Ginger's Therapeutic Potential in Asthma

Presently an estimated 25.9 million Americans suffer from asthma and over half have at least one asthma attack per year. Recent studies found that 60% of moderate asthmatics and 70% of severe asthmatics report using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to self-treat their asthma symptoms.The exact mechanism of action of these agents is unclear but may involve attenuation of allergic response, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, and/or direct effects on airway smooth muscle which are responsible for airway narrowing in asthma. Studies done in mouse models of asthma and directly on airway smooth muscle cells demonstrate that ginger blocks one of the critical inflammatory pathways in asthma and thus leads to reduced airway inflammation and relaxation of airway smooth muscle. Clinical trials with chronic oral ginger therapy in humans have demonstrated safe consumption of 2 grams per day for 28 days with demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in colon cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases. Thus, the investigators hypothesize that oral ginger at a dose of 2 grams per day will reduce airway inflammation and will reduce serum levels of asthma related inflammatory markers.