Effectiveness of ginger in the management of arthritis- A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Background/objectives: Arthritis is a chronic, debilitating disease that affects patients’ daily lives due to stiffness, pain, and restricted mobility. Natural medicines such as ginger (Zingiber officinale) are reported to improve arthritis symptoms and provide significant pain relief. This review aimed to evaluate the available clinical evidence on ginger’s therapeutic role in arthritis as a standalone treatment or an adjunct and to assess its safety profile. Methods: This PRISMA-guided systematic review includes randomized controlled trials in which ginger was used as a standalone intervention for pain management in osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, or that included placebo or control groups. Studies were included if they reported pain relief measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) or the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). We screened articles from six databases: PubMed, SCOPUS, COCHRANE, ScienceDirect, EMBASE, and ClinicalTrials.gov. A total of 613 studies were screened, and seven studies were included in the final analysis. Results: Of the seven studies, two used a crossover design, one was open-label, one was a placebo-controlled parallel-group trial, and three were double-blind placebo-controlled trials. Different studies used various measures to assess pain relief after ginger therapy (VAS in two studies, WOMAC in one, KOSS in one, and both the WOMAC and VAS scales in two studies). All but one study has shown the beneficial role of ginger therapy in relieving pain in patients with arthritis. Conclusion: Ginger supplementation can be a therapeutic option in managing arthritis symptoms, particularly in improving pain and functional outcomes. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of ginger's bioactive compounds provide a plausible mechanism for these effects. However, further research is needed to establish optimal dosing regimens, long-term efficacy, and safety profiles. Protocol Registration: PROSPERO: CRD42025631420.