Ginger supplements can provide benefits for digestion and pain relief, but they may interact dangerously with certain medications.
Experts consider up to 3-4 grams of ginger per day safe for most people. However, pregnant women should not exceed 1 gram daily. Higher doses (over 6 grams) can result in gastrointestinal discomfort for anyone.
Those managing diabetes often take medications to regulate blood sugar and maintain healthy A1C levels. Ginger may also lower blood sugar, which could lead to hypoglycemia when combined with diabetes medications like insulin or metformin.
Blood pressure medications are commonly prescribed. Combining them with ginger potentially causes excessively low blood pressure as ginger affects hormones involved in blood pressure regulation.
Ginger's interaction with calcium channels, critical for heart rhythm, also raises concerns with blood pressure drugs.
Blood thinners carry warnings about interactions due to increased bleeding risks. Ginger contains antioxidants that may thin the blood by affecting thromboxane, which triggers clotting.
People use ginger to reduce nausea during cancer treatment, sometimes causing rare liver problems when used with chemotherapy drugs like crizotinib.
A report suggests high amounts of ginger tea may impact how certain chemotherapies are processed, leading to liver issues. Always consult a doctor before combining alternative remedies and prescription treatments in cancer care.
Pain medications from aspirin to morphine might interact dangerously with ginger supplements. Aspirin thins the blood too, raising bleeding risks when combined with ginger. Strong painkillers like morphine can have potent effects that may be intensified by ginger, increasing the risk of serious complications such as slowed breathing and lowered blood pressure.