While there is no evidence that using digital devices like phones, tablets, and computers causes permanent eye damage, regular screen time can cause eye strain and stiff shoulders.
Fortunately, researchers at Hiroshima University have found that taking ginger supplements may help alleviate these issues by improving blood flow, reducing eye fatigue and shoulder stiffness associated with prolonged screen use.
Extended use of screens, including computers, smartphones, and tablets, poses health risks, notably VDT syndrome, characterized by dry eyes, eye strain, and neck and shoulder stiffness.
This condition substantially affects one’s quality of life, emerging as a pressing social concern that demands attention and action.
A recent Japanese study published in Nutrients found that young women who took 100mg of ginger extract powder daily for eight weeks experienced notable improvements in eye fatigue and shoulder stiffness.
The researchers explored ginger’s potential to enhance blood flow and alleviate symptoms in individuals using visual display terminals (VDTs).
The study involved 100 healthy participants, aged 20-73, with eye fatigue and shoulder pain, who were randomly assigned to receive either the ginger supplement or a placebo in a double-blind, controlled trial.
Participants were randomly divided into two groups, with one group receiving a placebo and the other group receiving a 100mg ginger extract supplement, which contained 2mg of 6-shogaol and 0.5mg of 6-gingerol.
After eight weeks, both groups reported reduced eye fatigue, but the ginger group showed significantly more improvement than the placebo group.
Similarly, both groups experienced reduced shoulder stiffness, with the ginger group showing more significant improvements.
Further analysis revealed that these benefits were primarily driven by improvements in women aged 51 and younger, with no significant effects seen in men. Additionally, ginger was found to enhance peripheral blood flow, but only in younger women.
The researchers suggest that this effect may be linked to female hormones, as ginger has been shown to increase oestrogen and glutathione levels, which can help improve blood flow by boosting nitrogen oxide production and dilating blood vessels.
Research indicates that over 80% of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience gastrointestinal symptoms, which can be attributed to the disease itself, medication, or a combination of both.
Ginger supplements have shown promise in alleviating various GI-related symptoms by increasing GI mobility and reducing food transit time, potentially relieving issues like constipation.
A 12-week randomized controlled trial involving 52 participants with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) was conducted to investigate the impact of ginger supplementation on GI symptoms.
The study found that a daily dose of 1500mg of ginger significantly reduced the frequency and severity of nausea, constipation, and bloating, with near-significant reductions in bloating frequency and abdominal pain severity.
However, no significant effects were observed on other GI symptoms like dysphagia, diarrhea, and heartburn. Notably, ginger supplementation provided the most substantial relief for constipation, the most prevalent GI issue in RRMS patients.
The improvements in constipation, nausea, and bloating exceeded the minimum clinically important difference, but the improvement in stomach pain was not clinically significant.
The researchers caution that the study’s findings may not be applicable to the broader MS community due to the specific participant population and mild to moderate symptom severity.
