|
Ginger, a long-time home remedy for nausea, has now earned a scientific tick of approval as a cure for morning sickness. The culinary root is just as effective as the commonly-prescribed vitamin B6, researchers concluded after studying 300 South Australian mothers-to-be. In the randomised trial, women who suffered from nausea, dry-retching or vomiting found symptoms improved an average 53 per cent on ginger. By comparison, symptoms improved by about 55 per cent after taking B6 - a previously-proven remedy - the scientists reported in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Study co-author Caroline Smith, Associate Professor of complementary and alternative therapies at the University of South Australia, said ginger is Australia's most widely-used complementary therapy for pregnancy-related nausea. "But it's not been well-studied until very recently," Assoc Prof Smith said. In the study, conducted by the university and the Women's And Children's Hospital in Adelaide, women were asked to take a tablet three times a day and report on the frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting. "We had capsules made up to ensure women didn't know if they were taking ginger or vitamin B6," Assoc Prof Smith said. "We found they had about the same effect." The ginger capsules were formulated to contain one-third of a gram of the root, making for a total dose of one gram per day. That's the dose Assoc Prof Smith advises is safe for pregnant women. "Ginger's widely available over the counter now, if you went into your local pharmacy it would be on the counter, and some of those are specific pregnancy formulations," she said. "Anecdotally, people do try ginger tea but that hasn't been studied yet. "It's easier to get the therapeutic dose in capsules." March 31, 2004 - 4:05PM http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/31/1080544543679.html |
 |