Ginger

Last Updated: September 28, 2022

Ginger is a spice that has traditionally been treated as medicine in both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, doses of 1-3g can reduce nausea and ease digestion quite effectively; superloading the powdered rhizome (vertical root) at 10-15g daily might increase testosterone.

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Ginger is most often used for

What else is Ginger known as?
Note that Ginger is also known as:
  • Zingiber officinale Roscoe
  • Zingiberaceae
Ginger should not be confused with:
  • Curcumin (other bioactive of the Zingiberaceae family)
Dosage information

Typically, dosages of 1-3g are used as a preventative treatment for nausea. This applies to morning sickness in pregnancy, motion sickness, and sometimes chemotherapy or operation-induced nausea.

For other usages of ginger, 1g is typically used. This seems to be effective for increasing intestinal motility, but was insufficient in reducing blood glucose in the one study attempting it.

For testosterone boosting, a supplement is probably advised. The dosage used in rats, after conversion to humans based on Body Surface Area, equates to about 14g from natural sources (usually less of an extract percentage than is possible with supplements).

Ginger can be ingested via several ways, and the following is an approximate standardization table for 1g of Ginger Extract:[1]

  • A capsule that has 1g ginger extract in it
  • A teaspoon of fresh, grated, rhizome (the vertical aspect of ginger root)
  • 2 droppers (2mL) of liquid extract
  • 2 teaspoons (10mL) of syrup
  • 4 cups (8 oz each) ginger tea, steeping 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger for 5–10 min
  • 8-oz cup ginger ale, made with real ginger
  • 2 pieces crystallized ginger, each 1 inch square, 1/4 inch thick

