Ginger Extract an Effective Alternative Treatment for Patients with Allergic Rhinitis

by | Dec 1, 2020 | 2020, Allergies, Botanicals, Ginger

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. This study found that ginger was as good as loratadine in improving quality of life and caused less side effects in study participants with allergic rhinitis (AR).

allergiesAccording to estimates by the World Health Organization, approximately 400 million individuals worldwide suffer from AR, also known as hay fever 1. AR is an allergic response typically involving itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, and nasal congestion 2. First-line treatment for AR relies on the use of anti-histamine medications to suppress inflammatory reactions 3, although many unpleasant side effects, such as dry mouth, rash, and drowsiness, are commonly associated 4. For this reason, interest in the potential efficacy of natural medicines as an alternative treatment for conditions such as AR has continually increased. Ginger is one of the most potent and widely used medicinal herbs today and has proven an effective treatment for a number of conditions ranging from constipation and insomnia to nausea and arthritis 5. Ginger also exhibits strong anti-allergic properties, with research showing that dietary intake of ginger can reduce severity of sneezing and nasal rubbing and protect cells in the nasal mucosa 6. In addition, 6-gingerol, a major pharmacologically-active component of ginger, has been shown to inhibit production of circulating cytokines Th2 cytokine and Th1 cytokine 7, while ginger extract itself demonstrates the ability to inhibit release of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1-b 8. Despite compelling evidence of ginger’s anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic activity and clinical efficacy in a wide range of conditions, no studies to date have explored the benefits of ginger extract for AR. Thus, in a 2020 study 9 presented in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, researchers assessed the efficacy of ginger extract, relative to anti-histamine medication loratadine, in alleviating symptoms of AR.

A total of 72 patients (aged 18 to 70 years) with a clinical history of AR symptoms were enrolled in a prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which they were randomly assigned to receive either 500 mg of ginger extract or 10 mg of loratadine daily for 6 weeks. At baseline, Week 3, and Week 6, AR symptomology was evaluated using total nasal symptom scores (TNSS, assessing runny nose, itchy nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing) and the rhino conjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ). Acoustic rhinometry (ARM) was also used to examine a cross-sectional area of the nasal cavity for nasal patency (airflow of nasal passages).

In both the ginger group and loratadine group, AR patients were seen to experience a significant decrease in TNSS score from baseline to Week 3 (p < 0.001 for both) and Week 6 (p < 0.001 for both). However, no significant between-group differences were evident at either timepoint. Similarly, from baseline to Week 3 and Week 6, both treatment arms produced a significant improvement in total RQLQ score (p range = 0.001-0.01 for both). Finally, ARM assessments showed that for patients receiving ginger extract, volume estimates of the nasal cavity in the left nostril were significantly increased (p = 0.02) and distance from the left nostril decreased (p < 0.01). By comparison, loratadine-treated patients showed no such change.

Overall, study results suggest the therapeutic efficacy of ginger extract as an alternative treatment for AR. In the present trial, ginger was seen to perform equally well to a standard anti-histamine medication and was able to improve self-reported symptoms and patient quality of life as early as only three weeks of intake. Based on ARM assessments, ginger extract also appeared to successfully improve nasal congestion by increasing nasal cavity volume and decreasing distances from the nostril. As the first known study to test the anti-inflammatory activity of ginger extract for the treatment of AR symptoms, the current investigation offers promising preliminary evidence for the clinical value of ginger as a safe and effective alternative treatment for allergies. Further work, however, is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying ginger’s suppression of AR reactions. Primary limitations of the current study pertain to its short treatment period and relatively small sample size.

Source: Yamprasert R, Chanvimaleung W, Mukkasombut N, et al. Ginger extract versus Loratadine in the treatment of allergic rhinitis: randomized controlled trial. BCM Complementary Medicine and Therapies. 2020; 20: 119. DOI: 10.1186/s12096-020-2875-z.

© The Author(s). 2020 Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License http:/creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. (http:/creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)

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Posted December 1, 2020.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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