Ginger helps with cramps and bloating

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Fact: Ginger helps with cramps and bloating

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Ginger, Zingiber officinale R. rhizome, is a popular spice that has been long used traditionally as a herbal medicine to combat the effects of various diseases like inflammations, osteoarthritis, nausea, digestive problems and what have you.

Research have found, however, that because of ginger's anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, it may help with both cramp pains and bloating.

Painful menstrual cramping also known as primary dysmenorrhea is a condition that occurs in up to 50% of menstruating females. It is one of several pre-menstrual symptoms and it can render a menstruating woman unable to perform daily activities.

An increased production of prostaglandins, studies say, is a major cause of cramp pains.
Prostaglandins is a class of chemicals that trigger the shedding of the uterine lining and this is accompanied with increased inflammations.

Ginger is able to forestall dysmenorrhea (cramps) as a result of it's anti-inflammatory property which is due to certain compounds found in ginger. It functions by inhibiting certain pathways in production of prostaglandin.

Bloating is another PMS that is caused by menstrual cramps. It results from a buildup of gas in the gastrointestinal tract.

It is caused by changes in sex hormones, progesterone and estrogen, levels which causes the body to retain more water and salt. This in turn causes the body’s cells become swollen with water, causing the feeling of bloating.

Ginger belongs to a group of herbs called carminatives. This is because metabolites appear to accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract, and can soothe the digestive tract and relieve gas.

Ginger however can cause mild side effects such as such as heartburn, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort but this are very rare.

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References

Parvin Rahnama, Ali Montazeri, [...], and Mohsen Naseri.Effect of Zingiber officinale R. rhizomes (ginger) on pain relief in primary dysmenorrhea: a placebo randomized trial.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3518208/. Accessed 7th October, 2022.

SaVanna Shoemaker, MS, RDN, LD. The 8 Best Teas for Menstrual Cramps.https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tea-for-cramps#2.-Ginger-tea. Accessed 7th October, 2022.

Cathy Wong.Ginger to Relieve Menstrual Cramps.https://www.verywellhealth.com/ginger-for-menstrual-cramps-90072. Accessed 7th October, 2022.

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