Ginger, or Zingiber officinale, is native to China, but now grows in India, East Africa and other warm regions. This spicy root flavors ginger snaps and ginger ale and is popular in many Asian dishes. Ginger root also has a long history of medicinal use. Some commercial ginger preparations lack active compounds, though, so choose fresh ginger or preparations labeled for medical use.
Features
Above ground, the ginger plant produces long, narrow leaves and white or pale yellow flowers. The plant's most useful part, however, is its thick, tan, knobby rhizome or underground stem, commonly called ginger root. Because of its finger-like outgrowths, a segment of ginger root is known as a hand. Fresh, young rhizomes are juicy and mildly flavored, while dry rhizomes are fibrous with a more pungent taste.
Active Compounds
Ginger root's medicinal properties come primarily from its volatile oils, which contain phenolic compounds such as gingerols and sesquiterpenes like zingiberene. Cooking or drying ginger turns some of the gingerols into shogaols and further processing produces zingerone. Zingiberene helps create this roots spicy aroma, while gingerols produce the pungent flavor. Both gingerols and shogaols have health benefits.
Benefits
Relief of nausea from motion sickness, morning sickness, chemotherapy and vertigo is ginger's primary benefit. Ginger also aids digestion by stimulating saliva production and helping food move through the digestive tract. Compounds in the root may help relieve intestinal gas and heartburn. Its anti-inflammatory properties make ginger root useful for treating arthritis and ulcerative colitis as well.
Use
Make tea from 2 to 4g fresh grated ginger to relieve nausea or arthritis pain. Chewing a small piece of fresh ginger may help with nausea and indigestion, too. Ginger powder, capsules and extracts are also available. Choose a preparation that contains at least 4 percent volatile oils and includes the active compounds 6-gingerol or 6-shogaol, recommends the University of Maryland Medical Center. Average doses range from 250mg to 1g up to 4 times daily with food.
Warnings
Limit your ginger consumption to 4g daily to avoid digestive upsets and mouth irritation. Avoid ginger supplements if you take blood-thinners, diabetes medications or insulin, or anti-nausea medications because the root may intensify the effects of these drugs. Don't take ginger if you have gallstones, an intestinal disorder or a bleeding disorder.
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