Effects of ginger on motion sickness and gastric slow-wave dysrhythmias induced by circular vection

Abstract

Ginger has long been used as an alternative medication to prevent motion sickness. The mechanism of its action, however, is unknown. We hypothesize that ginger ameliorates the nausea associated with motion sickness by preventing the development of gastric dysrhythmias and the elevation of plasma vasopressin. Thirteen volunteers with a history of motion sickness underwent circular vection, during which nausea (scored 0-3, i.e., none to severe), electrogastrographic recordings, and plasma vasopressin levels were assessed with or without ginger pretreatment in a crossover-design, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study. Circular vection induced a maximal nausea score of 2.5 +/- 0.2 and increased tachygastric activity and plasma vasopressin. Pretreatment with ginger (1,000 and 2,000 mg) reduced the nausea, tachygastria, and plasma vasopressin. Ginger also prolonged the latency before nausea onset and shortened the recovery time after vection cessation. Intravenous vasopressin infusion at 0.1 and 0.2 U/min induced nausea and increased bradygastric activity; ginger pretreatment (2,000 mg) affected neither. Ginger effectively reduces nausea, tachygastric activity, and vasopressin release induced by circular vection. In this manner, ginger may act as a novel agent in the prevention and treatment of motion sickness.

Ginger Reduces Hyperglycemia-Evoked Gastric Dysrhythmias in Healthy Humans: Possible Role of Endogenous Prostaglandins

“…Furthermore, ginger reverses cisplatin-induced delays in gastric emptying in animal models (Sharma and Gupta, 1998). In a model of experimental motion sickness, gastric slow wave rhythm disturbances evoked by circular vection were prevented by treatment with ginger root (Lien et al, 2003). The effects of ginger on prostaglandin pathways as inducers of gastric dysrhythmic activity are unknown; however, it exhibits inhibitory effects on prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis in other models, including platelets and RBL-1 cell lines (Srivastava, 1984;Kiuchi et al, 1992).…”

“…In addition to inhibiting cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase activity, ginger exhibits effects on 5-HT 3 -mediated functions (Huang et al, 1991;Shibata et al, 1999). In experimental motion sickness in healthy humans, ginger blunts the increase in plasma vasopressin levels in response to circular vection, indicating possible actions on the release of this transmitter (Lien et al, 2003). Finally, loss of nitric oxide function has been proposed as a cause of impaired gastric motor function in rodent models of diabetic gastroparesis (Watkins et al, 2000).…”

The Efficacy of Ginger for Pregnancy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: A Systematic Review

“…This mechanism was supported by the results of a randomized, double-blind trial which demonstrated the ability of the ginger to accelerate gastric emptying and stimulated antral contractions 24 . Some asserted that the antiemetic effect results from the inhibition of serotonin receptors in the gastrointestinal system and the central nervous system 'vomiting center' , as well as the inhibition of vasopressin which causes a reduction in tachygastric activity [25][26][27][28][29] . There are various active ingredients found in the ginger including gingerol, shogaol, and galanolactone, which produce antiemetic effects using difference mechanisms [30][31][32] .…”

Effects of traditional oriental medicines as anti-cytotoxic agents in radiotherapy

“…The rhizomes of ginger have been used for medicinal purposes in traditional Ayurvedic medicines to treat dyspepsia, asthma, cough, diarrhea, cardiac disorders, nausea, vomiting and inflammation (107)(108)(109). Ginger, or its extracts, contains limonene, cymene, cineole, zingiberene, terpenoid, geraniol, shogaol and gingerol, among other constituents, which demonstrate diverse pharmacological properties including analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antioxidant activities (110)(111)(112). Previous studies have attested to the radioprotective potential of ginger (113,114).…”