Alternative Health Blog

In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study involving children and young adults with bone sarcoma undergoing chemotherapy, results indicate that supplementation with ginger powder in addition to ondensetron and dexamethasone (antiemetic drugs) may reduce severity of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting CINV. 60 chemotherapy cycles of cisplatin/doxorubicin in patients were randomized to ginger root powder or placebo capsules in addition to antiemetic drugs. Acute (within 1-4 days from start of chemotherapy) moderate to severe CINV was observed in 93.3% of cycles in the control group, versus 55.6% of cycles in the ginger root group. Additionally, delayed (days 5-10) moderate to severe CINV was observed in 73.3% of cycles in the control group, compared to 25.9% of cycles in the ginger root group. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "Ginger root powder was effective in reducing severity of acute and delayed CINV as additional therapy to ondensetron and dexamethasone in patients receiving high emetogenic chemotherapy."