Ginger for Dysmenorrhea.

One hundred-fifty Iranian students (mean age, 21.5 years) with primary dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned to receive, in double-blind fashion, ginger powder (250 mg 4 times per day), mefenamic acid (250 mg 4 times per day), or ibuprofen (400 mg 4 times per day), beginning at the start of menstruation and continuing for three days. The severity of the dysmenorrhea decreased in all groups, and the degree of improvement was similar with each of the treatments.

Comment: Primary dysmenorrhea appears to result from a surge in the level of prostaglandin [F.sub.2[alpha]] around the time of menses, which leads to vasoconstriction, uterine ischemia, and painful uterine contractions. Conventional therapy includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which inhibit prostaglandin synthesis. Compounds present in ginger have also been reported to inhibit prostaglandin synthesis in vitro. The results of the present study suggest that ginger is as effective as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment, of primary dysmenorrhea. To rule out the possibility that the results were due to a placebo effect, the study should be repeated comparing ginger with a placebo.

Ozgoli G et al. Comparison of effects of ginger, mefenamic acid, and ibuprofen on pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea. J Altern Complement Med. 2009; 15:129-132.

by Alan R. Gaby, MD

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