Ginger (zingiber officinale)
Synopsis of ginger
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.
Ginger is used for these health conditions
Abdominal Pain (Scientific)
Abscesses (Traditional)
Acid Indigestion (Scientific)
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Traditional)
Adenitis (Traditional)
Afterbirth Pain (Traditional)
Allergies (food) (Traditional)
Allergies (respiratory) (Scientific)
Amenorrhea (Traditional)
Anemia (Traditional)
Antibiotics (alternatives to) (Scientific)
Antibiotics (side effects of) (Traditional)
Appetite (deficient) (Traditional)
Arthritis (Scientific)
Asthma (Scientific)
Athlete's Foot (Traditional)
Autoimmune Disorders (Scientific)
Backache (Traditional)
Belching (Traditional)
Bronchitis (Traditional)
Bruises (healing) (Traditional)
Bunions (Traditional)
Bursitis (Traditional)
Cancer (natural therapy for) (Scientific)
Cancer (prevention) (Scientific)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects) (Scientific)
Canker Sores (Traditional)
Cardiovascular Disease (Scientific)
Cartilage Damage (Traditional)
Cellulite (Traditional)
Chemotherapy (reducing side effects) (Scientific)
Chest Pain (Traditional)
Chicken Pox (Traditional)
Chills (Traditional)
Cholera (Traditional)
Cholesterol (high) (Scientific)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (Scientific)
Circulation (poor) (Traditional)
Circulation (to the brain) (Traditional)
Cirrhosis of the Liver (Traditional)
Cold Hands and Feet (Traditional)
Colds (antiviral) (Scientific)
Colds (decongestant) (Traditional)
Colds (general) (Traditional)
Colds (prevention) (Traditional)
Colds (with fever) (Traditional)
Colic (adults) (Traditional)
Colic (children) (Traditional)
Colitis (Scientific)
Colon (atonic) (Traditional)
Colon (spastic) (Traditional)
Congestion (Traditional)
Congestion (bronchial) (Traditional)
Congestion (lungs) (Traditional)
Congestion (lymphatic) (Traditional)
Congestion (sinus) (Traditional)
Conjunctivitis (Traditional)
Constipation (adults) (Traditional)
Contagious Diseases (Traditional)
Convalescence (Traditional)
Corns (Traditional)
Cough (damp) (Traditional)
Cough (dry) (Traditional)
Cough (general) (Traditional)
Cough (spastic) (Traditional)
Cramps (leg) (Traditional)
Cramps (menstrual) (Scientific)
Cramps and Spasms (Scientific)
Crohn's Disease (Scientific)
Cystic Breast Disease (Traditional)
Cysts (Traditional)
Dandruff (Traditional)
Debility (Traditional)
Dementia (Traditional)
Denture Sores (Traditional)
Depression (Traditional)
Dermatitis (Traditional)
Diabetes (Scientific)
Diabetic Retinopathy (Scientific)
Diarrhea (Traditional)
Digestion (poor) (Scientific)
Diphtheria (Traditional)
Dizziness (Scientific)
Dysmenorrhea (Scientific)
Dyspepsia (Scientific)
Ear Infection or Earache (Traditional)
Emphysema (Traditional)
Endometriosis (Scientific)
Enteritis (Traditional)
Epstein Barr Virus (Traditional)
Fat Metabolism (poor) (Scientific)
Fatty Liver Disease (Scientific)
Fever (Traditional)
Foot Odor (Traditional)
Gall Bladder (sluggish or removed) (Traditional)
Gall Stones (Traditional)
Gas and Bloating (Scientific)
Gastritis (Scientific)
Gingivitis (Scientific)
Gout (Traditional)
Halitosis (Scientific)
Headache (cluster) (Traditional)
Headache (general) (Scientific)
Headache (sinus) (Traditional)
Headache (tension) (Traditional)
Hiatal Hernia (Traditional)
Hiccups (Traditional)
Indigestion (Scientific)
Infection (Traditional)
Infection (bacterial) (Scientific)
Infection (viral) (Traditional)
Inflammation (Scientific)
Influenza (Traditional)
Injuries (Scientific)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Scientific)
Laryngitis (Traditional)
Leprosy (Traditional)
Leukemia (Scientific)
Liver Detoxification (Scientific)
