Blackmores Institute

In the randomised double-blind controlled trial, patients with allergic rhinitis were randomised to receive either 500 mg ginger extract (n=40) or loratadine 10mg (n=40) for three and six weeks and efficacy was assessed from total nasal symptom scores (TNSS), acoustic rhinometry (ARM) and a rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire.
 
 “The results showed that the ginger extract and the loratadine groups both significantly decreased the TNSS scores with no statistically significant difference between the two treated groups. However, following assessment with ARM, the volume estimates of the nasal cavity were significantly improved at week six in the ginger group, but the loratadine group showed no improvement,” the authors said.
 
 The study also reported that following three weeks of treatment the quality of life for both groups significantly improved.
 
 “After adjusting for possible differences in clinical characteristics between the treatment groups, the results showed that the TNSS scores of the ginger extract treated group consistently decreased at week three and six and were better than the loratadine group (0.666 and 0.574 scores, respectively).”
 
 “Because of the chronic nature of allergic inflammation, some patients are reluctant to take long-term medication and so turn to unverified alternative medications. Ginger is one of the most widely consumed spices worldwide. It has a long history of being used as an herbal medicine to treat a variety of ailments and many trials examined the clinical effectiveness of ginger for conditions such as osteoarthritis, nausea and vomiting, and flatulence or indigestion,” the authors explained.
 
 With the management of allergic rhinitis focussing on symptoms, the study suggests that ginger may be able to target the symptoms of allergic rhinitis through its anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy properties, the latter being attributed to the ethanolic extract of ginger.
 
 “This study showed that ginger extract could reduce allergic rhinitis symptoms and is safe to use with very mild gastrointestinal side effect such as eructation. Ginger extract is better than loratadine in causing less drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness and constipation,” the authors concluded.
 
 
 Source:
 BMC Complement Med Ther. 2020. DOI: <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7171779/ ">10.1186/s12906-020-2875-z
 </a>

There’s good news for sufferers of allergic rhinitis with results from a new study showing that ginger supplements are effective in relieving nasal symptoms.

Recommended for you

Supporting urinary tract health

The role of nicotinamide in skin cancer chemoprevention

Blueberries the well known super fruit could help fight Alzheimer's

From Traditional Medicine to Modern Therapeutics | Natural approaches to blood glucose control