Ginger for Osteoarthritis and Back Pain

Health and fitness expert, motivational speaker, and wellness

consultant Susan Smith Jones, PhD, recommends natural ways to

rejuvenate your health in her new book Walking on Air:

Your 30-Day Inside and Out Rejuvenation Makeover.

by Susan Smith Jones, PhD

The latest research on ginger showed its pain-killing properties for

osteoarthritis (OA) are on par with over-the-counter painkillers.

While ginger is probably best known for adding flavor

to foods, my grandmother recommended it to relieve

pain. Now there are studies to corroborate her wisdom. In the results

of one randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in

the November 2000 issue of the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism, those 247 people with OA who took

ginger extract noticed a reduction in discomfort.

In fact, of the patients who took ginger, 63% noticed a reduction in

knee pain when they were standing, while only 50% of the placebo group

reported a similar reduction. Wrote the researchers, "A highly purified

and standardized ginger extract had a statistically significant effect

on reducing symptoms of OA of the knee."

My grandmother taught me to start the day with a hot

hug of fresh tea and to add coin slices of fresh ginger

to many of my teas. I make a quart of this tea each morning to enjoy

throughout the day. While you can use ginger tea bags, it’s less

expensive and fresher to simply slice fresh ginger

root and simmer these ginger coins for about five minutes.

Ginger is an anti-inflammatory and gives a warming sensation to the

body. It also soothes the respiratory tract. So if you don’t have any

peppermint or spearmint on hand, try a cup of fresh ginger tea after

dinner.

For more information, please visit: SusanSmithJones.com

and click on Walking on Air.