Also known as: Zingiber officinale, ginger root.
Potential uses: Ginger is thought to relieve nausea and vomiting.
Usual dose: The recommended dose is less than 5 grams per day. Ginger is available as a pill supplement, fresh as a root, as a tea, in ginger ale, and as a candy.
Are there any risks? Consuming more than 5 grams per day may cause heartburn and rash.
What does the research show? The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is currently recruiting people for a study looking at whether ginger taken with chemotherapy drugs can reduce nausea. Earlier studies have had mixed results.
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