This Popular Root Could Risk Your Health!

I’m a big fan of natural health practices and encourage the use of organic sourced herbs and vegetables as preventative treatment for many ailments, but I want to stress the importance of doing your research specific to your personal health history and body.

Remedies for one may not be safe for all!

Ginger has long been known as an antiseptic and is used both in and out of the kitchen for its digestive benefits. Aruyvedic traditions consider it an essential herb and refer to it as vishava-bheshaj or ‘the universal medicine’.

Optimal health in ayurvedic practice comes from good digestion. Ginger is known for its heat and stimulates enzymes in the stomach which help breakdown food and expel toxins from the body. It is one of the most powerful natural subtsances on earth.

With great power comes great risk!

You’re probably familiar with the common practice used by pharmaceuticals to label the potential side effects and symptoms of drugs on each of their products, but I bet you’d be shocked to see the same on whole foods like ginger.

The truth is that ginger can cause serious harm if misused.

Natural health practitioners warn against ingesting more than 4 grams of ginger in a day as it can cause nausea, heartburn, or serious chronic pain if taken in high doses. Certain people can be even more susceptible to adverse side effects and should avoid the herb altogether.

Here is a list of people that are at a particularly high risk for painful and detrimental symptoms when ingesting ginger:

Pregnant women:

With powerful natural stimulants, ginger can cause premature uterine contractions in pregnant women and lead to early labor. It has also been shown to interfere with some absorption of iron and fat-soluble fibers, which are extremely important to the development of the baby. Supplements of fresh ginger are particularly threatening in the final weeks of pregnancy due to an increased risk of bleeding.

Underweight or malnourished:

Ginger is a natural appetite suppressant and has been more recently touted as a great natural weight loss aid. For those that are trying to gain weight, whether in recovery from illness or because of a naturally low body mass, it is recommended to avoid supplements of ginger. It may also unneccesarily expel excess nutrients which some may need more than others.

Blood Disorders:

Ginger increases blood flow and stimulates circulation like no other food source, which generally is a positive thing, but for those with bleeding conditions like hemophilia it can worsen their condition. Some people may even be using pharmaceuticals which encourage blood clotting and ginger can effectively reverse the power of those pills.

People Taking Prescription Medication:

Patients using certain medications for diabetes or high blood pressure are particularly at risk to the dangers of ginger. The herb has a natural power to stimulate blood flow and can interact with drugs in the body to overwhelm blood cell production. Anticuogulants, barbituartes, beta-blockers, insulin pills and anti-platelet medication can see serious sife effects when combined with fresh ginger.

Although many of these at risk categories apply mostly to the use of fresh ginger, forms of supplements may not always be a safe option. Some herbal pills have been found to contain toxic metals and additives.

The whole food source is always best practice, but be wise and make sure you recognize which herbs are safe for YOUR body.