Ginger (zingiber officinale)

Synopsis

Zingiber officinale, commonly known as ginger, is the knobby, aromatic rhizome of a tropical plant native to Southeast Asia. It is one of the most widely used herbs in both culinary and medicinal traditions around the world. Ginger contains a variety of potent bioactive compounds, including gingerols, shogaols, paradols, and zingerone, which are responsible for its distinctive pungent flavor and anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, digestive, and circulatory effects.

In modern herbal medicine, ginger is valued for its ability to ease nausea and vomiting—whether from motion sickness, morning sickness, chemotherapy, or post-operative recovery. It also serves as a digestive aid, stimulating saliva and gastric secretions to relieve indigestion, bloating, and cramping. Ginger’s anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties make it useful for conditions like osteoarthritis, menstrual pain, and muscle soreness.

Ginger has also been shown to support cardiovascular health by promoting circulation, lowering blood pressure, and reducing cholesterol and platelet aggregation. In immune health, it may help reduce the severity of colds and flu by acting as a mild diaphoretic (promoting perspiration) and reducing inflammation in the respiratory tract.

It is used in numerous forms: fresh or dried root, powder, capsules, teas, extracts, and even as a food ingredient in wellness tonics and functional drinks.

Historical Use
Ginger has been used for over 5,000 years in Ayurvedic, Chinese, and Greco-Arabic medicine systems. In Ayurveda, it is considered a “universal medicine” (vishvabhesaj) that kindles agni (digestive fire), balances Vata and Kapha doshas, and is used to treat a wide range of ailments—from digestive troubles to respiratory infections and joint stiffness.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), ginger is known as Sheng Jiang (fresh) or Gan Jiang (dried) and is used to warm the stomach, dispel cold, release the exterior (for colds and chills), and alleviate nausea and coughing. It is frequently included in formulas for common colds, food stagnation, and menstrual cramps.

In Ancient Greece and Rome, ginger was used for digestive support, anti-nausea, and as a warming stimulant. During the Middle Ages, it was imported as a valuable spice and used both medicinally and as a preservative.

Today, ginger remains a cornerstone herb in global herbal medicine, known for its versatility, safety, and effectiveness in treating everything from nausea and inflammation to cardiovascular and immune issues, bridging traditional use with strong modern scientific validation.

Other names

ginger

Historical and Science-based Use

This ingredient is used to address these health conditions and support these body systems. Note that we list whether the use is historical/traditional or science-based. If science-based, we are including a score from A-F (based on the number of studies done and the quality of those studies).

