Zingiberaceae
Ginger
Zingiber officinale
✓ Generally Safe
Caution in Pregnancy
Native to: Southeast Asia
Also known as: Common Ginger, Canton Ginger
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA
Parts Used
Root
Therapeutic Uses
Nausea and vomiting (pregnancy, chemotherapy, motion sickness — clinically proven), osteoarthritis pain, dysmenorrhea, poor circulation, upper respiratory infections, dyspepsia.
Herbal Actions
Anti-emetic, anti-inflammatory, carminative, circulatory stimulant, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, analgesic
Active Constituents
Gingerols (6-gingerol), shogaols, paradols, zingerone, volatile oils (bisabolene, zingiberene), oleoresin
Preparation Methods
☕ Herbal Tea🏺 Tincture💊 Capsule🍵 Decoction
Traditional Preparation Notes
| Herbal Tea | 1–2 tsp fresh grated root per 250ml, steep 10 min, 3x daily |
| Tincture | 2–4 ml (1:5, 60% ethanol), 3x daily |
| Notes | For nausea: 250mg 4x daily or 1g single dose. For osteoarthritis: 255mg standardized extract 2x daily. Cooking dose (culinary) has minimal therapeutic effect. |
Safety Information
Safety Rating
✓ Generally Safe
Pregnancy
Caution in Pregnancy
Drug Interactions
⚠ Known interactions
Contraindications: High doses may potentiate anticoagulants. Avoid therapeutic doses with gallstones. Use cautiously with diabetes medications (may lower blood sugar). Avoid >1g/day in first trimester.
Side Effects: Heartburn, GI discomfort at high doses. Mild blood thinning effect. Skin irritation with topical use.