Ginger Relieves Nausea After Chemo

Ginger relieves nausea after chemo treatments according to results of a new study released Thursday by the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Patients who started taking ginger capsules several days before chemo had fewer and less severe bouts of nausea.

The study used a specially formulated gelcap made by Alphios Corporation of Woburn,Mass. The 644 patients in the study were placed in four groups and given one of three doses of ginger (the equivalent of one-half, 1 or 1 and 1/2 grams of ginger per day). The lowest and middle dose gave the best results but all the ginger doses significantly reduced the nausea.

Taking the ginger three days before the chemo treatments allowed time for the ginger to be absorbed into the body.

Ginger caused no side effects in the study but people are advised to consult their own doctors before using ginger to relieve nausea after chemo.