Botanical Overview
Zingiber officinale, commonly known as Ginger, belongs to the family Zingiberaceae. The medicinal part used is primarily the rhizome. Native to Southeast Asia and India, ginger is widely cultivated across tropical Asia.
Energetics
It is warming and drying in nature, with a pungent and sweet taste. Its energetic directionality is ascending and outward, and it is considered tonifying primarily of the qi energy.
Primary Actions
- Anti-inflammatory
- Carminative
- Digestive stimulant
- Anti-nausea
- Circulatory stimulant
Indications
Western
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Indigestion
- Flatulence
- Motion sickness
- Cold symptoms
- Muscle pain
Syndromes
- Digestive sluggishness
- Inflammatory conditions
- Upper respiratory congestion
TCM
- Cold in stomach
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Wind-cold invasion
Syndromes
- Spleen and Stomach deficiency cold
- Wind-cold exterior syndrome
Ayurveda
- Digestive weakness
- Anorexia
- Nausea
- Rheumatism
- Common cold
Syndromes
- Kapha imbalance
- Vata disorders
- Ama (toxicity) accumulation
Unani
- Gastrointestinal disturbances
- Cold temperament disorders
- Flatulence
Syndromes
- Suleekh (digestive tonic)
- Baroodat (anti-flatulent)
Constituents & Mechanisms
Key phytochemical families include gingerols, shogaols, zingerone, volatile oils, sesquiterpenes, and phenolic compounds, contributing to anti-inflammatory, digestive, and antiemetic effects.
Dosage & Preparations
- Powdered rhizome 1–3 g daily
- Infusion 2–4 g fresh or dried rhizome 1–2 times daily
- Tincture 1:5 50% ethanol, 2–5 mL, 1–3 times daily
- Essential oil topical use diluted
Safety & Contraindications
Ginger is generally well tolerated but may cause mild gastrointestinal upset. Caution is advised during the first trimester of pregnancy due to limited safety data. Avoid high doses in individuals with gallstones. Possible interactions with anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications warrant monitoring.
Astrological Correspondences
No reliably sourced planetary or elemental rulers identified for Zingiber officinale.
Selected References
- WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants – Volume 1: Zingiber officinale Roscoe
- European Medicines Agency Herbal Monograph: Zingiberis rhizoma
- PFAF: Zingiber officinale (Ginger)
- Ernst E. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) in the Prevention of Nausea and Vomiting. PubMed, 2014
- Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, 2008