Information on Ginger
Latin Name | Zingiber officinalis | ![]() |
Part Used | Rhizome | |
Herb Forms | Tincture, capsule, tablet, bulk herb, powder. | |
Affects | Digestive system, Liver | |
Cautions | Avoid large doses during pregnancy and in cases of gallstones. | |
Botanical Info | A tropical plant with yellow or tan fragrant flowers. It grows at least three feet high from masses of knobby underground rhizomes. | |
Description | Ginger is one of the most popular herbs used world-wide. It is a warming herb used to support digestion, relieve nausea (from motion sickness, morning sickness, chemotherapy, etc.), and stimulate circulation. It is useful taken in the early stages of a cold or flu to shorten unpleasant symptoms, to induce sweating, and help the body eliminate the pathogens and waste products. Ginger has long been used to alleviate coughing, painful digestion, colic, and diarrhea. Women take ginger tea for suppressed menstruation, dysmenorrhea, and pelvic congestion. It is a common ingredient in bitters formulas and in laxative formulas to help prevent "griping" or cramping. In Chinese medicine dried ginger is used for vomiting, diarrhea, cold extremities, and cough. (Fresh ginger is used for nausea and vomiting, swelling and pain in the chest and abdomen, and excess phlegm). Ginger is used externally in fomentations to relieve the pain of arthritis, strains, sprains, sore backs or elbows, and other injuries. Ginger has a taste of PUNGENT and a temperature of HOT. |
Dosages
Type | Dosage |
Decoction | 1 cup 2-3 x daily |
Tincture | 2 droppersful 2-3 x daily |
Capsules | 2 caps 3 x daily |
Ailments Treated by Ginger
Ailment | Treatment Support | Application |
Abdominal pain | warming digestant | tea, tincture, capsules or tablets |
Chills | warming stimulant | tea, tincture, capsule |
Circulation, poor | digestive-warming | tincture, capsules, tea |
Colic, adult | intestinal antispasmodic | tea, capsule, tincture |
Fatigue | digestive strengthening | tincture, capsule |
Liver, stimulant | liver stimulant | tincture, tea, capsule |
Leg cramps | circulatory stimulant | tea, tincture, capsule |
Menstrual cramps | blood mover | tincture, capsule, tablet, tea |
Menstruation, suppressed | blood mover | tincture, tea, capsule |
Morning sickness | anti-nauseant | tincture, capsule, tea |
Motion sickness | anti-nauseant | tincture, tea, capsule |
Nausea | anti-nauseant | tincture, tea, capsule |
Seasickness | antinauseant | capsule, tincture |
Vitiligo | bowel strengthening | tincture, tea, tablet, capsule |
Vomiting | antinauseant | tincture, tea, capsule |
Weight, to gain | digestive tonic | tincture, tea, capsule |
Dyspepsia | digestive aid, warming digestive stimulant, antinauseant | tea, tincture, capsules, tablets |
Bowel dysbiosis | bowel regulator, warming digestive aid | tincture, tea, capsules, tablets |
References
Blumenthal, Mark et al. 1998. The Complete Commission E Monographs. Austin: American Botanical Council. |
McGuffin, M. et al. 1997. Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton: CRC Press. |
Felter, H.W. and J.U. Lloyd. 1983. (1898). King's Dispensatory. Portland, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications. |
Wehrbach, M. 1987. Nutritional Influences on Illness. Tarzana, CA: Third Line Press. |
Madaus, G. 1976. Lehrbuch der Biologischen Heilmittel. Hildesheim: Georg Olms Verlag. |