Ask Dr Mel: Arthritis and treating nausea

Ask Dr Mel: Ginger and nausea and Rheumatoid arthritis

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Every week we bring you expert advice from Woman's Weekly's health expert Dr Melanie Wynne-Jones, a GP from Stockport with 26 years'
experience. This week she answers questions on ginger and nausea and arthritis

Q. I'm about to start chemotherapy for cancer and someone has recommended eating ginger to stop me feeling sick. Does it work?

A. Yes, according to some New York doctors, who say that a small amount (up to 1g) of powdered ginger can relieve the nausea that cancer drugs often cause.

Gingerhas been used as a remedy for nausea and vomiting for thousands of years - pregnant women are often told to eat ginger biscuits, and it's also said to relieve travel sickness and wind.

You might want to try eating crystallised ginger, drinking ginger ale or drinking a cup of hot water containing a slice of fresh ginger instead.

But I'd mention it to your doctor before starting chemotherapy, just in case it wont mix with the rest of your treatment. Ginger can also interfere with drugs that affect blood clotting, such as aspirin and warfarin.

Q. I've heard there is a new drug for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Is it worth trying?

A. Rituximab (MabThera) has been around for some time, but research has shown that, when it's used with another RA drug, methotrexate, it is almost three times as effective at reducing symptoms as methotrexate alone, provided it's started in the early stages of the disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune disease, one of a range of conditions in which the immune system uses proteins and antibodies to attack body tissues. In RA, this causes severe pain and destruction of the joints, and can also affect the lungs and other body organs.

Painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, can relieve pain, and, occasionally, steroids are used to suppress inflammation. But disease-modifying drugs, like methotrexate, reduce levels of harmful proteins that target the immune system so are needed to limit long-term damage.

Rituximab removes B-cells, a sub-group of white blood cells that produce damaging antibodies. Itis given as an intravenous injection around once a year. It can have side effects, such as allergic reactions, or lower your immunity to infection.

The new combination isn't routinely available yet, but you could discuss it with your consultant at your next appointment.

Advice given here is for general information only and is correct
on date of publication. Please seek help from your own GP if you have a
medical problem.

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