Autoimmune diseases are diseases caused due to one’s own immune system attacking their own body tissues and organs. Several autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, antiphospholipid syndrome, lupus, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and type 1 diabetes mellitus do not have a cure and require lifelong consideration to be managed.
Fortunately, one herbal intervention that can help you manage the symptoms of autoimmune conditions is ginger supplements. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, ‘ginger supplements may help control inflammation in certain autoimmune diseases, including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.’
To learn more about the benefits of ginger supplements in managing autoimmune diseases, the team of OnlyMyHealth spoke to Pooja Shah Bhave, Consultant Clinical Dietician and Certified Diabetes Educator.
Managing Autoimmune Diseases With Ginger
“A common immune response of auto-immune diseases is the development of inflammation which causes most of the undesirable symptoms and may also lead to complications,” said Bhave. She relayed that sometimes this inflammation is necessary to kill harmful pathogens, but excessive inflammation can be exceptionally detrimental to the body’s normal functioning.
“Ginger supplements are nowadays prescribed along with other medication as an adjuvant therapy to reduce the symptoms caused by inflammation,” she added.
Listing other common symptoms of autoimmune diseases which may be alleviated with the use of ginger supplements, Bhave included:
- Facial rash
- Joint pain and stiffness
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Skin lesions which develop on exposure to sunlight
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Dry eyes
- Headache
- Confusion and loss of memory
Ginger Supplements Help Reduce Inflammation
Explaining how ginger supplements work their magic, Bhave shared, “This is done by modulating the immune system by making certain types of white blood cells become more resistant to the formation of an immune reaction involved in inflammation.”
She elucidated that ginger in general has an anti-inflammatory response, owning to the the presence of an active component called gingerol. Gingerol may partly help prevent the development of auto-immune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, stated Bhave, adding that, “It also helps reduce inflammatory effects in blood vessels and has been shown to reduce blood clot formation in arteries.”
Also Read: Can a ‘Healthy’ Spice Like Ginger Be Unhealthy? Know Side-Effects Of Ginger And The Right Dosage
Concluding her advisory, Bhave suggested that ginger can be added to food, salads, and vegetable juice. You can also take tiny ginger shots or simply add it to your tea. However, the best way to enjoy the benefits of ginger is by taking ginger supplements, as they are more powerful than whole ginger due to a much more concentrated presence of anti-inflammatory gingerol.
