Chapter II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

The researcher reviewed a number of literature and studies which were related to the
subject under study. The studies provided the researcher with viewpoints and insights in the
particular area of research.

Related Literature

According to www.theepicentre.com (Barbara McGee, 2005), Ginger is native to India

and China. It takes its name from the Sanskrit word stringa-vera, which means “with a body like
a horn”, as in antlers. Ginger has been important in Chinese medicine for many centuries, and is
mentioned in the writings of Confucius. It is also named in the Koran, the sacred book of the
Moslems, indicating it was known in Arab countries as far back as 650 A.D. It was one of the
earliest spice known in Western Europe, used since the ninth century. It became so popular in
Europe that it was included in every table setting, like salt and pepper.
The primary known constituents of Ginger Root include gingerols, zingibain, bisabolenel,
oleoresins, starch, essential oil (zingiberene, zingiberole, camphene, cineol, borneol), mucilage,
and protein. Ginger root is also used to treat nausea related to both motion sickness and morning
sickness. Ginger has been found to be even more effective than Dramamine® in curbing motion
sickness, without causing drowsiness. Ginger's anti-inflammatory properties help relieve pain
and reduce inflammation associated with arthritis, rheumatism and muscle spasms. Ginger's
therapeutic properties effectively stimulate circulation of the blood, removing toxins from the
body, cleansing the bowels and kidneys, and lowering blood pressure.

According to www.essential-home-remedies.com, Ginger root has been used for

centuries as a flavoring in cooking. It's most well known for relieving stomach upset and
morning sickness but because it contains vasodilators, ACE inhibitors and acts as a diuretic, it
can also one of the herbs that lower blood pressure. You can use ginger root in recipes and make
a tea with it.
 According to vitamins.ultimatefatburner.com, Ginger root extract can help to lower blood
pressure as well. It is known to contain vasodilators, ACE inhibitors and diuretics, all of which
are useful agents in reducing blood pressure and keeping the circulatory system healthy. Blood
clots can also be prevented with supplements of ginger root extract, which contains substances
that inhibit the aggregation of blood platelets that form clots.

According to www.journals.lww.com (Ghayur, et. al, 2005), Ginger (Zingiber officinale

Roscoe), a well-known spice plant, has been used traditionally in a wide variety of ailments
including hypertension. We report here the cardiovascular effects of ginger under controlled
experimental conditions. The crude extract of ginger (Zo.Cr) induced a dose-dependent (0.3-3
mg/kg) fall in the arterial blood pressure of anesthetized rats.
The use of ginger in cardiovascular diseases has long been known. Ginger is known to
have a diuretic and blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect. In the traditional medicine practice of
Pakistan, herbalists prescribe ginger to hypertensive patients to be taken after dinner.
Interestingly a few studies have been carried out to explore the BP-lowering potential of ginger
extract and its active constituents but produced conflicting results, and the precise mode of action
remains to be elucidated. In this investigation, we report the BP-lowering effect of the crude
extract of fresh ginger in anesthetized rats and the possible mode of action was explored using
isolated cardiovascular preparations.

According to www.associatedcontent.com (McLelland, 2008), one of the most active

ingredients you can add to your daily diet to lower blood pressure is Ginger. Ginger has been
found to help accurately lower blood pressure in a safe and effective manner. Actually Ginger is
a great alternative to putting salt on your food items. If you require more flavors to your food
items, use Ginger instead of salt. Actually, the more you use Ginger to replace salt within your
diet, the less your body will crave salt.

According to www.herbwisdom.com, Ginger has been well researched and many of its
traditional uses confirmed. It is well known as a remedy for travel sickness, nausea and
indigestion. It is a warming remedy, ideal for boosting the circulation, lowering high blood
pressure and keeping the blood thin in higher doses. Ginger is anti-viral and makes a warming
cold and flu remedy. Ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory herb and there has been much
recent interest in its use for joint problems.

According to www.ehow.com, if you have high blood pressure, you can reduce the salt in
your diet by using alternative forms of seasoning, such as ginger. The less salt you eat over an
extended period, the more you may find that you do not require the seasoning to enjoy the taste
of a good meal. Hypertension or high blood pressure can be treated using natural, alternative
methods. Why not take a more holistic approach to lowering your blood pressure. Studies have
shown drinking a tea infusion made from ginger root can help reduce inflammation in the
arteries and blood vessels that cause high blood pressure.

According to www.dietaryfiberfood.com, ginger root has the following nutritional values

which is based on the National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 19 (2006)

Nutrient Units Nutrient content per 100 grams

Calcium mg 16
Minerals
Magnesium, Mg mg 43
Potassium, K mg 415

According to www.realfoodnutrients.com, the researchers from the Tianjin Hospital in

China suggested increased calcium intake lowers blood pressure in hypertension and that the
mechanism is probably due to calcium effect on how the body deals with sodium. Excessive
consumption of sodium (from salt) is a common cause of high blood pressure especially in "salt-
sensitive" individuals.
According to www.sciencedaily.com, Japanese researchers say magnesium may play a
role in relaxing the blood vessels, an effect generally proven to help lower blood pressure. When
blood vessels are constricted -- not relaxed -- the heart works harder to pump blood through the
body, causing blood pressure to increase.
 According to www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, Potassium is a chemical which helps to lower blood
pressure by balancing out the negative effects of salt. Increased potassium intake should be
considered as a recommendation for prevention and treatment of hypertension, especially in
those who are unable to reduce their intake of sodium.

According to healthfood-guide.com, ginger also helps break down the clotting process.
This is a very important factor to know if you take blood thinners like warfarin commercially
sold as Coumadin. Your blood could become too thin where minor bumps and abrasions become
life threatening. Researchers are investigating the possible uses of ginger also as an antioxidant,
antifungal, antihypertensive agent and antineoplastic agent. Neoplasm is the mass of cells that
form into a tumor that is benign, premalignant or malignant.

According to ezinearticles.com (Patterson, 2008), Ginger is one of the herbs that have the
greatest effect to lower your BP when added to your diet. It has been proven to lower your BP in
a safe and effective manner. One of the best things about ginger is that it is a great substitute.
Salt is one of the worst things you can have if you have high BP. Ginger can be a great
alternative to salt to add flavor to your dishes. Not only that, but ginger actually has properties
that will make your desire for salt decrease over time too.
Most natural herbs, if they are packaged together with other herbs or are in supplement
form, lose a lot of their effectiveness. Ginger is just one of the many herbs that will lower your
blood pressure naturally. Along with certain foods that assist in lowering hypertension, some
vitamins and supplements, exercise and breathing techniques.

According to www.livestrong.com (2009), Physicians now do not put hypertensive

patients on long term drug therapy. Instead, they treat these patients with changes in lifestyle,
diet and supplementation of herbs such as ginger. Ginger stimulates the sweat glands and the
circulatory system, bringing the blood to the periphery of the body. This effect helps
hypertension patients. Ginger also inhibits platelet aggregation in the bloodstream. The chance of
heart attack and stroke is lessened by this reduction of the aggregation. This particular blend of
herbs is perfect for patients dealing with high blood pressure. One effect of substituting ginger
for salt is that as you continue to use it, your body will crave salt less over time.