Use of ginger in the management of functional dyspepsia

Abstract

Functional dyspepsia is a chronic gastrointestinal (GI) condition that is characterised by symptoms of upper abdominal pain or discomfort in the absence of an underlying organic cause (Clouse et al, 2006). Pharmacological management of functional dyspepsia is often unsatisfactory. The mainstay pharmacological agents, H2-receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), only show modest benefits relative to placebo and they are associated with a risk of adverse effects (Moayyedi et al, 2004). This has led to increased interest in the potential role of complementary medicines, including herbal remedies, in the management of GI conditions. Patients may view herbal remedies as an attractive alternative to conventional pharmacological treatments, due to a common perception that natural herbal products have a lower risk of causing adverse effects. Ginger (<i>Zingiber offcinale</i>) is one such herbal remedy, and it has been used to treat a vast array of medical conditions, including disorders that affect the GI tract.

This clinical skills paper explores the role of ginger in functional dyspepsia.