History and Origin
The origin of ginger is the tropical region of Asia and the type of ginger that grows in India has the most genetic variation. This plant was exported to Europe from India during the first century AD and its application was recognized as cooking in the thirteenth century. China and India were the first countries that used the medicinal properties of ginger. Sanskrit texts refer to the medicinal properties of this plant and in China it used to treat indigestion, diarrhea, and nausea, as well as treat arthritis, colitis, and heart disease. Medieval pharmacists offered ginger to relieve nausea and bloating.
Ginger Health Benefits
1. Increasing Antioxidant Activity
It has been shown that ginger has antioxidant properties. Gingerols is a kind of antioxidant in ginger that protects HL cell lines (which are used as a norm for the evaluation of harmful ingredients in cells) against oxidative stress. Ginger oil has a protective effect against DNA injury caused by H2O2.
2. Improving Stomach Function
In vitro studies on laboratory animals have shown that ginger has a protective effect on the stomach. Researchers in an experiment published in World Journal of Gastroenterology, investigated the effect of ginger on gastric motility and stomach emptying in patients with indigestion and it has been shown that ginger increases stomach emptying and contraction of the antrum (the end of the stomach) in these patients. Some scientists have described the mechanism of this effect as unknown and others find it responsible for the effect of ginger on serotonin (a substance released by the nervous system that plays a role in regulation gastric motility).
3. Improving Cardiovascular System Function
Vitro (in vitro) studies have shown that gingerols and the related shogaols at high doses promote heart strengthening. Gingerols and shogaol are biosynthesis enzymatic inhibitors of prostaglandins (are the inflammatory mediators that appear to be important in genesis and maintenance of neuropathic pain), thromboxane (play a role in vasoconstriction and blood clotting) and leukotriene (a combination that is released in response to inflammation).
4. Regulating Blood Pressure
Based on a research about the effect of Zingiber officinale (ginger) extract on blood pressure and heart rate in healthy humans, published in IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Science, systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate decreased significantly in men and women 2hrs after ginger administration, and only systolic blood pressure increased significantly 4hrs after ginger administration. It has been suggested that the role of ginger in reducing blood pressure applying by blocking calcium channels dependent voltage.
5. Antidepressant Properties
A research published in journal of medical sciences of Mazandaran university has shown ginger plays a role in improvement depression caused by diabetes in laboratory mice. Different neurotransmitters as norepinephrine and serotonin play a role in depression and reducing the density of synopsis of these substances leads to symptoms of depression. Studies have shown hormonal and neurochemical changes caused by diabetes can play a role in depression. In conditions of induced diabetes with streptozotocin in mice, density of serotonin, norepinephrine and GABA (nervous mediators) were unbalanced in different parts of brain especially in middle ventricular part of hypothalamus and methanolic extract of ginger could with releasing of serotonin, norepinephrine and GABA balance synopsis density of these neurotransmitters.
Probably the methanolic extract of ginger applies its anti-depression effect in diabetic mice by enhancing GABA function. The confirmation of this hypothesis requires more testing.
6. Anti-Inflammatory
The results of a study have shown that alcoholic extract of ginger has anti-inflammation and pain killer effects. Different researches have shown that in cellular level the extract of plant is able to modulate immune responses of intensifying inflammation. It has been determined that most of the case studies such as reducing fat or sugar and in particular the anticancer activities of this plant are also carried out through the mechanisms for modulating inflammatory processes. Active ingredients of this plant as gingerols, shogaol and curcumin have the ability to inhibit the prostaglandins, nitric acid and even involved interleukins (a type of cytokine that is made up of white cells) in inflammation. In addition, ingredients in ginger inhibit the producer enzymes of these inflammatory mediators.
7. Improving Memory Function
The results of a research published in journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine have shown the positive effect of ginger extract on cognitive function of healthy women of elderly. In this study, ginger improved both the attention and cognitive processing in these individuals. This can be attributed to the effect of ginger on increasing the amount of norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine and serotonin (neurotransmitters) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus (it is associated mainly with memory, in particular long-term memory).
8. Increasing Fertility
In a research published in Tikrit Medical Journal the effect of ginger on sexual function of infertile men was investigated. Based on this research, consumption of ginger increased number and movement of sperms and improved their life and morphology, and also increased level of testosterone and glutathione serum (anti oxidative ingredients). The researchers have attributed the protective effect of ginger to increase of antioxidant activities represented by glutathione & concurrent decrease oxidative stress of MDA. Zingerone, Gingerdiol, Zingibrene, Gingerols and Shogaols are important phenolic ingredients in ginger that have antioxidant property.
