Double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) in the prophylactic treatment of migraine

Abstract

Background Previous studies have shown an analgesic effect of ginger in the acute treatment of migraine, and there is anecdotal evidence of its efficacy in migraine prophylaxis. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the potential of ginger to prevent migraine attacks. Methods This double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial took place at the Headache Clinic, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil), involving 107 patients. Only subjects diagnosed with episodic migraine, aged between 18 and 60 years old, and who were not taking any prophylactic medication, were enrolled in the study. After one month of observation, subjects selected for the study were randomized 1:1 into placebo and treatment groups. Patients received capsules three times per day of 200 mg of dry extract of ginger (5% active ingredient) or placebo (cellulose) for three months. Visits were performed monthly and the patients were asked to fill in a migraine diary. The adherence to treatment was evaluated by counting capsules. Results The percentage of patients who responded to treatment (i.e. a reduction of 50% in the number of migraine attacks at the end of treatment) did not differ between the groups. There was a decrease in the number of days with severe pain, analgesic use for acute migraine and duration of migraine attacks in both groups, without significant difference between ginger and placebo groups. Conclusions Ginger provides no greater benefit in the prophylactic treatment of migraine when compared to placebo. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02570633).

Evaluation of a Polyherbal Formulation on the Management of Migraine Headaches due to Functional Dyspepsia: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

“…Also, a traditional herbal formulation containing P. emblica had similar protective effects on MH during a 3-month intervention [ 66 ]. Also, a clinical trial showed that a 3-month use of the Z. officinalis extract significantly decreased the frequency of migraine attacks [ 42 , 67 ]. However, the effect of ginger on headache severity was not significantly different from that of placebo or sumatriptan [ 68 ].…”

“…Zingiberone, curcumene, bisrabolone, α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene, p-cymene, α-terpineol, and verticiole [82,83]. Prokinetic, antiulcer, carminative, anti-dyspeptic, Useful for nausea relief, decrease pressure on the lower oesophagal sphincter, reduce intestinal cramping, and stimulate antral contractions in healthy people individuals and gastrotonic [63,67,83].…”

Zanjabeel (Zingiber officinale Roscoe.): An Evidence-Based Review of Anti-nociceptive, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Properties

“…Experimental studies demonstrate that Ginger inhibits the synthesis of the pro-inflammatory mediators, prostaglandin and nitric oxide in porcine chondrocytes, and Leukotriene in vitro, which in clinical terms, could result in a reduction in the level of pain, and inflammation [3,51]. Ginger has a pain-relieving effect and can control pain via a variety of pathways, including prostaglandin suppression via the (cyclooxygenase) COX and (lipoxygenase) LOX pathways, antioxidant action, inhibition of the transcription factor (nuclear factor kappa-lightchain-enhancer of activated B cells) nf-kB, or acting as a vanilloid nociceptor agonist [36,49,50,52].…”

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) as a nutraceutical: Focus on the metabolic, analgesic, and antiinflammatory effects

“…Patients treated with a dose 400 mg of ginger showed significantly better clinical response, suggesting a beneficial effect on migraine attack (Martins et al, 2019). However, the same authors found that ginger had not benefit in the prophylactic treatment of migraine when compared to placebo in a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled RCT carried out in patients who received capsules three times per day of 200 mg of dry extract of ginger (Martins et al, 2020).…”