Ginger for Prostate Cancer
Take home message FIRST
Ginger may have beneficial effects against prostate cancer. This, of course, is not conclusive since the study soon cited was done in vitro (in test tubes) and in vivo (in mice.) However, this study is compelling and its enough information to conclude that ginger should be a part of every cancer patients diet. Furthermore, a human study on ginger with prostate cancer patients will likely never happen.
There are numerous other medicinal benefits in ginger: helps with nausea and motion sickness, assist in digestion, powerful natural anti-inflammatory – helps with arthritic pain and immune stimulating. Ginger should be eaten as frequently as possible in food and drink.
Do not drink ginger ale thinking you are getting much ginger – it is mostly sugar and carbonated water. Better ginger drinks are found in health food stores where they are sweetened with cane juice ( a little better), not much , and have a strong bite to them.
Good recipes on this site.
What exactly is Ginger
Ginger is spice that comes from the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officionale and is a member of the Zingiberaceae family. Other medicinal members of the same family include tumeric and cardamom.
A rhizome is a root stem found underground.
The study
In this research journal article, Karni et al. from Georgia State University, showed that ginger extract had significant effects in stopping the growth of cancer cells, as well as in inducing cell death in several prostate cancer cells lines (in vitro).
In the animal study the extract revealed very good tumor regression by up to 60 % and no toxicity. The dosage of ginger used in mice was about 100mg. The researchers calculated that this is the equivalent of about 567mg for a person who weighs 70kg. This translates roughly to 650mg of ginger to a 180-pound person. (Karni et al. 2011)
My take on this
Ginger is one of my top five favorite herbs. It has endless healing properties and has been used medicinally for centuries all over the world. I am not aware of a toxic amount when consumed as a spice or a drink. It may, however, anecdotally be contraindicated with people on blood thinning medications like warfarin and possibly in those with gallstones. Normal consumption should be fine.
Eat up and enjoy!
In Optimal Health
Dr.Geo
Resource:
Karna P, Chagani S, Gundala SR, Rida PC, Asif G, Sharma V, Gupta MV, Aneja R; Benefits of whole ginger extract in prostate cancer. Br J Nutr. 2011 Aug 18:1-12.