While I can understand the desire to create a “good list” and a “bad list” to individualize choices, all of these things did not pan out. That’s why the idea of TH1 and TH2 ratios simply isn’t a strong argument to write off ginger just yet.
Further Case Reports
After performing a deep dive into the data, I did find a case report that was written about a woman who seemed to develop subacute thyroiditis after ingesting 1 tsp of ginger in honey for 10 days2.
Here are some additional details to really help us break this down:
- The case involved a 34-year-old female
- She experienced thyroid pain and swelling
- In addition, fever and racing heart
After being treated with NSAIDS, beta blockers, and steroids, her condition seemed to improve. Then, a year later she ate ginger candy and these symptoms showed up yet again.
But, they resolved quickly on their own and seemed to go away.
Let’s start by breaking down the condition of “subacute thyroiditis.” This is not related to Hashimoto’s disease, and not an autoimmune version of thyroid disease.
We do not know exactly why it happens, but it seems to be driven by viral infections. Some people who get a cold or the flu, they develop this acute issue within the thyroid.
You might even consider it a cold for your thyroid. It is sore, you may feel drained, and your thyroid function is altered. That said, it is also self-limiting.