January 30, 2025
Multiple sclerosis is a debilitating condition where the myelin sheath that covers nerve cells is damaged disrupting nervous system signals and resulting in numbness, tingling, mood changes, memory problems, pain, fatigue, blindness and/or paralysis. Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects each person differently, with some symptoms being temporary and others long-lasting and more severe. The exact cause of Multiple sclerosis is not known, but, genetic factors and environmental exposures can be introduced as a reason. Currently, there is no definite cure for Multiple sclerosis (MS), therefore, finding a fully effective and safe treatment has been widely considered. Some drugs such as fingolimod are used in clinic. The reason for choosing fingolimod as a standard drug is that it has been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier using radiolabeling, and this drug can prevent demyelination of axon fibers, and inhibit lymphocyte proliferation, and it has anti-inflammatory properties. Similar to the function of fingolomod, the essential oil of ginger was reported to have the properties of the blood-brain barrier action, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and in general its neuroprotective properties.
Numerous studies have shown that fingolimod and ginger are both able to cross the blood-brain barrier and both have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties that can inhibit myelin degradation. So far, no known side effects have been reported for ginger, while fingolimod has many side effects, including high blood pressure, skin necrosis, hair loss, etc. Ginger can be presented as an alternative and complementary approach to potentially improve brain disorders due to its neuroprotective effects. Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients have been advised to take ginger because of its anti-inflammatory effects.
According to the recent studies, oral administration of ginger essential oil promoted remyelination and increased myelin fiber thickness in a preclinical model of multiple sclerosis (MS). The results suggests that ginger essential oil can both prevent and reverse demyelination and is worthy of exploring in human trials for multiple sclerosis (MS).