ginger for treatment-nausea

[Guest guest]

As with nausea meds, it helps to begin taking ginger prior to treatment,

study finds. ~ Karl

=

Study indicates ginger capsules may ease nausea in cancer patients

undergoing chemotherapy.

NBC Nightly News (5/14, story 7, 0:30, ) reported that a new study

suggests that " taking ginger capsules for several days before chemo can

dramatically cut the nausea that's often caused by it. Researchers at the

University of Rochester say it's important to use real ginger root, not

flavored products like ginger ale or ginger tea. "

The Los Angeles Times (5/15, Roan) reports that the results " will be

presented this month at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual

meeting. " According to cancer experts, " the findings are

significant...because about 70 percent of chemotherapy patients experience

nausea and vomiting - often severe - during treatment. " The current study

" is the largest to examine the effect of ginger, already widely used as a

home remedy for an upset stomach. "

USA Today (5/15, Szabo) reports that Lee, director of the

s Hopkins Integrative Medicine & Digestive Center, noted that " the Food

and Drug Administration doesn't regulate supplements such as ginger the same

way as it regulates drugs. " As a result, " one of the challenges about

recommending a ginger supplement is that not all brands are created equal. "

Dr. Schilsky, ASCO president, noted that " this is the first time "

ginger " has been so rigorously tested for chemo patients, " calling " the

trial's results...'conclusive.' "

The New York Times (5/14, Pollack) reported, " The trial, financed by

the National Cancer Institute, involved 644 patients, mostly women with

breast cancer, who were undergoing chemotherapy at 23 oncology practices in

the United States. " Participants " took a standard anti-vomiting drug on each

day of chemotherapy " as well as " specially made capsules containing either

extracts of ginger root or a placebo for six days, starting three days

before each round of chemotherapy. "

The AP (5/15, Marchione) reports that based on ratings " on a

seven-point scale on the first day of each of three treatments, " researchers

found that " all of the ginger doses significantly reduced nausea, and the

middle and lowest doses gave the best results. " In fact, those " taking

ginger scored their nausea an average of two or more points lower on the

nausea scale, about a 40 percent improvement over their previous chemo

treatments without ginger, " the researchers said. Meanwhile, " those given

dummy pills reported hardly any difference. "

HealthDay (5/14, Gardner) reported that Dr. Blayney,

president-elect of ASCO and medical director of the Comprehensive Cancer

Center at the University of Michigan, commented on the findings, stating

that " a lot of patients ask us as oncologists, 'Is there anything more I can

do to deal with chemotherapy-induced nausea?' " Still, " it wasn't clear if

the same effects would be seen with ginger products, such as tea, ginger

cookies, and sushi, " the researchers said. MedPage Today (5/14, ),

WebMD (5/14, Laino), and Reuters (5/15, Fox) also covered the story.

[Guest guest]

Kinda reluctant* to raise this question, but since ginger is an antioxidant,

could it have an negative impact on response to some kinds of chemotherapy

agents? * Reluctant, because I think such concerns about antioxidants are

still hypothetical.

Karl

=

Study indicates ginger capsules may ease nausea in cancer patients

undergoing chemotherapy.

NBC Nightly News (5/14, story 7, 0:30, ) reported that a new study

suggests that " taking ginger capsules for several days before chemo can

dramatically cut the nausea that's often caused by it. Researchers at the

University of Rochester say it's important to use real ginger root, not

flavored products like ginger ale or ginger tea. "

The Los Angeles Times (5/15, Roan) reports that the results " will be

presented this month at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual

meeting. " According to cancer experts, " the findings are

significant...because about 70 percent of chemotherapy patients experience

nausea and vomiting - often severe - during treatment. " The current study

" is the largest to examine the effect of ginger, already widely used as a

home remedy for an upset stomach. "

USA Today (5/15, Szabo) reports that Lee, director of the

s Hopkins Integrative Medicine & Digestive Center, noted that " the Food

and Drug Administration doesn't regulate supplements such as ginger the same

way as it regulates drugs. " As a result, " one of the challenges about

recommending a ginger supplement is that not all brands are created equal. "

Dr. Schilsky, ASCO president, noted that " this is the first time "

ginger " has been so rigorously tested for chemo patients, " calling " the

trial's results...'conclusive.' "

The New York Times (5/14, Pollack) reported, " The trial, financed by

the National Cancer Institute, involved 644 patients, mostly women with

breast cancer, who were undergoing chemotherapy at 23 oncology practices in

the United States. " Participants " took a standard anti-vomiting drug on each

day of chemotherapy " as well as " specially made capsules containing either

extracts of ginger root or a placebo for six days, starting three days

before each round of chemotherapy. "

The AP (5/15, Marchione) reports that based on ratings " on a

seven-point scale on the first day of each of three treatments, " researchers

found that " all of the ginger doses significantly reduced nausea, and the

middle and lowest doses gave the best results. " In fact, those " taking

ginger scored their nausea an average of two or more points lower on the

nausea scale, about a 40 percent improvement over their previous chemo

treatments without ginger, " the researchers said. Meanwhile, " those given

dummy pills reported hardly any difference. "

HealthDay (5/14, Gardner) reported that Dr. Blayney,

president-elect of ASCO and medical director of the Comprehensive Cancer

Center at the University of Michigan, commented on the findings, stating

that " a lot of patients ask us as oncologists, 'Is there anything more I can

do to deal with chemotherapy-induced nausea?' " Still, " it wasn't clear if

the same effects would be seen with ginger products, such as tea, ginger

cookies, and sushi, " the researchers said. MedPage Today (5/14, ),

WebMD (5/14, Laino), and Reuters (5/15, Fox) also covered the story.