The effect of ginger on chronic disease: A meta-review

Background: Ginger has long been used as part of traditional medicines including for the alleviation of the common cold symptoms, toothaches, and fever. Emerging empirical evidence supports the potential health benefits of ginger; however, there is a lack of synthesis of literature to determine which health indications are supported by quality evidence.
Aim: To synthesise the highest quality evidence to evaluate the effects of ginger on human health.
Methods: A systematic review of systematic reviews was performed, searching five databases to March 2020. Any systematic review that examined the effect of any type of ginger on any pathophysiological process or human health condition was included.
Results: Systematic reviews reported ginger to benefit pain (osteoarthritic, menstrual, and post-exercise muscle pain), metabolic disorders (type 2 diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, weight management), and gastrointestinal disorders (dysphagia, dyspepsia, nausea and vomiting, gastrointestinal malignancies). There was no consistency as to the optimal dose, frequency, or method of application/consumption of ginger for beneficial effects.
Conclusions: Dietary consumption of ginger may exert beneficial effects on human health including symptom alleviation and improvement of diverse chronic disease conditions. Future double-blinded randomised controlled trials with adequate sample sizes, and standardised ginger products are warranted to inform and standardise routine clinical prescription