Ginger for Nerve Pain

(Ginger-NP Trial)

Overseen By Chwan-Li (Leslie) Shen, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Sponsor: Leslie Shen

Must not be taking: Anticoagulants

Disqualifiers: Serious spinal pathology, Chronic GI disorder, Autoimmune diseases, Psychiatric conditions, others

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 8

Duration: 8 weeks

80 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether ginger can alleviate nerve pain, specifically in individuals with chronic sciatica, where pain radiates from the lower back through the legs. Participants will receive either ginger supplements (ginger root extract) or a placebo for eight weeks to assess ginger's effects on gut health, inflammation, and pain levels. The trial aims to understand the connection between gut health and nerve pain. Individuals with sciatica who have experienced pain for at least three months might be suitable for this study. As a Phase 2 trial, this research focuses on measuring the treatment's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group, offering participants a chance to contribute to important scientific findings.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot participate if you are taking medication that affects blood clotting or platelet function.

Is there any evidence suggesting that ginger root extract is likely to be safe for humans?

Research shows that ginger root extract is generally safe for people. Previous studies on ginger for pain relief have shown promising results with few side effects. In some studies, only a small number of people reported mild negative effects. Although ginger is not yet approved specifically for nerve pain, it has been safely used for other purposes. This trial is in an early stage, so more research is needed to fully understand its safety and effectiveness for nerve pain. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why do researchers think this study treatment might be promising for nerve pain?

Unlike other treatments for nerve pain, which often rely on medications like gabapentin or opioids, ginger root extract offers a natural alternative. Researchers are excited about ginger because it contains compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that might help reduce nerve pain differently than traditional drugs. Additionally, ginger root extract is generally well-tolerated, potentially offering a treatment with fewer side effects. This makes it an appealing option for those looking for more holistic approaches to managing nerve pain.

What evidence suggests that ginger root extract might be an effective treatment for sciatica?

Research has shown that ginger root extract can help reduce nerve pain. In this trial, participants in the Ginger group will receive 2,000 mg of ginger root extract daily for 8 weeks. Studies have found that ginger, particularly its active components like gingerol, reduces pain behaviors in animals with nerve pain. It also appears to decrease inflammation in the nervous system, which can help relieve pain. Ginger's effects may involve the gut-brain connection, currently under study for its role in managing pain. These findings suggest that ginger might be a promising option for easing nerve pain due to its ability to reduce pain and inflammation. ^{3 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals experiencing sciatic nerve pain. Participants must be diagnosed with sciatica to qualify. The study seeks to understand how ginger affects gut-brain interactions in relation to this condition.

Inclusion Criteria

I have had sciatica pain for at least 3 months.

Willingness to accept randomization

I agree to use birth control during the study.

Exclusion Criteria

I am not pregnant if I can have children.

I have a bleeding disorder.

I cannot or do not want to undergo MRI scans for the study.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either 2000 mg of ginger root extract or placebo daily for 8 weeks

8 weeks

Baseline and after 8 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Ginger Root Extract

Trial Overview

The study tests if ginger root extract can help manage sciatic pain compared to a placebo. It's a randomized, double-blind trial where participants will either receive ginger or a starch placebo daily for 8 weeks while their gut function and neuroinflammation are monitored.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Ginger Active Control 1 Intervention

Ginger group: 2,000 mg ginger root extract daily for 8 weeks

Group II: Placebo Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Placebo group: 2,000 mg cellulose daily for 8 weeks

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Leslie Shen

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1

Recruited

80+

Citations

1.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9193716/

Ginger Root Extract Mitigates Neuropathic Pain via ...

This study suggests GEG supplementation mitigated pain behaviors in a preclinical NP animal model. GEG also decreased SNL-induced neuroinflammation.

2.

frontiersin.org

frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.912609/full

Gingerol-Enriched Ginger Supplementation Mitigates ...

GEG supplementation reduced SNL-induced spontaneous pain in nose bulge, ears position, whisker change, and total score of rats.

3.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955286321003247

and shogaols-enriched ginger root extract attenuate pain ...

We evaluated the effects of two ginger root extracts rich in gingerols (GEG) and shogaols (SEG) on pain sensitivity, anxiety-like behaviors, circulating cell- ...

4.

mdpi.com

mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/20/3563

Beneficial Effects of Ginger Root Extract on Pain Behaviors ...

Results: GEG supplementation mitigated spontaneous pain in both male and female rats with NP while decreasing emotional/affective responses ...

5.

withpower.com

withpower.com/trial/phase-2-neuropathic-pain-2-2025-b4637

Ginger for Nerve Pain · Recruiting Participants for Phase ...

Research shows that ginger, including its components like gingerol, can reduce pain and inflammation in various conditions, such as neuropathic pain in animal ...

6.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0944711320301392

Zingiber officinale Roscoe rhizome extract alleviates ...

Dietary supplementation of gingerols- and shogaols-enriched ginger root extract attenuate pain-associated behaviors while modulating gut microbiota and ...

7.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7754412/

Clinical trials on pain lowering effect of ginger - PubMed Central

The use of ginger for its pain lowering effect is safe and promising, even though more studies are needed to create a consensus about the dosage of ginger ...

8.

academic.oup.com

academic.oup.com/painmedicine/article/12/12/1808/1846834

Use of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) for the Treatment of Pain

Only two of the trials included in this review reported adverse events, although preclinical safety data do not rule out potential toxicity, ...

9.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06817018?term=Ginger&viewType=Table&rank=2

Ginger Root Extract for Sciatic Pain Individuals

The previous study reported that ginger root extract supplementation palliated pain-spectrum behaviors in animals with neuropathic pain via the microbiota-gut- ...