Ginger(Zingiber officinale)
Other Names:
Ginger root
Range:
Family:
Zingiberaceae - The Ginger Family
Parts Used:
Rhizome
Culinary Uses:
Ginger is used as a flavoring or spice in many Asian dishes. It has also gained widespread favor among western palates. It can be added to smoothies, curries, stir-fries, as well as various sauces.
The following text is meant for informational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any illness or injury. Always consult with a physician or other qualified medical care provider concerning the diagnosis and treatment of any illness or injury.
Energetics
Taste: Pungent
Thermal: Heating
Humidity: Drying
Traditional Medicinal Uses:
Ginger has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. It is used to treat arthritis, colds and flu, inflammation, infections, heart problems, inflammation, menstrual cramps, migraines, morning sickness, nausea, pain, sore throats, stomach flu, and vomiting.
Cautions According To WebMD
Contra-Indications
None Known
Possible Side Effects:
None Known
Possible Interactions:
None Known
Conditions Treated: Proven By Scientific Studies
The following is a list of medical conditions treated using this plant, and links to scientific studies demonstrating said use.
Dyslipidemia: Daniels, Chelsea Courtney, Zaiyaan Isaacs, Renata Finelli, and Kristian Leisegang. "The efficacy of Zingiber officinale on dyslipidaemia, blood pressure, and inflammation as cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review." Clinical Nutrition ESPEN 51 (2022): 72-82.
Dysmenorrhea (Menstrual cramps): Chen, Chen X., Bruce Barrett, and Kristine L. Kwekkeboom. "Efficacy of oral ginger (Zingiber officinale) for dysmenorrhea: a systematic review and meta‐analysis." Evidence‐Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2016, no. 1 (2016): 6295737.
Dyspepsia (Indigestion): Attari, Vahideh Ebrahimzadeh, Mohammad Hosein Somi, Mohammad Asghari Jafarabadi, Alireza Ostadrahimi, Seyed-Yaghob Moaddab, and Neda Lotfi. "The gastro-protective effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) in Helicobacter pylori positive functional dyspepsia." Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin 9, no. 2 (2019): 321.
Emesis Gravidarum (Morning sickness): Betriani, Medicine. "The Effectiveness of Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Infused Water for Pregnant Women with Emesis Gravidarum." Open Access Jakarta Journal of Health Sciences 2, no. 6 (2023): 746-753.
Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol): Abdul Qudoos, Abdul Qudoos, Khazlid Nia Khazlid Nia, Shahina Hakro Shahina Hakro, and Shah Murad Shah Murad. "Single blind placebo-controlled study on comparision of effects of Zingiber officinale before and after treatment in hyperlipidemia." (2016): 90-92.
Hypertension (High blood pressure): Sanghal, Akhil, K. K. Pant, S. M. Natu, A. Nischal, S. Khattri, and Rajendra Nath. "An experimental study to evaluate the preventive effect of Zingiber officinale (ginger) on hypertension and hyperlipidaemia and its comparison with Allium sativum (garlic) in rats." Journal of medicinal plants research 6, no. 25 (2012): 4231-4238.
Inflammation: Daniels, Chelsea Courtney, Zaiyaan Isaacs, Renata Finelli, and Kristian Leisegang. "The efficacy of Zingiber officinale on dyslipidaemia, blood pressure, and inflammation as cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review." Clinical Nutrition ESPEN 51 (2022): 72-82.
Kinetosis (Motion sickness): Moghaddasi, Mohammad Sharrif, and Hamed Haddad Kashani. "Ginger (Zingiber officinale): A review." Journal of Medicinal Plants Research 6, no. 26 (2012): 4255-4258.
Migraine: Mustafa, T., and K. C. Srivastava. "Ginger (Zingiber officinale) in migraine headache." Journal of Ethnopharmacology 29, no. 3 (1990): 267-273.
Osteoarthritis: Haghighi, Masoud, Ali Khalvat, Tayebeh Toliat, and S. H. Jallaei. "Comparing the effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract and ibuprofen on patients with osteoarthritis." (2005): 267-271.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Al-Nahain, Abdullah, Rownak Jahan, and Mohammed Rahmatullah. "Zingiber officinale: A potential plant against rheumatoid arthritis." Arthritis 2014, no. 1 (2014): 159089.
Medicinal Actions:
Analgesic,
Anodyne,
Anthelmintic,
Antihypertensive,
Anti-Inflammatory,
Antimicrobial,
Antiparasitic,
Antipruritic,
Antispasmodic,
Carminative,
Diaphoretic,
Expectorant,
Lipolytic
Herbal Preparations For Plant
Decoction
Part Used: Grated Rhizome
Plant State: Fresh
Place 2 ounces of fresh, grated, rhizome into a pan. Add 1 quart of water, and bring to a boil. Continue to boil over medium heat, stirring periodically, until reduced by half. Cool the mixture, strain and drink.
Dosage: 1-2 oz as needed
Standard Infusion
Part Used: Grated Rhizome
Plant State: Fresh
Place 2 ounces of fresh chopped, or 1 ounce of dried chopped, (Part) into a quart mason jar and fill the jar with almost boiling water. Cover the jar, place it in a sunny location, and let it sit for 8 to 10 hours. If refrigerated, the infusion will last a couple of days.
Dosage: 4-6 oz As Needed
Tincture
Part Used: Grated Rhizome
Plant State: Fresh
Alcohol Percentage: 50%
Plant to Alcohol Ratio: 1:2
Label a quart mason jar with the plant name, the part of the plant used, the percentage of alcohol used, and the date the tincture was started.
Fill the jar to the neck with grated fresh rhizome, then pour in 500 ml of 150 proof Everclear and 250 ml water. Place a lid on the mason jar, shake it well, and place the jar in a dark cupboard. Once a day for the first 7 days, take the jar out of the cupboard and shake it well. Place the jar back into the cupboard, and leave it soak for another 3 weeks. After the tincture has soaked for 30 days, remove it from the cupboard and strain out the spent plant material. Your tincture will remain viable for 2-3 years.
Dosage: 10-20 drops as needed
Tincture
Part Used: Powdered Rhizome
Plant State: Dried
Alcohol Percentage: 40%
Plant to Alcohol Ratio: 1:5
Label a quart mason jar with the plant name, the part of the plant used, the percentage of alcohol used, and the date the tincture was started.
Place 150 grams of dried, powdered, rhizome into a quart mason jar. Now pour in 750 ml of 80 proof vodka, or 400 ml of 150 proof evercler and 350 ml of water. Place a lid on the mason jar, shake it well, and place the jar in a dark cupboard. Once a day for the first 7 days, take the jar out of the cupboard and shake it well. Place the jar back into the cupboard, and leave it soak for another 3 weeks. After the tincture has soaked for 30 days, remove it from the cupboard and strain out the spent plant material. Your tincture will remain viable for 2-3 years.
Dosage: 10-20 drops as needed
