Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) on heavy menstrual bleeding: a placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial
Authors: Ebrahim Golmakani
Javad Asili
Mohammad Alavinia
Marjan Khajehei
Farzaneh Kashefi
Journal: Phytotherapy Research (2015)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: Ginger; heavy menstrual bleeding; herbal medicine.
Affiliations: Centre for Nursing Care Research; Iran University of Medical Sciences; Rashid Yasemi St, Vali Asr Ave Tehran Iran, School of Public Health; Curtin University; Western Australia Australia, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences; Office of Ministry of Health and Medical Education; Bojnoord Iran, Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine; Mashhad University of Medical Sciences; Mashhad Iran, Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy; Mashhad University of Medical Sciences; Iran

Abstract:  Objective: A wide range of herbal plants have been reported to treat various gynecological problems of women. This study was set out to investigate the effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) on heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) in high school girls. Methods: Ninety-two young women who experienced HMB and met the inclusion criteria were recruited in this study. Participants were evaluated for six consecutive menstrual cycles. During 3 assessment cycles, their HMB was confirmed by Pictorial Blood Assessment Chart. They were then randomly allocated to two study groups to receive either ginger or placebo capsules. The participants filled in the same chart during three intervention cycles. Results: The level of menstrual blood loss dramatically declined during the three intervention cycles in ginger-receiving group. The decrease of blood loss in ginger-receiving group was significantly more remarkable than that of participants receiving placebo (p&lt;0.001). Minimum number of participants reported adverse effects. Conclusion: HMB is highly prevalent among young women. Considering the significance of appropriate and timely treatment and also the importance of prevention of unwanted consequences, ginger may be considered as an effective therapeutic option for HMB. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 2020 retraction. https: www.oarsijournal.com article S1063-4584(20)31020-7 pdf This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief due to serious problems with image manipulation. The Smad5 blots in Fig. 1(D) have been demonstrated to be identical with the b-actin blots from an antecedent publication in Biochemical Journal (Medici D, Potenta S, Kalluri R: Transforming growth factor-b2 promotes Snail-mediated endothelial-mesenchymal transition through convergence of Smad-dependent and Smad-independent signaling. Biochem J. 2011 Aug 1;437(3):515-20. doi: 10.1042 BJ20101500. PMID: 21585337). This has been the subject of a thorough investigation at the home institution of the author who produced the blots, and confirmed by the Editors of OAC. The co-authors of this study, Drs. Suh, Reddi, and Sporn have stated that all data for Table I were produced completely independently and they stand by the veracity of all but the offending Figure. The scientific community takes a very strong view on this matter and apologies are offered to readers of the journal that this was not detected previously. ,