9. Anti-Nausea
The clinical experiments on human have shown the effect of ginger in prevention of nausea caused by travel, surgery and pregnancy period. Based on most clinical researches consumption of 1 to 1.5 gram of ginger at one hour before surgery seems to reduce nausea and vomiting at the first 24 hours after surgery. Many mechanisms have been recommended for antiemetic effect of ginger; for example, an animal model has shown that ingredient of gingerols-6 increases transferring materials into the digestive system. Also, these ingredients and the other ingredients of ginger had anti-hydroxytryptamine activity (anti serotonin) in isolated guineapig ileum.
10. Improving Respiratory Tract Function
Ginger is rich in gingerols and shagaols that among them gingerol-6 and shagaol-6 are powerful inhibitors of lipoxygenase-5. Ginger has ability for inhibition of synthesis of some inflammatory cytokines as interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor of alpha (TNF-α) and can inhibit responses derived from activity of Th1 (a type of white cell that plays a role in immune system). However, it can inhibit immune responses caused by Th2 that has an important role in creation of asthma disease.
11. Relieving Arthritis Pain
Some reports say that consumption of ginger can reduce the pain of arthrosis. Research has shown that consumption of 500 mg of ginger extract twice daily for 3 months resulted in a significant reduction in the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta. Anti-inflammatory effects of ginger include effects on the inflammatory precursor arachidonic acid and inhibition of prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis (inflammatory mediators).
A small study shows that ginger might work as well as ibuprofen for pain in some people with hip and knee osteoarthritis.
In another study effect of glucosamine and ginger powder has been compared in clinical improvement of patients with osteoarthritis knee and it has indicated that consumption of ginger powder can be related to decreasing pain of knee joints. Studies on animal models have shown inhibition effect of ginger on enzymes of COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) and lipoxygenase. In another research, it has been observed that consumption of raw ginger with 3g dose in a day at least for 3 months can reduce pain and swelling of the joints in patients with joint diseases. Researchers say that anti-inflammatory ingredients of ginger can cause inhibition of inflammatory prostaglandins.
12. Regulating Blood Cholesterol Levels
Consumption of 1g of ginger three times a day for 45 days reduced amount of triglyceride and cholesterol level in people with high cholesterol level. In an experiment that its results were published in journal of Pharmaceutical Science, consumption of ginger powder (3gr/day) for 30 days, reduced the level of serum triglyceride in patients with type-2 diabetes. Effect of ginger on reducing blood lipids can be due to a decrease in fat absorption (for example with decrease lipase pancreas) and an increase in the conversion of cholesterol level to bile acids. It has been reported that ginger also can prevent cellular biosynthesis of cholesterol by reducing enzyme of farnesyl diphosphate of liver synthase (play a role in producing coenzyme Q10 that is an antioxidant that prevents peroxidation of membrane lipids).
13. Relieving Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Symptoms
In many cases ginger is used to improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome but there are not many experiments to prove its effect on IBS. In an experiment that its results were published in journal of Complementary Therapies in Medicine ginger reduced symptoms of the IBS in suffering patients. It has indicated that this effect depends on dose and it is not clear that its effect is anti-inflammation of ginger or other properties of this plant. This emphasizes the need to explore the mechanisms by which ginger may affect IBS symptoms – whether it is through anti-inflammatory, prokinetic (a class of drugs that promoted gastrointestinal motility), or other effects.
14. Relieving Headache and Migraine
A research has shown that the effect of ginger powder on treatment of migraine attacks was comparable with sumatriptan (a drug of anti-migraine), while the side effects were lesser than this drug. Another experiment has reported that the pain of migraine in a 42 years old woman with 16 years migraine history after consumption of ginger supplement in her diet (1.5 to 2 g of dried ginger in a day) had a significant relief.
15. Relieving Menstrual Pain
In a research that its results have been published in Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine the effect of ginger was compared with mefenamic acid and ibuprofen in reducing the pain of monthly cycle (primary dysmenorrhea) of women. Primary dysmenorrhea was created due to hyper-production of prostaglandins of endometrial texture (inner womb). These results showed that these 2 drugs and ginger have the same effect on reducing this type of pain. According to researchers, the mechanism of this ginger effect can be changes in prostaglandin system. Ginger prevents production of prostaglandins by inhibition of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase metabolism.
