Ginger, also called Zingiber officinale, may be used as a medication to relieve the symptoms of nausea that affect the women in the first trimester of pregnancy. The Italian researchers who had worked to prove the benefits of ginger feels that taking ginger will not only alleviate morning sickness but will also have no side effects on the fetus as well.
The study was conducted with 675 participants and 187 people in the control group. For 246 people, ginger treatment was found superior over the control group. In other cases, 429 participants said that ginger was as good as being treated with vitamin B6 for relief of nausea and related sickness due to pregnancy. Ginger was administered in capsules containing 350 milligrams (mg) of ginger.The study observation showed no reported effect on the pregnancy or the baby after delivery. There were also no cases of any adverse reactions to pregnant mother and unborn fetus. Scientists feel although more studies are required to prove the effectiveness of ginger on morning sickness in order to prescribe ginger as a treatment, the initial study is positive enough to carry out more clinical testing.
The study was published in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Reference: Journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, April 2005
