj,” the universal medicine.
Dr. Christopher notes that traditional Chinese and Indian practitioners considered ginger “a healing gift from God.” Now, thanks to advances in technology, scientists can connect inpidual chemical constituents to specific effects.
Somewhat surprisingly, ginger contains a high amount of protein. The root is packed full of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids—notably, vitamin A and niacin. Ginger also contains special components called volatile oils.
Volatile Oils in Ginger Pack A Disease Fighting Punch
These oils are the secret behind its characteristically pungent flavor and many of its health benefits. Two of the most potent of these volatile oils are shagaols and gingerol.
Studies confirm gingerol’s ability to reduce inflammation and block pain pathways. Gingerol and shagaol are proven to neutralize stomach acid… improve circulation… regularize blood pressure… and tone the muscles of the digestive tract. Existing research demonstrates ginger’s efficacy as a treatment for a variety of health issues, such as…
- Elevated blood sugar and cholesterol levels
- Cataracts
- Some blood clotting disorders
- Radiation exposure
- Nausea (specifically, resulting from pregnancy or from chemotherapy)
- Colon cancer
- Lymphoma
- Ovarian cancer
Ginger also combats a particular aggravating kind of pain: post-workout muscle soreness. An investigation carried out at the University of Georgia showed both raw and heat-treated ginger alleviates moderate muscular pain.
Study author Patrick O’Connor noted: “Muscle pain generally is one of the most common types of pain. Anything that can truly relieve this type of pain will be greatly welcomed by the many people who are experiencing it.”
Participants in the study took ginger for 11 days while completing strength-training exercises with heavy weights. O’Connor and his team found taking the spice daily cut participants’ pain by 25%. The work was published in the Journal of Pain.
