The Pros and Cons of Using Ginger in Cancer Treatment
Ginger is one of my favourite spices, renowned for its aromatic, warming flavour. As well as its uses in cooking, people have used it for its medicinal properties for centuries. Researchers have recently been exploring its potential benefits in cancer treatment.
In this article, I dive into the world of ginger and its role in combating cancer cells. Ginger holds promise in the realm of cancer therapy. It has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce some of the side effects of chemotherapy.
However, as with any treatment approach, there are limitations and considerations to be aware of. Join me as I uncover the science behind ginger's potential to support cancer treatment and explore its limitations. This article will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of ginger's role in cancer treatment.
Scientific evidence supporting ginger's anti-cancer properties
Researchers have found that ginger contains several bioactive compounds. They include gingerol, shogaols, and zingerone, all of which possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In laboratory tests, these compounds have inhibited the growth and spread of various types of cancer cells, including:
cervical (1)
acute and chronic myeloid leukaemias (1)
colon (1)
sarcoma (1)
gastric (1)
breast (1)
liver (1)
prostate cancer (1)
pancreatic (1)
kidney (1).
Researchers induced colon and lung cancers in mice and then fed them extracts of zerumbone, another bioactive ginger compound. It effectively suppressed the development of both cancers (2).
Ginger extracts also helped to sensitise cells to radiation in colorectal cancer (1) and triple negative breast cancer cell lines (1). This means that lower doses of radiation can achieve the same effect, reducing toxicity.
As you can see, the scientific evidence supporting ginger's anti-cancer properties is promising. Hopefully, researchers will soon conduct clinical trials.
Ginger's anti-inflammatory effects and its impact on cancer progression
In my book, I talk about how inflammation plays a large part in the development and progression of cancer. Chronic inflammation can lead to DNA damage, cell mutation, and the promotion of tumour growth. Research shows that ginger possesses potent anti-inflammatory properties, which may help inhibit cancer progression.
One study induced inflammation in rats' paws and then treated half of them with a ginger extract and the other half with diclofenac (sold as Voltaren). They found that the ginger extract was significantly more effective than diclofenac at the same concentration (1).
Male endurance runners suffer significant inflammation from their sport. One study gave them 500 mg capsules of ginger powder during a six week intensive training period. They found that their inflammatory markers were significantly reduced, and their fatigue levels were lower too (1).
By reducing inflammation, ginger may help create an environment that is less favourable for cancer cell growth and spread.
Ginger's antioxidant properties and its potential for preventing cancer
Antioxidants are substances that help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. These are highly reactive molecules that can cause oxidative stress and DNA damage. The antioxidants in ginger can neutralize free radicals and protect against oxidative damage.
A study on patients with tuberculosis supplemented some of them with ginger, along with the tuberculosis medication. The ginger group had significantly lower levels of compounds formed by free radicals (3).
A systematic review and meta-analysis of five clinical trials looked at people given ginger supplements compared with a control group. There was a significant improvement in the total antioxidant capacity of those given ginger (4).
Consuming ginger or using ginger supplements may improve your overall antioxidant defence, which would reduce your risk of cancer starting or returning.
Ginger can help chemotherapy to work better
One issue with chemotherapy is its toxicity. Researchers are always looking for ways to reduce the dosage of chemo drugs without reducing their effectiveness. Doxorubicin is particularly toxic.
A study in mice showed that ginger taken alongside doxorubicin significantly improved its ability to kill cancer cells (5). If this translates to humans, it could mean that you would need lower doses of doxorubicin.
Ginger's role in reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
Chemotherapy is a common treatment for cancer, but its best-known side effects include nausea and vomiting. Ginger has been used as a natural remedy for nausea for a long time, and about half of all studies have confirmed its effectiveness in reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. But the research isn't conclusive. Half of all studies found it wasn't effective enough, particularly when the chemo was a protocol that caused extreme nausea (6).
Ginger works by inhibiting the release of certain chemicals in the brain that trigger nausea and vomiting (7). It also causes the stomach to empty more quickly (8). You're less likely to feel nauseous or vomit if you have an empty stomach.
It is a (mostly) safe and cost-effective alternative to antiemetic drugs commonly used.
Precautions and potential side effects of using ginger in cancer treatment
So what are the downsides of this very useful spice?
One effect of ginger is to increase the production of blood cells and particularly red blood cells (9). If you're going through chemo for a tumour, some chemo drugs can adversely affect the bone marrow. As a result, you can get anaemia. Ginger can help with that.
Anything that boosts the bone marrow's function is very unwise if you're having treatment for blood cancers, though. The site of the cancer in this case is the bone marrow and you should avoid encouraging it to proliferate.
Ginger also increases the body's absorption of iron. Patients with leukaemia already have high iron levels. This is associated with resistance to the chemo drugs used, a higher incidence of relapse, and poorer overall survival (10). So again, it's unwise to take ginger supplements during leukaemia treatment. If you, as a leukaemia patient, are looking for ways to prevent nausea and vomiting, there are other supplements and herbs that you can use, which I outline in my book.
Ginger inhibits an enzyme (CYP3A4) that the liver uses to detoxify drugs and this can result in unwanted effects.
