The Healing & Nutritional Properties of Ginger Root
By: Dr. Lynn Lafferty and Truc Phung
1. Scientific name: Zingiber officinale Zingiberaceae
Zingiber comes from the Greek root “Zingiberis” or from Indian root “Zindschi”. It means “known already to the ancients”
2. Common names: African Ginger, Black Ginger, Blue Ginger (aka Galanga), Cochin Ginger, Gan Jiang, Gingembre, Ginger Essential Oil, Ginger Root, Indian Ginger, Jamaica Ginger, Canadian Snakeroot, Vermont Snakeroot
3. Nutritional profile of Ginger root (calculated on a zero moisture basis per 100 g)
Zingiber officinale
| Name | Relative quantity | Absolute quantity |
| Niacin | Average | 5.10 mg |
| Phosphorus | Average | 258 mg |
| Potassium | High | 1,890 mg |
| Protein | Low | 10% |
| Riboflavin | Average | 0.31 mg |
| Selenium | Average | 0.098 mg |
| Silicon | Very high | 2.85 mg |
| Sodium | Average | 42.3 mg |
| Thiamine | Low | 0.15 mg |
| Vitamin C | Average | 28.8 mg |
| Tin | Average | 0.13 mg |
| Name | Relative quantity | Absolute quantity |
| Aluminum | Very high | 66.3 mg |
| Calcium | Low | 165 mg |
| Carbohydrates | Average | 67.7% |
| Calories | High | 0.7 cal/g |
| Cobalt | Average | 0.42 mg |
| Crude Fiber | High | 17.1% |
| Dietary fiber | Low | 24.2% |
| Fat | High | 7.2% |
| Iron | Average | 1.5mg |
| Magnesium | High | 269 mg |
| Manganese | Very high | 3.38 mg |
4. Ginger root active constituents
Ginger root contains several volatile oils, which account for its pharmacology properties. The aromatic substances contained within ginger root are zingiberene, bisabolene, zingiberol, zingiberenol. These substances give ginger its distinctive odor and taste. The astringent constituents are gingerol, shogaols, gingerdione and zingerone. These constituents are believed to have antipyretic, analgesic, antitussive, anti-coagulant, anti-inflammatory, sedative, antibiotic, weak antifungal, carminative, hypocholesterolemic, diaphoretic and other properties.
5. Uses:
- Ginger can be used orally for motion sickness, morning sickness, dyspepsia, flatulence, chemotherapy-induced nausea, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, indigestion, loss of appetite, migraine headache, anorexia, upper respiratory tract infections, cough, and bronchitis.
- It can also be used as a stimulating diaphoretic. In Chinese culture, they add ginger to meat in order to detoxify the animal protein.
- Ginger can be used topically to relieve pain and stiffness of joints.
- Ginger can lower cholesterol levels and limit blood clots in the same way aspirin works in the body.
- Ginger can be ground or chopped, added to hot water and steeped into a tea. The ginger tea is then used for indigestion, stomachache, malaria and fever. Japanese researchers have found that ginger may be responsible for blocking the body’s reflex to vomit.
- The FDA considers Ginger “Generally Recognized as Safe,” but is not approved by the FDA for any medicinal purposes. Ginger has, however, been approved by Commission E (Germany’s regulatory agency for herbs) for indigestion and to help alleviate motion sickness. Today, its most popular uses are found in the food industry as a flavoring agent.
6. Pharmacology
- (8)-Gingerol, (8)-shogaol, (8)-paradol, and gingerol analogues exhibited anti-platelet activities
- Gingerols and shogaols are believed to be responsible for the anti-emetic activity due to anti-serotoninergic and 5-HT3 receptor antagonism effects
- Regarding anti-inflammatory effect, ginger constituents are inhibitors of both cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase, which will lead to fewer side effects when compared to NSAID
- (6)-gingerol acts as an antioxidant
- (6)-shogaol contains anti-tussive effect
- Ginger constituents also increase stomach acid production, which in turn aids digestion. It is also shown to suppress the growth of Helicobacter pylori in vitro.
7. Evidence based medicinal properties
Summary of clinical trials through the uses of Ginger shows us its effectiveness in treating these conditions
- Morning sickness
Chopped galanga, or blue ginger, is typically pickled and served alongside sushi
- Postoperative nausea and vomiting
- Vertigo
- Migraine headache
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
8. Products
Common forms of ginger include fresh root, dried root, tablets, capsules, liquid extract, tincture, tea, and use in foods. Ginger is generally available in six forms: fresh, dried, pickled, preserved, crystallized, and powdered or ground.
References:
1. Zingiber officinale. Natural Standard Monograph. Available at http://www.naturalstandard.com.ezproxylocal.library.nova.edu/naturalstandard/monographs/monoframeset.asp?monograph=/monographs/herbssupplements/aux1-ginger.asp&patientVersion=/monographs/herbssupplements/patient-ginger.asp (retrieved on January 12, 2010)
2. Zingiber offcinale monograph. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Available at http://www.naturaldatabase.com.ezproxylocal.library.nova.edu/(S(fblowa45gyzhhg3rrzw0z1nb))/nd/Search.aspx?cs=&s=ND&pt=100&id=961&ds=&name=GINGER&searchid=18601459 (retrieved on January 12, 2010)
3. Mark Pedersen. Nutritional Herbology. 2002.
*THE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED OR APPROVED BY THE US FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA). THESE PRODUCTS ARE NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.