Lupus (Scientific)
Lymph Nodes or Glands (swollen) (Traditional)
Ménière’s Disease (Traditional)
Malaria (Traditional)
Mastitis (Traditional)
Measles (Traditional)
Melanoma (Scientific)
Metabolic Syndrome (Scientific)
Migraine (Scientific)
Mononucleosis (Traditional)
Morning Sickness (Scientific)
Motion Sickness (Scientific)
Mumps (Traditional)
Nausea and Vomiting (Scientific)
Neuralgia and Neuritis (Traditional)
Nursing (Traditional)
Ovarian Pain (Traditional)
Overacidity (Traditional)
Pain (general remedies for) (Scientific)
Parasites (general) (Traditional)
Parasites (nematodes, worms) (Traditional)
Perspiration (excessive) (Traditional)
Perspiration (deficient) (Traditional)
Pertussis (Traditional)
Pleurisy (Traditional)
PMS Type P (Scientific)
Pneumonia (Traditional)
Poisoning (food) (Traditional)
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for) (Scientific)
Protein Digestion (poor) (Scientific)
Rheumatoid Arthritis (Scientific)
Sweat Baths (herbs for) (Traditional)
ginger is used to support these body systems
Arteries (Scientific)
Blood (Traditional)
Brain (Traditional)
Bronchials (Traditional)
Circulatory System (Scientific)
Digestive System (Scientific)
Female Reproductive System (Traditional)
Gall Bladder (Traditional)
Gastrointestinal Tract (Scientific)
Heart (Traditional)
Immune System (Scientific)
Intestinal System (Scientific)
Joints (Scientific)
Large Intestines (Colon) (Traditional)
Liver (Traditional)
Lungs (Traditional)
Lymphatics (Traditional)
Nerves (Traditional)
Reproductive System (Traditional)
Respiratory System (Traditional)
Sinuses (Traditional)
Small Intestines (Traditional)
Solar Plexus (Traditional)
Spleen (Traditional)
Stomach (Scientific)
Sweat Glands (Traditional)
Taste (Traditional)
Tonsils (Traditional)
Urinary System (Traditional)
Uterus (Traditional)
Vocal Cords (Traditional)
Products containing ginger
Nature's Sunshine CleanStart Mild
Nature's Sunshine Anti-Gas (Chinese)
Nature's Sunshine Anti-Gas Formula (With Lobelia)
Nature's Sunshine Anti-Gas TCM
Nature's Sunshine Artemisia Combination
Nature's Sunshine Bronchial Formula (Ayurvedic)
Nature's Sunshine Bowel Detox
Nature's Sunshine Breathe Activator TCM (formerly Breathe E-Z)
Nature's Sunshine Chinese TCM Positive Pack
Nature's Sunshine Chinese TCM Negative Pack
Nature's Sunshine CLT-X
Nature's Sunshine Dieter's Cleanse
Nature's Sunshine Enviro-Detox
Nature's Sunshine FCS II (With Lobelia)
Nature's Sunshine Female Comfort
Nature's Sunshine Gall Bladder Formula
Nature's Sunshine GC-X
Nature's Sunshine Gentle Move
Nature's Sunshine Ginger
Nature's Sunshine Hepatic System
Nature's Sunshine Hi Lipase
Nature's Sunshine JP-X
Nature's Sunshine Kidney Activator TCM
Nature's Sunshine Kidney Activator (Chinese)
Nature's Sunshine Lactase Plus
Nature's Sunshine LB Extract
Nature's Sunshine Lower Bowel Stimulator (Formerly LBS II)
Nature's Sunshine LBS II
Nature's Sunshine Liquid Cleanse
Nature's Sunshine Liver Balance TCM
Nature's Sunshine MetaboMax Free
Nature's Sunshine MetaboMax Plus
Nature's Sunshine Mineral-Chi Tonic (Chinese)
Nature's Sunshine Mood Elevator (Chinese)
Nature's Sunshine Mood Elevator TCM
Nature's Sunshine Nerve Eight
Nature's Sunshine Nervous System (30 Day Program)
Nature's Sunshine P-X
Nature's Sunshine Para-Cleanse
Nature's Sunshine Power Meal
Nature's Sunshine Power Meal
Nature's Sunshine Proactazyme®
Nature's Sunshine PS II
Nature's Sunshine Respiratory System (30 Day Program)
Nature's Sunshine Senna Combination
Nature's Sunshine Spleen Activator (Chinese)
Nature's Sunshine Spleen Activator TCM
Nature's Sunshine Stomach Comfort (Chewable)
Nature's Sunshine Stress Relief
Nature's Sunshine Stress Relief TCM
Nature's Sunshine Tiao He Cleanse
