Written by Jessica Patella, ND. Two groups of 61 females with moderate to severe dysmenorrhea received either 250 mg of ginger every 6 hours or 250 mg of a NSAID, mefenamic acid, every 8 hours. Pain severity decreased significantly in both groups. Ginger was as effective as mefenamic acid and had no side effects.
Dysmenorrhea or menstrual pain is the most common gynecological problem in women and affects 70-79% of adolescent females (1, 2). One possible cause of the pain is that it is due to excess production of prostaglandins, which causes the uterus to contract (1, 3). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) are often used for pain relief, yet the side effects include stomach bleeding, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and in extreme cases, liver failure (1, 4). Due to these side effects, many prefer natural options. Recent research has found ginger to be as effective as NSAIDs for menstrual pain relief (1).
The research included 122 females with moderate to severe dysmenorrhea. The women were randomly assigned to either a ginger group (250 mg every 6 hours, n=61) or an NSAID group (250 mg mefenamic acid every 8 hours, n=61). Both groups started supplementation from onset of menses until relief of pain for a total of two menstrual cycles (1).
Intensity of pain was measured by the Visual Analog Scale (0-100), with mild pain less than 40, moderate pain 40-60 and severe pain as more than 60. The pain severity decreased in both groups significantly (p<0.05) (1).
| Pain at Baseline | Pain at 1 Month | Pain at 2 Months | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSAID Group | 55.03 +/- 14.95 | 39.01 +/- 17.77 | 33.75 +/- 17.71 |
| Ginger Group | 58.01 +/- 14.52 | 43.49 +/- 19.99 | 38.19 +/- 20.47 |
These results show that reduced menstrual pain intensity was similar for both ginger and NSAIDs (1). This could be due to the fact that both ginger and NSAIDs act in a similar way by reducing prostaglandins in the body, which decreases menstrual pain (1). There were no adverse side effects of ginger reported for this study, which makes it a promising alternative option to NSAIDs (1).
In conclusion, ginger was as effective as mefenamic acid, an NSAID, on menstrual pain relief (1). Future research could include comparing ginger with other herbs compounds that are reported to be helpful for dysmenorrhea and/or a placebo (1).
Source: Morgan, L. Lloyd, Santosh Kesari, and Devra Lee Davis. “Why children absorb more microwave radiation than adults: The consequences.” Journal of Microscopy and Ultrastructure 2.4 (2014): 197-204.
© 2014 Saudi Society of Microscopes. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Posted March 16, 2015.
Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at www.awarenesswellness.com.
References:
- Shirvani MA, et al. The effect of mefenamic acid and ginger on pain relief in primary dysmenorrhea:a randomized clinical trial. 2014 Arch Gynecol Obstet. DOI 10.1007/s00404-014-3548-2
- Marjoribanks J, et al. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for dysmenorrhoea. 2010 Cochrane Database Syst Rev 20(1): CD001751. DOI 10.1002/14651858
- French L (2005) Dysmenorrhea. Am Fam physician 71(2):285-291.
- NSAIDs: Side effects. com
