Ginger paralysis

Smith MI, Elvove E, Valaer PJ, et al. 1930. Pharmacological and chemical studies of the cause of so-called ginger paralysis. Public Health Rep 45 1703-1717. 

Morgan JP, Penovich P. (1978). Jamaica ginger paralysis. Forty-seven-year follow-up. Arch Neurol. 35(8) 530-2. 

J. Parascandola, Pharmacology and public health the Jamaica ginger paralysis episode of the 1930 s , Pharmacy in History, 36 3 (1994), 123-43, published online (http / /www.herbalgram.org/wholefoodsmarket/herbal-gram / articleview. asp a=957)... 

Smith, M.I., Elvove, E., Frazier, W.H. (1930). The pharmacological action of certain phenol esters with special reference to the etiology of so called ginger paralysis. Public Health Rep. 45 2509-24. 

Synonyms Jamaican ginger paralysis Ginger Jake paralysis Ginger Jake walk Jake leg Organo-phosphorus ester-induced delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN)... 

Harris S. Jamaica ginger paralysis (a peripheral polyneuritis). South Med J 1930 23 375-380. 

In the past, tricresyl phosphates have caused numerous mass poisoning incidents, for example, as plasticizers for PVC and in contaminated edible oils and machine-gim oil. The largest incidence of poisoning occurred in 1929/1930 in the United States following consumption of ginger spirit which was adulterated with tricresyl phosphate, ginger paralysis (18). 

In severe cases, paralysis may also affect the upper limbs. Recovery is usually slow and is not always complete. Tri-ort/20-cresyl phosphate (TOCP), an isomer found in tricresyl phosphate, was the first organophosphate ester linked to OPIDN, being responsible for an epidemic of paralysis in the southeastern United States that led to the name "ginger jake paralysis" (Smith 1930) (see Section 2.4). Current manufacturing processes for organophosphate ester hydraulic fluids are designed to minimize production of this isomer, although it is possible that fluids disposed of in the past may be contaminated. 

Weber, M. L. A follow-up study of thirty-five cases of paralysis caused by adulterated Jamaica-ginger extract. MedBull Vet Admin 1937 13 228-242. Kim, J. H., Y. S. Yoo, M. I. Mang, and H. S. Yun-Choi. Effects of some combined crude drug preparations against platelet aggregations. Korean J Phar-macogl990 21(2) 126-129. 

Tri-ort/io-cresyl phosphate, the contaminant in a homemade liquor called Ginger Jake , which is responsible for delayed neuropathy and paralysis of the legs, is bioactivated to a form that inhibits neuropathy target esterase but not acetylcholinesterase (Casida and Quistad, 2004 Glynn, 2006). Large structures with a 12-20 carbon alkyl chain on the phosphorus atom inhibit fatty acid amide hydrolase but not acetylcholinesterase (Casida and Quistad, 2004). These examples clearly show that OPs which do not affect... 

No specific therapy is known as a treatment for victims presenting signs of Ginger Jake paralysis as this is a delayed neurotoxic effect. It would be prudent to determine the cause of exposure to ensure that the victim is no longer exposed to TOCP and provide supportive care. The victim should be transported to a hospital for evaluation. 

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