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Examine Database References
  1. Testosterone - Waleed Abid Al-Kadir Mares, Wisam S. NajamThe effect of Ginger on semen parameters and serum FSH, LH & testosterone of infertile menTikrit Medical Journal.()
  2. Gastric Emptying Rate - Stewart JJ, Wood MJ, Wood CD, Mims MEEffects of ginger on motion sickness susceptibility and gastric functionPharmacology.(1991)
  3. Nausea Symptoms - Ernst E, Pittler MHEfficacy of ginger for nausea and vomiting: a systematic review of randomized clinical trialsBr J Anaesth.(2000 Mar)
  4. Rate of Perceived Exertion - Black CD, Oconnor PJAcute effects of dietary ginger on quadriceps muscle pain during moderate-intensity cycling exerciseInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab.(2008 Dec)
  5. Muscle Soreness - Black CD, Herring MP, Hurley DJ, O'Connor PJGinger (Zingiber officinale) reduces muscle pain caused by eccentric exerciseJ Pain.(2010 Sep)
  6. Metabolic Rate - Muhammad S Mansour, Yu-Ming Ni, Amy L Roberts, Michael Kelleman, Arindam Roychoudhury, Marie-Pierre St-OngeGinger consumption enhances the thermic effect of food and promotes feelings of satiety without affecting metabolic and hormonal parameters in overweight men: a pilot studyMetabolism.(2012 Oct)
  7. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) - Alizadeh-Navaei R, Roozbeh F, Saravi M, Pouramir M, Jalali F, Moghadamnia AAInvestigation of the effect of ginger on the lipid levels. A double blind controlled clinical trialSaudi Med J.(2008 Sep)
  8. Lower Esophageal Pressure - Lohsiriwat S, Rukkiat M, Chaikomin R, Leelakusolvong SEffect of ginger on lower esophageal sphincter pressureJ Med Assoc Thai.(2010 Mar)
  9. Gastric Emptying Rate - Wu KL, Rayner CK, Chuah SK, Changchien CS, Lu SN, Chiu YC, Chiu KW, Lee CMEffects of ginger on gastric emptying and motility in healthy humansEur J Gastroenterol Hepatol.(2008 May)
  10. Nausea Symptoms - Keating A, Chez RAGinger syrup as an antiemetic in early pregnancyAltern Ther Health Med.(2002 Sep-Oct)
  11. Nausea Symptoms - Borrelli F, Capasso R, Aviello G, Pittler MH, Izzo AAEffectiveness and safety of ginger in the treatment of pregnancy-induced nausea and vomitingObstet Gynecol.(2005 Apr)
  12. Nausea Symptoms - Vutyavanich T, Kraisarin T, Ruangsri RGinger for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trialObstet Gynecol.(2001 Apr)
  13. Nausea Symptoms - Willetts KE, Ekangaki A, Eden JAEffect of a ginger extract on pregnancy-induced nausea: a randomised controlled trialAust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol.(2003 Apr)
  14. Nausea Symptoms - Apariman S, Ratchanon S, Wiriyasirivej BEffectiveness of ginger for prevention of nausea and vomiting after gynecological laparoscopyJ Med Assoc Thai.(2006 Dec)
  15. Nausea Symptoms - Nanthakomon T, Pongrojpaw DThe efficacy of ginger in prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after major gynecologic surgeryJ Med Assoc Thai.(2006 Oct)
  16. Nausea Symptoms - Chaiyakunapruk N, Kitikannakorn N, Nathisuwan S, Leeprakobboon K, Leelasettagool CThe efficacy of ginger for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting: a meta-analysisAm J Obstet Gynecol.(2006 Jan)
  17. Dizziness - Grøntved A, Hentzer EVertigo-reducing effect of ginger root. A controlled clinical studyORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec.(1986)
  18. Nausea Symptoms - Smith C, Crowther C, Willson K, Hotham N, McMillian VA randomized controlled trial of ginger to treat nausea and vomiting in pregnancyObstet Gynecol.(2004 Apr)
  19. Nausea Symptoms - Fischer-Rasmussen W, Kjaer SK, Dahl C, Asping UGinger treatment of hyperemesis gravidarumEur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol.(1991 Jan 4)
  20. Nausea Symptoms - Pillai AK, Sharma KK, Gupta YK, Bakhshi SAnti-emetic effect of ginger powder versus placebo as an add-on therapy in children and young adults receiving high emetogenic chemotherapyPediatr Blood Cancer.(2011 Feb)
  21. Inflammation - Zahmatkash M, Vafaeenasab MRComparing analgesic effects of a topical herbal mixed medicine with salicylate in patients with knee osteoarthritisPak J Biol Sci.(2011 Jul 1)
  22. Osteoarthritis Symptoms - Bliddal H, Rosetzsky A, Schlichting P, Weidner MS, Andersen LA, Ibfelt HH, Christensen K, Jensen ON, Barslev JA randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study of ginger extracts and ibuprofen in osteoarthritisOsteoarthritis Cartilage.(2000 Jan)
  23. Gastric Emptying Rate - Hu ML, Rayner CK, Wu KL, Chuah SK, Tai WC, Chou YP, Chiu YC, Chiu KW, Hu THEffect of ginger on gastric motility and symptoms of functional dyspepsiaWorld J Gastroenterol.(2011 Jan 7)
  24. Memory - Saenghong N, Wattanathorn J, Muchimapura S, Tongun T, Piyavhatkul N, Banchonglikitkul C, Kajsongkram TZingiber officinale Improves Cognitive Function of the Middle-Aged Healthy WomenEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2012)
  25. Colorectal Cancer Risk - Zick SM, Turgeon DK, Vareed SK, Ruffin MT, Litzinger AJ, Wright BD, Alrawi S, Normolle DP, Djuric Z, Brenner DEPhase II study of the effects of ginger root extract on eicosanoids in colon mucosa in people at normal risk for colorectal cancerCancer Prev Res (Phila).(2011 Nov)
  26. Gastric Emptying Rate - Shariatpanahi ZV, Taleban FA, Mokhtari M, Shahbazi SGinger extract reduces delayed gastric emptying and nosocomial pneumonia in adult respiratory distress syndrome patients hospitalized in an intensive care unitJ Crit Care.(2010 Dec)
  27. PMS Symptoms - Khayat S, Kheirkhah M, Behboodi Moghadam Z, Fanaei H, Kasaeian A, Javadimehr MEffect of treatment with ginger on the severity of premenstrual syndrome symptomsISRN Obstet Gynecol.(2014 May 4)
  28. Dysmenorrhea Symptoms - Ozgoli G, Goli M, Moattar FComparison of effects of ginger, mefenamic acid, and ibuprofen on pain in women with primary dysmenorrheaJ Altern Complement Med.(2009 Feb)
  29. Milk Production - Siew Cheng Foong, May Loong Tan, Wai Cheng Foong, Lisa A Marasco, Jacqueline J Ho, Joo Howe OngOral galactagogues (natural therapies or drugs) for increasing breast milk production in mothers of non-hospitalised term infantsCochrane Database Syst Rev.(2020 May 18)