Zingiber officinale
(Ginger)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Cardiotonic activity
• Carminative
• Decreases the risk of thrombus formation in thrombophlebitis
• Diaphoretic
• Expectorant
• Inhibits platelet aggregation
• Influences prostaglandin metabolism - potent inhibitor of prostaglandin and thromboxane synthesis
• Lowers serum and liver cholesterol levels
• Positive inotropic effect on the heart
• Possesses a fibrinolytic quality
• Promotes stomach secretions
• Rubefacient
• Sialagogue

Clinical Indications:

• Atherosclerosis
• Bronchitis
• Congestive heart failure
• Constipation
• Diabetes mellitus
• Hypertension
• Memory loss
• Migraine headache
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Cardiac diseases
• Chemotherapy-induced vomiting using the tincture, not the tea
• Colds/respiratory congestion
• Inflammation
• Menstrual cramps especially with oligomenorrhea
• Motion sickness
• Nausea of pregnancy
• Post operative nausea
• Stomach and intestinal cramps, especially due to undigested food, low stomach acid
• Weak digestion with gas and bloating

Contraindications:

• Can cause sensation of heat and burning within the stomach
• Patients with "sensitive" stomachs may not always tolerate ginger
• Pregnancy due to the emmenagogue effects

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Increases absorption of oral drugs including sulphaguanidine
• Prevents vomiting caused by cyclophosphamide if taken before administration

Chemical Constituents:

• Lipids:
  
  Free fatty acids
  Lecithins
  Phophatidic acid
  Triglycerides
• Protein
• Resin
• Starch
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
• Volatile oils:
  
  Borneol
  Cineole
  Gingerol
  Phellandrene
  Shogoal, an aleoresin having an aromatic ketone form, found with volatile oils
  Zingiberene
  Zingiberole, an oleoresin having an aromatic ketone form, found in volatile oils

Toxicity:

• None known

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).