Ginger Water as a Complementary Therapy for Primary Dysmenorrhea among Nursing Students: An Experimental Study

Sakshi Kumari, Keka Chatterjee, Sreekala P, Linchu P George

Abstract: Adolescence is a critical period of physical, psychological, and endocrinal transition. Dysmenorrhea, or painful menstruation, is one of the most common gynecological disorders among adolescent girls and young women and has a reported prevalence as high as 79.67% in India. Dysmenorrhea negatively affects physical activity, academic performance, concentration, emotional wellbeing, sleep quality, and overall quality of life among young females. Although pharmacological interventions such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used for pain relief, prolonged use may lead to adverse gastrointestinal effects including gastritis, nausea, abdominal discomfort, and indigestion. Therefore, interest in safe, effective, and non-pharmacological complementary therapies has increased. The present study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of ginger water as a complementary therapy for primary dysmenorrhea among nursing students. An experimental study was conducted among 66 nursing students selected through simple random sampling from a selected college in New Delhi. Participants with primary dysmenorrhea and moderate to severe menstrual pain were included in the study. The participants were divided into Group A (Experimental Group) and Group B (Control Group), with 33 participants in each group. Group A received 60 ml concentrated ginger water during menstruation for three consecutive days, whereas Group B received routine care without intervention. Pain intensity was assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) during morning and evening observations for three consecutive days. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea among nursing students in the study setting was found to be approximately 78%. Mean pain scores gradually reduced in both groups across three days; however, the reduction was comparatively greater in the experimental group receiving ginger water. On Day 1, the mean pain score in Group A was 4.66 ± 1.85 compared to 5.06 ± 2.22 in Group B. By Day 3, the mean score reduced to 1.54 ± 1.44 in Group A and 2.10 ± 1.80 in Group B. Although the intergroup difference was statistically non-significant (p > 0.05), participants receiving ginger water demonstrated comparatively greater reduction in pain intensity. The findings suggest that ginger water demonstrated partial effectiveness in reducing dysmenorrhea among nursing students and may be considered a safe, economical, accessible, and culturally acceptable complementary therapy for menstrual pain management.

Keywords: Dysmenorrhea, Ginger Water, Menstrual Pain, Nursing Students, Complementary Therapy, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)

How to Cite?: Sakshi Kumari, Keka Chatterjee, Sreekala P, Linchu P George, "Ginger Water as a Complementary Therapy for Primary Dysmenorrhea among Nursing Students: An Experimental Study", Volume 15 Issue 6, June 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1668-1671, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=MR26629061757, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/MR26629061757

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