Ginger 

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb ginger—uses, 

potential side effects, and resources for more information. Ginger is a tropical 

plant that has green-purple flowers and an aromatic underground stem (called a 

rhizome). It is commonly used for cooking and medicinal purposes. 

Common Name—ginger 

Latin Name—Zingiber officinale 

What It Is Used For 

•	 Ginger is used in Asian medicine to treat stomach aches, nausea, and diarrhea. 

•	 Many digestive, antinausea, and cold and flu dietary supplements sold in 

the United States contain ginger extract as an ingredient. 

•	 Ginger is used to alleviate postsurgery nausea as well as nausea caused by 

motion, chemotherapy, and pregnancy. 

•	 Ginger has been used for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and joint and 

muscle pain. 

How It Is Used 

The underground stems of the ginger plant are used in cooking, baking, and for 

health purposes. Common forms of ginger include fresh or dried root, tablets, 

capsules, liquid extracts (tinctures), and teas. 

What the Science Says 

•	 Studies suggest that the short-term use of ginger can safely relieve 

pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting. 

•	 Studies are mixed on whether ginger is effective for nausea caused by 

motion, chemotherapy, or surgery. 

•	 It is unclear whether ginger is effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis, 

osteoarthritis, or joint and muscle pain. 

•	 NCCAM-funded investigators are studying: 

ο Whether ginger interacts with drugs, such as those used to suppress the 

immune system 

ο Ginger’s effect on reducing nausea in patients on chemotherapy 

ο The general safety and effectiveness of ginger’s use for health purposes, 

as well as its active components and effects on inflammation 
 

 

Side Effects and Cautions 

•	 Few side effects are linked to ginger when it is taken in small doses. 

•	 Side effects most often reported are gas, bloating, heartburn, and nausea. These effects are 

most often associated with powdered ginger. 

•	 Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you 

use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure 

coordinated and safe care. 

Sources 

Ginger. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Web site. Accessed at http://www.naturaldatabase.com on 

July 6, 2007. 

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). Natural Standard Database Web site. Accessed at http://www.naturalstandard.com 

on July 3, 2007. 

Ginger root. In: Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckman J, eds. Herbal Medicine Expanded Commission E Monographs. 

Newton, MA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000:153-159. 

Ginger (Zingiber officinale). In: Coates P, Blackman M, Cragg G, et al., eds. Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements. New York, 

NY: Marcel Dekker; 2005:241-248. 

For More Information 

Visit the NCCAM Web site at nccam.nih.gov and view: 

•	 What’s in the Bottle? An Introduction to Dietary Supplements at nccam.nih.gov/health/bottle/ 

•	 Herbal Supplements: Consider Safety, Too at nccam.nih.gov/health/supplement-safety/ 

NCCAM Clearinghouse 

Toll-free in the U.S.: 1-888-644-6226 

TTY (for deaf and hard-of-hearing callers): 1-866-464-3615 

E-mail: info@nccam.nih.gov 

CAM on PubMed 

Web site: nccam.nih.gov/camonpubmed/ 

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements 

Web site: www.ods.od.nih.gov 

NIH National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus 

Ginger Listing: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-ginger.html 

This publication is not copyrighted and is in the public domain. Duplication is encouraged. 

NCCAM has provided this material for your information. It is not intended to substitute 

for the medical expertise and advice of your primary health care provider. We encourage 

you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your health care provider. The 

mention of any product, service, or therapy is not an endorsement by NCCAM. 

National Institutes of Health 

♦♦♦

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

D320 

Created May 2006 

Updated May 2008 

*D320*