Ginger has been known to enhance food flavor, soothe an upset stomach, and treat sore throat. Now, a recent study featured on the Huffington Post has found that ginger has one more medicinal use--it may make asthma medicine more effective.

Researchers from Columbia University’s Department of Anesthesiology took samples of human airway tissues and exposed them to a compound that would normally cause bronchoconstriction or airway tightening.

The samples were then tested with three different components of purified components of ginger root and beta-agonist isoproterenol, an asthma medication, and compared the results with that of just the beta-agonist isoproterenol.

The found that the drug, when mixed with ginger extracts, was able to relax the tightened bronchial tissue samples the best. While these results should still be considered preliminary, it can't hurt to ask your doctor about it.

(Photo byCookthinker via Flickr Creative Commons)