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Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
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Ginger and Reduced Pain Intensity

Research synthesisLow evidenceMixed effect size3 studies · 1 beneficial · 2 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 studies, 1 reported a beneficial large-sized effect of ginger on reducing pain intensity in primary dysmenorrhea, while 2 studies found neutral (no significant) effects in other populations. The predominant effect is mixed, with the strongest evidence coming from a meta-analysis reporting significant pain relief (WMD=2.902, 95% CI 2.039-3.765) in 647 dysmenorrhea patients. The median study duration was 14 days, but the evidence base is small and heterogeneous.

  • Studied populations: patients with primary dysmenorrhea

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. The only beneficial study focused on dysmenorrhea, while neutral findings come from chemotherapy patients (oral mucositis) and a meta-analysis comparing other supplements. Population and outcome differences limit generalizability. Many of the included studies did not reach statistical significance — effect may be smaller than the predominant direction suggests.

Generated Jun 10, 2026
Time to effect
Median: 2 weeks · IQR 2 weeks–2 weeks · Range 2 weeks–2 weeks — Reported in 1 of 3 studies
Safety in these studies
  • Overall tolerabilityReported

    Only four of the 27 included studies reported adverse effects in both treatment groups. There was no evidence of a difference between the groups but data were too scanty to reach any conclusions about safety.

    from: Dietary supplements for dysmenorrhoea.
3 of 3 papers
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