Crizotinib is a multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitor used for a type of non-small cell lung cancer. A woman who was taking it developed liver problems. The doctors found she'd been drinking large quantities of ginger tea daily. As a result, the Crizotinib built up in her body and caused liver damage (11). So avoid ginger if you're taking Crizotinib.
Cyclosporine is a drug that suppresses the immune system. It's used in transplant patients, including those who have stem cell transplants for leukaemia and lymphoma. In a trial on rats, taking ginger in juice form with cyclosporine reduced absorption of the cyclosporine (12). This could cause rejection of the transplant, so don't use ginger if you're taking cyclosporine.
Metronidazole is an antibiotic commonly used for bacterial and parasitical infections. A study on rabbits found that taking ginger with metronidazole delayed its absorption but caused a 4-fold increase in the amount absorbed (13). This could potentially cause some of the more serious side effects of metronidazole. These include convulsive seizures, encephalopathy, aseptic meningitis, optic neuropathy, and peripheral neuropathy.
Laboratory tests show that ginger may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication. However, testing in humans isn't conclusive (14). If you're taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs, you should be cautious about using ginger. It's advisable to stop any ginger supplements 2 weeks before surgery to be safe.
Ginger also reduces blood pressure. If you're taking medication to reduce blood pressure, research shows that in animals ginger can reduce it further (15).
Both animal and human trials suggest that ginger can increase insulin levels and/or reduce blood glucose levels (14). If you're taking antidiabetic medication, monitor your levels closely and adjust the medication if necessary.
Some people can experience a sedative effect or dizziness when taking ginger (14). If you're affected, avoid driving or using machinery.
If you have a peptic ulcer, it's best to avoid ginger (16).
If you take large amounts of ginger, you might experience mild side effects such as heartburn, diarrhoea, or stomach discomfort. You can usually reduce the effects if you use ginger in capsule form rather than powder.
If you're pregnant, avoid high doses of ginger, as they can increase the risk of miscarriage (14).
Recommended dosage and preparation methods for ginger
You can add fresh ginger to meals, brew it into tea, or use it in smoothies. To make a therapeutic ginger tea, simply grate or slice fresh ginger and boil it in water for 10-15 minutes. That increases the levels of active constituents. Steeping it in hot water, as you would normally make tea, won't extract sufficient to be effective.
Ginger supplements are also available in capsule or powder form, which can provide a standardised dosage of ginger extract.
For prevention of nausea and vomiting, a systematic review looked at 18 trials. The trials used less than or equal to 1 gram a day of ginger for more than 3 days. This reduced overall vomiting by 50% and delayed vomiting by 70% (17).
Humans metabolise ginger in about 2 hours. Researchers suggested that splitting the dose into 4 or more doses each day would lead to even better results (17).
Because the anticancer effects of ginger are only apparent in laboratory tests to date, it's impossible to say how much you would need to take to achieve them. If you're trying to prevent cancer forming or returning, a dose of 1 gram or less a day seems to be safe.
Conclusion: Ginger as a complementary therapy in cancer treatment
As you can see, ginger shows promise as a complementary therapy in cancer treatment and for reducing side effects.
If you want to use ginger alongside your cancer treatment, I recommend you do it under the guidance of a healthcare professional. Should you choose to do it on your own, consider the potential side effects I've listed above before using it with your treatment.
References
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Kim M, Miyamoto S, Yasui Y, Oyama T, Murakami A, Tanaka T. Zerumbone, a tropical ginger sesquiterpene, inhibits colon and lung carcinogenesis in mice. International Journal of Cancer. 2009;124(2):264-271. doi:10.1002/ijc.23923
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Benzie IF, Wachtel-Galor S, Bode AM, Dong Z. Chapter 7: The Amazing and Mighty Ginger. In: Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd ed. CRC Press; 2011.
Wu K-L, Rayner CK, Chuah S-K, et al. Effects of ginger on gastric emptying and motility in healthy humans. European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 2008;20(5):436-440. doi:10.1097/meg.0b013e3282f4b224
Ooi SL, Pak SC, Campbell R, Manoharan A. Polyphenol-rich ginger (zingiber officinale) for iron deficiency anaemia and other clinical entities associated with altered iron metabolism. Molecules. 2022;27(19):6417. doi:10.3390/molecules27196417
Wang F, Lv H, Zhao B, et al. Iron and leukemia: New insights for future treatments. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research. 2019;38(1):406. doi:10.1186/s13046-019-1397-3
Revol B, Gautier‐Veyret E, Arrivé C, et al. Pharmacokinetic Herb‐drug interaction between ginger and crizotinib. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2019;86(9):1892-1893. doi:10.1111/bcp.13862
Chiang H-M, Chao P-DL, Hsiu S-L, Wen K-C, Tsai S-Y, Hou Y-C. Ginger significantly decreased the oral bioavailability of cyclosporine in rats. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 2006;34(05):845-855. doi:10.1142/s0192415x06004338
Okonta JM, Uboh M, Obonga WO. Herb-drug interaction: A case study of effect of ginger on the pharmacokinetic of metronidazole in Rabbit. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2008;70(2):230-232. doi:10.4103/0250-474x.41462
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