Is Ginger Effective in Reducing Post-tonsillectomy Morbidity? A Prospective Randomised Clinical Trial

Abstract

Objectives: An assessment of the effects of ginger on pain, nausea, vomiting, bleeding, and wound site healing that occur after tonsillectomy.

Methods: This prospective clinical study was participated by 49 patients aged 18-45 years out of 56 patients that underwent tonsillectomy and regularly attended follow-up visits. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 23 patients that used ginger capsules and group 2 consisted of 26 patients that did not use ginger capsules in addition to the routine antibiotic and paracetamol treatment following tonsillectomy. The pain, nausea, vomiting, and bleeding scores of patients were assessed on days 1, 4, 7, and 10 by using the visual analogue scale. Similarly, the epithelialization degrees of tonsillar bed were assessed on postoperative days 1, 4, 7, and 10 and regular oral intake times of patients were recorded.

Results: There were no differences between groups in terms of age and sex. On the postoperative days 1, 4, 7, and 10, the pain scores were lower in the group 1 (all P<0.001) and there were no differences between the two groups in terms of postoperative nausea, vomiting, and bleeding scores (P=0.35 and P=0.53). On the postoperative days 7 and 10, epithelialization in the tonsil bed was quicker in the group 1 (P=0.041 and P=0.026) and the regular oral intake time was earlier in group 1 (P<0.001).

Conclusion: In this study, ginger relieved pain, accelerated wound site epithelialization, and decreased duration of oral intake following tonsillectomy. It did not result in postoperative bleeding or any other complications. Ginger can be recommended as an adjunct to routine medical treatment for decreasing morbidity following tonsillectomy.

Keywords: Ginger; Pain; Tonsillectomy; Wound Healing.

Fig. 1.

Comparison of pain visual analog scale scores on postoperative (postop) days 1, 4, 7, and 10. Vertical error bars represent standard error. ***P<0.001.

Fig. 2.

Representative view of tonsillar bed at postoperative day 10. (A) Patient who took ginger, (group 1), (B) patient who did not take ginger (group 2).