16. Promoting Weight Loss
Based on the researches that have been published in journal of Metabolism consumption of ginger without affecting metabolic and hormonal parameters enhances thermic effect of food and promotes feelings of satiety in overweight men
17. Anti-cancer
Based on the findings of a research that has been published in Cancer Prevention Research journal, ginger can effect on the improvement colon cancer. This test was performed on the colon mucosa of healthy volunteers and showed that ginger can reduce the level of eicosanoids (biological messengers that contribute to immunity and inflammation) and probably they do this act with inhibition of arachidonic acid changes in these materials. Increasing inflammatory eicosanoids produced by cox is one of the first things that happen in the development of colorectal cancer. Ginger has shown downregulation of COX in vitro condition and decreased the production or amplification of Adenomas (benign tumor with the origin of the glandular tissue) in rats. The mechanism of the effect of ginger in anti-cancer activity is not well known, but it seems to be related to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of nonvolatile pungent components (gingerols and shogaols).
Created apoptosis cellular death and antiproliferative effects caused by gingerol, pareidolia and shogaol has been shown in cancer cellular categories of human and mice.
18. Regulating Blood Glucose Levels
There is not enough evidence about the effect of ginger on blood glucose level in diabetics. In a study, daily consumption of 2 g ginger for 8 weeks reduced amount of insulin but there was no effect on fasting blood glucose level. In contrast, in 2 studies, ginger powder supplementation (3 g for 8 weeks and 2 g for 12 weeks, respectively) significantly decreased fasting blood sugar and Hemoglobin A1c in T2DM patients. Another experiment that its results have been published in Pharmaceutical Science shows that the consumption of ginger powder reduced serum glucose level in patients with type-2 diabetes. The contradiction in these results can be due to the normal fasting blood glucose level of this participants at
The reduction mechanism of blood glucose level due to consumption of ginger can be increased expression of gene of GLUT-4 (glucose transmitter). Additionally, according to researchers, gingerols in ginger balance blood glucose level with inhibition of related key enzymes to type-2 diabetes (alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase).
What Are Ginger Side Effects?
1. When taken by mouth: Generally, no health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction with the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages.
* It has been reported that administration of 6 grams of dried powdered ginger has been shown to increase the exfoliation of gastric surface epithelial cells in human subjects. It is postulated that this action may possibly lead to ulcer formation. Therefore, it- is recommended that dosages on an empty stomach be limited to 6 grams.
2. Gallstone conditions: Because of its “cholagogic” effect, ginger should not be taken in the presence of gallstone conditions except after consultation with a physician. Ginger has been found to inhibit thromboxane synthesis, therefore it should not be used by patients who are at risk for hemorrhage.
3. Children: Ginger is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth for up to 4 days by teenage girls around the start of their period.
4. Pregnancy: Ginger is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth for medicinal uses during pregnancy. But using ginger during pregnancy is controversial. There is some concern that ginger might affect fetal sex hormones or increase the risk of having a baby that is stillborn. There is some concern that ginger might increase the risk of bleeding, so some experts advise against using it close to your delivery date.
* A study in 27 pregnant patients with hyperemesis gravidarum (persistent vomiting occurring prior to the 20th week of pregnancy and requiring hospitalization) found that 1 gram per day (250 milligrams 4 times a day) for 4 days caused no adverse effects. One spontaneous abortion occurred; a causal relationship between the abortion and the use of Ginger was not determined. All infants were normal. Before using ginger during pregnancy, talk it over with your healthcare provider.
5. Breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking ginger if you are breast feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
6. Bleeding disorders: Taking ginger might increase your risk of bleeding.
7. Diabetes: Ginger might increase your insulin levels and/or lower your blood sugar. As a result, your diabetes medications might need to be adjusted by your healthcare provider.
8. Heart conditions: High doses of ginger might worsen some heart conditions.
Generally, every person may be allergic to certain herbs and spices. This sensitivity must be first diagnosed by the person and secondarily by the physician. However, these allergic reactions do not cause chronic or acute side effects, and after identifying the allergenic plant and removing it from the diet, allergy-related complications will be eliminated. No company or product can be aware of the allergic reactions of different bodies in advance. The body's incompatibility with one or more specific herbs rarely occurs, but consumers may encounter it anyway.
