Reduce menstrual pain

The pain experienced throughout the menstrual cycle is referred to as dysmenorrhea. Pain relief, particularly menstrual pain, is one of the traditional uses of ginger.

In a 2009 trial, 150 women were given an option of taking ginger or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for the first three days of their period. Four daily doses of ginger powder (250 mg), mefenamic acid (250 mg), or ibuprofen were given to the three groups (400 mg). Ginger was as good as the two NSAIDs at reducing pain. Recent research has also found that ginger is more effective than a placebo and is on the level with medications like mefenamic acid and acetaminophen/caffeine/ibuprofen (Novafen). While these findings are promising, more high-quality studies are still required.