I’m sure you have been there, having a great day when suddenly your stomach begins to cramp and you have to rush off to the bathroom. Diarrhea is a common occurrence, and typically this urge to use the restroom will only last one to two days, yet if you have loose bowel movements for longer than four weeks you may have a condition known as chronic diarrhea.
While the duration of your diarrhea can vary, the threat of dehydration is very real. Ginger juice is one of the most common herbs used to help treat various gastrointestinal issues, and although the modern scientific community does not fully support the use of ginger juice for diarrhea, initial evidence is promising.
Ginger Juice Constituents:
Evidence of ginger dates back for 4,000 years and throughout this time ginger has been used as a food and medicine source. Some of the traditional uses of ginger juice include treating digestion ailments, nausea, diarrhea and colic. The primary active compounds found in this plant are gingerols and shogaols, which are known as pungent phenol compounds. According to modern research, these phenol compounds work to relieve stress on the stomach and intestines; however, further research is required to determine the true effectiveness of this herb.
Scientific Evidence:
While natural proponents claim that ginger juice can reduce the severity of diarrhea, scientific information to fully support this claim is lacking. According to a report published by ScienceDaily, ginger blocks the enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli diarrhea, which is a specific type of diarrhea.
Other scientific data shows that the active compounds found in ginger actually help reduce inflammation, which can reduce the severity of diarrhea caused by inflammatory bowel disease or ulcerative colitis.
Recommended Dosage:
Upon writing this article, there is not a scientifically recognized dosage for the treatment of diarrhea. This in mind, the University of Maryland Medical Center suggests taking two to four grams of fresh ginger per day. To make sure you are actually consuming ginger and not other compounds, juice your own ginger by placing two to four grams into a juicer. Because ginger has a strong flavor, you may want to dilute ginger by mixing it with equal parts of water or other juices.
References Used:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071001092216.htm
ScienceDaily: Ginger May Combat Deadly Infant Diarrhea in Developing World
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/ginger-000246.htm
University of Maryland Medical Center: Ginger
http://www.health911.com/diarrhea
Health911: Diarrhea