Ginger Daily Dosage
To prepare an infusion, pour boiling water over 0.5 to 1 g of the root and strain after 5 minutes (1 teaspoonful = 3 g).
Anti-Emesis: 0.5 to 2 grams.
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: 1.5 grams.
Dyspepsia: 2 to 4 grams/day
Hyperemesis Gravidarum: 1 gram/day given for 4 days.
Motion Sickness: 1 gram to be taken 30 minutes before travel; for continuing symptoms, 0.5 to 1 gram every 4 hours.
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting: 0.5 to 2 gram daily
Rheumatoid Arthritis. Osteoarthritis: 1 to 2 grams/ day
Bioactive Compounds
Camphene, Beta-Phellandrene, Cineol, Geranil Acetate, Borneol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Beta-Bisabolene, Zingiberen, Oleoresins, Gingerols (including Shagaol, Paradol, Vallinoids, Galanals A and B, Zingerone), Fatty acids (including Palmitic acid, Oleic acid, Linoleic acid, Linolenic acid, Capric acid, Lauric acid, Myristic acid).
Best Time to Consume
1-2 hours before or after meals.
Possible Drug Interactions
Ginger may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines. If you take any of the following medicines, you should not use ginger without talking to your health care provider first.
Blood-thinning medications: Ginger may increase the risk of bleeding. Talk to your doctor before taking ginger if you take blood thinners, such as warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), or aspirin; diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin) and phenprocoumon.
Diabetes medications: Ginger may lower blood sugar. That can raise the risk of developing hypoglycemia or low blood sugar.
Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide, insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol) and tolbutamide (Orinase).
High blood pressure medications: Ginger may lower blood pressure, raising the risk of low blood pressure or irregular heartbeat. Some medications for high blood pressure and heart disease include nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), diltiazem (Cardizem), isradipine (DynaCirc), felodipine (Plendil) and amlodipine (Norvasc).
Traditional Use
In traditional medicine ginger is used to treatment of head cold, rheumatism, nerves diseases, inflammation of gum, tooth pain, asthma, constipation and diabetes.
Some Questions about Ginger
Is it good to drink ginger tea in the morning or night?
Ginger was approved for travel sickness, loss of appetite and dyspeptic complaints by the German Commission E.
At any time of the day, drinking ginger tea can help feel less hungry, improve digestion function, alleviate nausea, and keep your breath fresh. For more information about benefits of ginger, see the “Ginger Health Benefits” section.
Does ginger help in getting periods? / Does ginger tea help with menstrual cycle?
According to a 2020 study, ginger supplementation can improve ovarian function and is recommended as a therapeutic method for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Furthermore, it helps control premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and heavy menstrual bleeding.
How does ginger clear your lungs?
Ginger is used to treat respiratory diseases. It may function as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent and can efficiently reduce lung damage and protect the lungs from severe damage caused by inflammation, oxidative DNA damage and oxidative stress.
Is ginger good for cough and cold? / How does ginger cure cough?
Ginger root is one of the most widely used medicinal herbs for all types of coughs and phlegm. Studies possessed its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions. This root is used to relieve cough and colds, traditionally. To get rid of a cold, boil some freshly crushed ginger (or one ginger tea bag) with water. Take this herbal remedy three times daily to relieve congestion, phlegm production, and persistent coughing. You can add some honey and lemon juice to this herbal tea and enjoy!
Can you drink ginger tea if you have high blood pressure? / Should you avoid ginger if you have high blood pressure?
According to several studies, Ginger has a diuretic effect and taking ginger supplements has favorable effects on reducing blood pressure.
Note: If you take antihypertensive drugs, talk to your doctor before drinking ginger tea. Ginger may raise the risk of low blood pressure!
How much ginger should I take for morning sickness?
Most research provides evidence that Ginger can be used and is effective in the treatment of morning sickness. It is recommended that excessive doses are avoided for this purpose (see Ginger Daily Dosage).
Note: The German Commission E contraindicates the use of Ginger in morning sickness associated with pregnancy.
How do you use ginger for nausea?
For chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: pour boiling water over 1.5 grams of the root and strain after 5 minutes.
For postoperative nausea and vomiting: pour boiling water over 0.5 to 2 grams of the root and strain after 5 minutes.
