ginger rhizome

Biological Name: Zingiber officinale


Parts Used: 

Rhizome (root)

Active Compounds:  

The dried rhizome of ginger contains approximately 1-4% volatile oils. These are the medically active constituents of ginger; they are also responsible for ginger's characteristic odor and taste. The aromatic principles include zingiberene and bisabolene, while the pungent principles are known as gingerols and shogaols.

Volatile Oil:

Components can vary greatly, depending on the country of origin. The main components of the volatile oil are:

( -)-zingiberene and arcurcumene

beta-bisabolene and arcurcumene

neral and geranial

D-camphor

beta-phellandrene

geranial

neral and linalool

(E)-alpha-farnesene, important as aroma carrier zingiberol (mixture of cis- and trans-beta-eudesmol)

Arylalkane - Pungent Substances

Gingerols: 

chief components [6]-gingerol, [8]-gingerol, [10]- gingerol

Shogaols: 

chief components [6]-shogaol, [8]- shogaol, [10]- shogaol

Gingerdiols

Diarylheptanoids: including, among others, gingerenone A and B

Remedies For: 

For over 2,500 years, ginger has been an important herb in Asian medicine. Traditionally it has been used to promote cleansing of the body through perspiration, to calm nausea (

Action: Aromatic, carminative, stimulant to the gastro- intestinal tract, diaphoretic, expectorant, antiemetic, and stomachic, also sialagogue and digestive; Externally, a local stimulant and rubefacient.

Ginger is used for:

Atherosclerosis, heart disease
Chemotherapy support
Migraine headaches
Morning sickness
Motion sickness
Nausea and vomiting following surgery
Rheumatoid arthritis
Belching
Laryngitis
Vomiting
Constipation
Incontinence
Flatulence
Colic
Spasms
Fever
Eye diseases
Asthma
Colds
Cough

Dosage:

Most people take 2-4 grams of the dried rhizome powder two to three times per day or a tincture of 1.5-3 ml three times daily.

For treatment of nausea, people try single doses of approximately 250 mg every two to three hours, for a total of 1 gram per day.