SCOTTSDALE – A new study sponsored by The National Cancer Institute involving 644 patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer demonstrated that Ginger -  the well known herbal supplement – helped reduce nausea after chemotherapy.

The study placed patients into four study groups which were given one of three doses of ginger or placebo capsules in addition to standard anti-nausea medicines. Standard medicines usually do a good job at controlling vomiting, but up to three-fourths of chemotherapy patients may still suffer with nausea.

“Patients ask all the time, ‘What else can I do?’” said Dr. Richard Schilsky, a cancer treatment specialist at the University of Chicago. Patients who started taking ginger capsules several days before a chemotherapy had fewer and less bouts of nausea than others given the placebo pills.

All ginger doses significantly reduced nausea with middle and lowest doses gave the best results. An earlier study found ginger did not benefit patients when they waited until the day of chemo to start taking the supplement.

The new study showed that Ginger caused no side effects. However, it is recommended that patients discuss use of Ginger with their doctors before trying it, as it can interfere with blood clotting, especially during cancer treatment or if the patient is taking a blood thinner like Coumadin. The American Cancer Society also warns the it may be risky to take Ginger when having surgery and anesthesia.