Author(s):

Max Dehaan and Teresa Degolier

Abstract: Ginger root (Zingiber officinale) is an herbal supplement used to control severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. It is also prepared as a tincture to revitalize the uterus during labor. The purpose of this study was to determine if revitalizing the uterus involved changes in uterine contractile activity. Volumes of ginger root juice (20-1000 μL) were applied directly to isolated mouse uterine tissues in an organ bath under baseline conditions. At each volume, increases in contractile force occurred within five minutes (p < 0.001). Increases in contractile frequency were less remarkable (p = 0.5343). After five minutes, the greater volumes of ginger root juice inhibited all contractile activity. These results indicate that raw ginger root juice evokes a biphasic response as a function of time and treatment volume. This data would advocate for the revitalizing use of ginger root for calming uterine spasms rather than inducing labor.

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