Conditions

Abdominal Pain (Traditional)
Acid Indigestion (Traditional)
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Traditional)
Adenitis (Traditional)
Afterbirth Pain (Traditional)
Allergies (food) (Traditional)
Allergies (respiratory) (Traditional)
Anal Fistula or Fissure (Traditional)
Antibiotics (alternatives to) (Traditional)
Antibiotics (side effects of) (Traditional)
Appendicitis (Traditional)
Appetite (deficient) (Traditional)
Arthritis (Traditional)
Asthma (Traditional)
Athlete's Foot (Traditional)
Autoimmune Disorders (Traditional)
Backache (Traditional)
Belching (Traditional)
Breast Milk (dry up) (Traditional)
Bronchitis (Traditional)
Bunions (Traditional)
Bursitis (Traditional)
Cancer (prevention) (Traditional)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects) (Traditional)
Cartilage Damage (Traditional)
Celiac Disease (Traditional)
Cellulite (Traditional)
Chemical Poisoning (Traditional)
Chemotherapy (reducing side effects) (Traditional)
Chest Pain (Traditional)
Chicken Pox (Traditional)
Chills (Traditional)
Cholera (Traditional)
Cholesterol (high) (Traditional)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (Traditional)
Circulation (poor) (Traditional)
Circulation (to the brain) (Traditional)
Cirrhosis of the Liver (Traditional)
Cold Hands and Feet (Traditional)
Cold Sores (Traditional)
Colds (antiviral) (Traditional)
Colds (decongestant) (Traditional)
Colds (general) (Traditional)
Colds (prevention) (Traditional)
Colds (with fever) (Traditional)
Colic (adults) (Traditional)
Colic (children) (Traditional)
Colitis (Traditional)
Colon (atonic) (Traditional)
Colon (spastic) (Traditional)
Concentration (poor) (Traditional)
Concussions (Traditional)
Confusion (Traditional)
Congestion (Traditional)
Congestion (bronchial) (Traditional)
Congestion (lungs) (Traditional)
Congestion (lymphatic) (Traditional)
Congestion (sinus) (Traditional)
Congestive Heart Failure (Traditional)
Conjunctivitis (Traditional)
Constipation (adults) (Traditional)
Constipation (children) (Traditional)
Contagious Diseases (Traditional)
Convalescence (Traditional)
Convulsions (Traditional)
Coordination (Traditional)
Copper Toxicity (Traditional)
Corns (Traditional)
Cough (damp) (Traditional)
Cough (dry) (Traditional)
Cough (general) (Traditional)
Cough (spastic) (Traditional)
Cramps (leg) (Traditional)
Cramps (menstrual) (Traditional)
Cramps and Spasms (Traditional)
Crohn's Disease (Traditional)
Croup (Traditional)
Cushing's Disease (Traditional)
Cuts (Traditional)
Cystic Breast Disease (Traditional)
Cystic Fibrosis (Traditional)
Cysts (Traditional)
Cytomealovirus (Traditional)
Dandruff (Traditional)
Deafness (Traditional)
Debility (Traditional)
Defensiveness (Traditional)
Dehydration (Traditional)
Dementia (Traditional)
Denture Sores (Traditional)
Depression (Traditional)
Dermatitis (Traditional)
Diabetes (Traditional)
Diabetic Retinopathy (Traditional)
Diaper Rash (Traditional)
Diarrhea (Traditional)
Digestion (poor) (Traditional)
Diphtheria (Traditional)
Dislocation (Traditional)
Diverticulitis (Traditional)
Dizziness (Traditional)
Dysmenorrhea (Traditional)
Dyspepsia (Traditional)
Ear Infection or Earache (Traditional)
Emphysema (Traditional)
Endometriosis (Traditional)
Enteritis (Traditional)
Epstein Barr Virus (Traditional)
Fat Metabolism (poor) (Traditional)
Fatty Liver Disease (Traditional)
Fatty Tumors or Deposits (Traditional)
Fever (Traditional)
Foot Odor (Traditional)
Frostbite (prevention) (Traditional)
Gall Bladder (sluggish or removed) (Traditional)
Gall Stones (Traditional)
Gangrene (Traditional)
Gas and Bloating (Traditional)
Gastritis (Traditional)
Gingivitis (Traditional)
Glaucoma (Traditional)
Gout (Traditional)
Halitosis (Traditional)
Headache (cluster) (Traditional)
Headache (general) (Traditional)
Headache (sinus) (Traditional)
Headache (tension) (Traditional)
Hearing Loss (Traditional)
Hiatal Hernia (Traditional)
Hiccups (Traditional)
Ileocecal Valve (Traditional)
Indigestion (Traditional)
Infection (Traditional)
Infection (bacterial) (Traditional)
Infection (viral) (Traditional)
Inflammation (Traditional)
Influenza (Traditional)
Injuries (Traditional)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Traditional)
Lactose Intolerance (Traditional)
Laryngitis (Traditional)
Leprosy (Traditional)
Leukemia (Traditional)
Ligaments (torn or injured) (Traditional)
Liver Detoxification (Traditional)
Lou Gehrig's Disease (Traditional)
Lupus (Traditional)
Lyme Disease (Traditional)
Lymph Nodes or Glands (swollen) (Traditional)
Lymphoma (Traditional)
Malaria (Traditional)
Mastitis (Traditional)
Measles (Traditional)
Melanoma (Traditional)
Ménière’s Disease (Traditional)
Meningitis (Traditional)
Mercury Poisoning (Traditional)
Metabolic Syndrome (Traditional)
Migraine (Traditional)
Mononucleosis (Traditional)
Morning Sickness (Traditional)
Motion Sickness (Traditional)
Mumps (Traditional)
Nausea and Vomiting (Traditional)
Neuralgia and Neuritis (Traditional)
Nursing (Traditional)
Ovarian Pain (Traditional)
Overacidity (Traditional)
Pain (general remedies for) (Traditional)
Pancreatitis (Traditional)
Parasites (general) (Traditional)
Parasites (nematodes, worms) (Traditional)
Perspiration (deficient) (Traditional)
Perspiration (excessive) (Traditional)
Pertussis (Traditional)
Phlebitis (Traditional)
Pleurisy (Traditional)
PMS Type P (Traditional)
Pneumonia (Traditional)
Poisoning (food) (Traditional)
Poisoning (general) (Traditional)
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for) (Traditional)
Protein Digestion (poor) (Traditional)
Rheumatoid Arthritis (Traditional)
Sweat Baths (herbs for) (Traditional)
Abscesses (Traditional)
Blood in Stool (Traditional)
Cancer (natural therapy for) (Traditional)
Amenorrhea (Traditional)
Anemia (Traditional)
Bruises (healing) (Traditional)
Burns and Scalds (Traditional)
Canker Sores (Traditional)
Cardiovascular Disease (Traditional)

Body Systems

Arteries (Traditional)
Blood (Traditional)
Bronchials (Traditional)
Circulatory System (Traditional)
Digestive System (Traditional)
Ears (Traditional)
Eustachian Tubes (Traditional)
Gastrointestinal Tract (Traditional)
Heart (Traditional)
Intestinal System (Traditional)
Joints (Traditional)
Large Intestines (Colon) (Traditional)
Liver (Traditional)
Lungs (Traditional)
Parotids (Salivary Glands) (Traditional)
Pineal Gland (Traditional)
Prostaglandins (Traditional)
Reproductive System (Traditional)
Sinuses (Traditional)
Small Intestines (Traditional)
Smell (Traditional)
Solar Plexus (Traditional)
Spleen (Traditional)
Stomach (Traditional)
Sweat Glands (Traditional)
Taste (Traditional)
Tonsils (Traditional)
Appendix (Traditional)
Brain (Traditional)
Gall Bladder (Traditional)
Immune System (Traditional)
Nerves (Traditional)
Respiratory System (Traditional)
Skin (Traditional)
Urinary System (Traditional)
Female Reproductive System (Traditional)
Lymphatics (Traditional)
Rectum (Traditional)
Uterus (Traditional)
Vocal Cords (Traditional)