Ginger may alleviate migraine symptoms, including pain, nausea, and light sensitivity. Ginger is considered safe for daily use in various forms, including fresh, capsules, powder, and tea.
1. A Natural Pain Reliever
Activation of inflammation and pain pathways plays a role in the onset and severity of migraines.
The natural compounds in ginger, including gingerol and shogaol, have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects similar to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but without causing stomach upset.
According to "Free Will Health", research indicates that ginger reduces migraine pain.
An analytical study of randomized controlled trials compared migraine patients who used ginger with control groups that took a placebo. The results showed that those who used ginger experienced a significant improvement in pain relief and reduced pain levels two hours compared to those who did not use it.
2. Nausea and Vomiting
The same comprehensive analytical study found that the incidence of nausea and vomiting was significantly lower in ginger groups compared to control groups.
Migraines often come with nausea and vomiting, but there is not enough research specifically concerning ginger and migraine-related nausea.
3. Supports as an Anti-inflammatory
If you are taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, adding ginger may naturally enhance their effectiveness.
In a clinical trial, migraine patients were randomly assigned to two groups. One took 400 milligrams of ginger extract (with 5% active substance), while the other took a placebo. Both groups also took 100 milligrams of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs intravenously.
After one hour, the group that took ginger saw a significant decrease in pain, along with an improvement in functional status.
The authors of the study concluded that adding ginger to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug treatment may help in treating migraines.
4. Reducing Light Sensitivity
Another common migraine symptom is photophobia (light sensitivity). In a randomized clinical trial, half of the participants took nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with a placebo, while the other half took nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with ginger extract.
Fewer people in the ginger group reported sensitivity to light after 30 and 90 minutes of treatment compared to the placebo group.
5. A Potential Alternative to Triptans
Sumatriptan is a common migraine treatment. One study compared the efficacy of ginger powder versus sumatriptan in 100 migraine patients. Two hours after use, both significantly reduced the severity of the headache.
The efficacy of ginger powder was statistically similar to that of sumatriptan, but it was less likely to cause side effects.
