63% of the participants who were treated with ginger had significant reduction in knee pain compared to 50% of the placebo group. The severity of pain and overall improvement of osteoarthritis-related symptoms were also significantly reduced in the group taking ginger compared to the placebo group.
Adding ginger to your meals can help reduce inflammation and joint pain. Try adding it to salads, stews, soups, or stir-fries with other anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric and garlic. Infused oils are another way to get the benefits of ginger into your diet.
At 3 months, inflammatory-causing cytokines (cell signaling chemicals involved in chronic inflammation) decreased in the ginger group. The results of this study indicate that ginger supplementation may have promising benefits for knee osteoarthritis and may, therefore, may warrant further study.
In this sense, ginger is a very good candidate, as it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, since ancient times, ginger has been used in medicine as an anti-inflammatory.
Ginger and turmeric both have anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown that daily consumption of ginger can reduce inflammation in osteoarthritis patients. Turmeric, on the other hand, has been found to be as effective as common anti-inflammatory medicines like aspirin or ibuprofen.
One animal study that looked at rheumatoid arthritis found that even though both turmeric and ginger reduced the incidence and severity of flare-ups, turmeric had significantly more anti-inflammatory and antioxidant power than ginger.
Ginger, which is the rhizome of Zingiber officinale, being a common herbal drug having anti-inflammatory as well as analgesic activities can be an efficient substitute for synthetic agents like Ibuprofen.
In theory, ginger can reduce the activity of several chemical substances that promote joint inflammation. Results from RCTs assessing its role in treating participants with osteoarthritis found that it has a high safety profile and can have moderately beneficial effects in reducing pain and disability.
Experts say that using up to 4 g of ginger per day could help manage arthritis symptoms, and this quantity is relatively safe to consume. Ginger is easy to ingest in capsules. Alternately, a person might try adding it to their diet or using a ginger cream.
Ice and elevation.
To control pain and swelling, apply ice to your knee for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 to 4 hours. When you ice your knee, be sure to raise your knee higher than the level of your heart. Place pillows under your knee for comfort.
Over-the-counter medications — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) — may help ease knee pain. Some people find relief by rubbing the affected knee with creams containing a numbing agent, such as lidocaine, or capsaicin, the substance that makes chili peppers hot.
Heat and ice can both be used to manage different parts of knee pain. Ice helps reduce swelling and inflammation and is best with injuries. Heat can help with pain management, especially on stiff joints. It can also help mobility.
Boil a half teaspoon each of ground ginger and turmeric to a cup of water for 10 minutes. Strain, add honey to taste and drink this 'tea' twice a day. Boil a teaspoon of turmeric powder in a glass of milk, add honey to sweeten the brew and drink once a day.
Ginger can have side effects such as abdominal discomfort, heartburn, diarrhea, and mouth and throat irritation, especially if taken in large doses. Some studies of the use of ginger during pregnancy suggest it is safe, but the evidence is not conclusive.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with heart conditions, and people with diabetes should not take ginger without talking to their doctors. DO NOT take ginger if you have a bleeding disorder or if you are taking blood-thinning medications, including aspirin.
Avoid high-impact workouts and exercises if you have osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, or ankle. These activities often place stress on weight-bearing joints. Basketball, football, hockey, and soccer are all examples of high-impact sports.
Ginger Tea Timing
Ginger tea is great anytime during the day, but the best time to drink ginger tea is in the morning. When taken in the first 30 minutes after you awake, it helps your body end its overnight fast, charge up your metabolism, and prevent nausea.
Ginger is safe to eat daily, but experts recommend limiting yourself to 3 to 4 grams a day — stick to 1 gram daily if you're pregnant. Taking more than 6 grams of ginger a day has been proven to cause gastrointestinal issues such as reflux, heartburn and diarrhea.
Like many classic food pairings, ginger and turmeric truly are better together. A 2022 study in the journal Molecules goes into depth about how the chemical compounds in both ginger and turmeric work to reduce inflammation in the body.
People who should not take turmeric include those with gallbladder problems, bleeding disorders, diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), infertility, iron deficiency, liver disease, hormone-sensitive conditions, and arrhythmia. Pregnant women and those who are going to undergo surgery should not use turmeric.
It has been known to increase circulation, decrease inflammation, boost the immune system, and support digestion. It's a fantastic herb to incorporate into a daily routine especially during the cooler months when colds are lurking and muscle and joint pain tend to increase.