One of the most known side effects of chemotherapy is nausea. Medicine has come a long way in treating this debilitating condition with anti-nausea drugs. Despite these advances, roughly 70% of cancer patients still get some degree of nausea. This can be one of the more debilitating reactions to chemo and fortunately there is more you can do about it.
Ginger is a remedy that has been found to boost immunity and can ease digestion. However, alleviating nausea may be one of it's most famous claims. In a study conducted at Rochester's James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, 644 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy participated in a double-blind study to test the effectiveness of ginger on nausea. The patients who were taking even the lowest dose of ginger reported having a 40% reduction in their degree of nausea as compared with the placebo group. This quantity amounted to as little as 0.5 grams of ginger per day or 1/4 of a teaspoon. Treatment with ginger was started 3 days before and continued for 3 days after chemotherapy for optimal results.
Use the following tips for a bit of therapy! Aim for 500 - 1000 mg a day.
- Use ginger supplements in pill form
- Steep 1/4 teaspoon fresh ginger in water for about 5 - 10 minutes = 250 mg
- Juice 1/4 teaspoon fresh ginger in with vegetable juice = 250 mg
Ginger may increase the risk of bleeding during surgery so it's use should be discontinued before any surgical procedure. This herb may also increase bile flow, and therefore should not be used by people with a history of gallstones.
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