One of my patients with COPD has got a dyspnoe, after inhalation of (heated?) grated ginger. His FEV1 decreased to 50%. Does anybody know the mechanism or other side effects of ginger in pulmonology?
This is a tricky question. Ginger is believed to possess multiple effects among which strong antioxydant properties and in some studies inhalation of ginger essential oils in aromatherapy has shown positive effects on anticancer chemotherapy-induced emesis and nausea and bronchorelaxing properties in in-vivo models of experimental allergic asthma. So in principle the expected effect of ginger might not lead to pulmonary function deterioration unless the physico-chemical charateristics (and the amount!) of the material inhaled are such to determine a mechanical stress in the airways. Indeed it is known that coarse particles above a certain amount can cause "per sè" pulmonary function deterioration.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26051575
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25420680
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24860889
Dear Collegeau!
Many thanks. It was very useful for me. The use of ginger spreads as a new fashion by us, due to web. I'm afraid to have newer patients too. Best regards Paula
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