Ginger

Introduction

This fact sheet provides basic information about ginger, an herb used for its flavor, scent, and potential therapeutic properties. Ginger is a tropical plant characterized by its green-purple flowers and aromatic underground stem, known as a rhizome. It is commonly utilized in cooking and for medicinal purposes.

Common Names

• Ginger

Latin Names

Zingiber officinale

What It Is Used For

• Ginger is used in Asian medicine to treat stomach aches, nausea, and diarrhea.
• Many digestive, antinausea, and cold and flu dietary supplements sold in the United States contain ginger extract.
• It is effective in alleviating postsurgery nausea as well as nausea caused by motion, chemotherapy, and pregnancy.
• Ginger has also been used for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and joint and muscle pain.

How It Is Used

The underground stems of the ginger plant are used in cooking, baking, and for health purposes. Common forms of ginger include fresh or dried root, tablets, capsules, liquid extracts (tinctures), and teas.

What the Science Says

• Studies suggest that short-term use of ginger can safely relieve pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting.
• Research is mixed regarding ginger’s effectiveness for nausea caused by motion, chemotherapy, or surgery.
• The efficacy of ginger in treating rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or joint and muscle pain remains unclear.
• NCCAM-funded studies are investigating:
  • Whether ginger interacts with drugs, particularly those used to suppress the immune system.
  • Ginger’s effect on reducing nausea in chemotherapy patients.
  • The general safety and effectiveness of ginger for health purposes, including its active components and effects on inflammation.

Side Effects and Cautions

• Few side effects are associated with ginger when taken in small doses.
• Common side effects include gas, bloating, heartburn, and nausea, particularly with powdered ginger.
• It is important to inform healthcare providers about any complementary and alternative practices being used to ensure coordinated and safe care.

Sources

• Ginger. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Web site. Accessed July 6, 2007.
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). Natural Standard Database Web site. Accessed July 3, 2007.
• Ginger root. In: Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckman J, eds. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Newton, MA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000:153-159.
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale). In: Coates P, Blackman M, Cragg G, et al., eds. Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker; 2005:241-248.
• NCCAM National Institutes of Health