Common Side Effects of Ginger and Cautionary Advice
- When taken in small doses, few side effects have been reported.
- The side effects that were reported were generally associated with the powdered form and included bloating, heartburn and nausea.
- Always talk to your health care provider before taking any type of herbal or alternative medicine as serious side effects may occur.
Last Word About Herbal Remedies and COPD
There exists on the horizon the possibility that herbs may someday play a more substantial role in the treatment of COPD. Until then, much more information must be gathered and extreme caution used when taking any form of medication, traditional or alternative.
Sources:
Argüder E, Bavbek S, Sen E, et.al. Is there any difference in the use of complementary and alternative therapies in patients asthma and COPD? A cross-sectional survey. J Asthma. 2009 Apr;46(3):252-8
Balunasa, M. and Kinghornb, D. Drug discovery from medicinal plants. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2005.09.012.
Lai PK, Roy J. Antimicrobial and chemopreventative properties of herbs and spices. Cur Med Chem. 2004 Jun:11(11):1451-60.
National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine. Index page updated 2009, July 29. http://nccam.nih.gov
R. Guo, M. H. Pittler and E. Ernst. Herbal medicines for the treatment of COPD: a systematic review. Eur Respir J 2006; 28:330-338.
Tapsell LC, Hemphill I, Cobiac L, Patch CS, et.al. The Health benefits of herbs and spices: the past, the present, the future. Med J Aust. 2006 Aug 21;185(4 Suppl):S4-24.
Wong, Cathy, About.com Guide to Alternative Medicine. Ginseng. Updated 2007, September 20.
