Slowly but surely, Eastern medicine is gaining acceptance in the world of Western academia. Most recently, a study by the University of Rochester Medical Center has shown the powerful anti-nausea effects of ginger, the ubiquitous root that has played a significant role in Asian and Indian medicine since the 16^th century, on cancer patients. (The results were published in the American Society of Clinical Oncology.)

“Nausea is a major problem for people who undergo chemotherapy and it’s been a challenge for scientists and doctors to understand how to control it,” said Julie L. Ryan, Ph.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of Dermatology and Radiation Oncology at Rochester’s James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, and a member of Rochester’s Community Clinical Oncology Program Research Base.

The study, which was funded by the National Cancer Institute, showed that patients can reduce post-chemotherapy nausea by 40 percent using ginger supplements along with standard anti-vomiting drugs before undergoing treatment. The Phase II/III placebo-controlled, double-blind study included 644 cancer patients who would receive at least three chemotherapy treatments.

More common uses for the wonder root include nausea and vomiting following surgery, during pregnancy, and motion sickness. For recommended doses, visit the University of Maryland Medical Center website.

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