EFFECTS OF GINGER ON CLINICAL FEATURES AND DISEASE SEVERITY OF PATIENTS WITH SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME DUE TO COVID-19: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL STUDY

Introduction: Despite coronavirus and its new mutations, attention has been paid to treatment. Ginger extract has been shown to have effective antiviral properties. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ginger on patients with the covid-19 disease. Materials and methods: This clinical trial study was performed on 109 covid-19 patients admitted to the coronavirus ward from November to December 2021. Patients were randomly assigned to three groups: (1) 1500 mg ginger per day (low dose), (2) 3000 mg ginger per day (normal dose), and (3) controls for two weeks. Clinical and paraclinical factors were assessed before and after the intervention Findings: The mean age of patients was 52.7 years. Among patients, 68% were male, and 32% were female. The percentage of people with dehydration decreased from 72% to 42% in the low dose ginger group (P=0.04). Severe coronavirus disease patients in ginger groups had higher oxygen levels than the control group; it increased in the percentage of people with adequate oxygen (P=0.01). Also, the frequency of conscious individuals in the low dose and normal dose of ginger groups after treatment was higher than the control group (standard treatment) (P = 0.02). Conclusion: The use of the ginger extract in low doses can be effective in reducing clinical symptoms and pulmonary involvement, thus improving patients with coronavirus.