Both fresh and dried roots are official drugs of the modern Chinese pharmacopoeia, as is a liquid extract and tincture of ginger. In fact, in modern China, Ginger is believed to be used in half of all herbal prescriptions. Its popularity as a spice in the western world has grown ever since. Furthermore, in England, by the 13th and 14th century Ginger was the most popular spice next to Pepper. Going forward in time, Ginger has remained a popular spice and medicinal herb.
Demand continues to increase as the herb rises in popularity.
The chemistry of Ginger is also quite fascinating. There are two distinct groups of chemicals responsible for the sensory perception of Ginger in the mouth and the nose. It is a mixture of terpenoids within the volatile oils that impart the characteristic aroma and modifies the taste. While the research is not totally conclusive, modern studies have indicated that Ginger is effective against nausea and perhaps even more effective than Dramamine with regard to nausea associated with motion sickness. 1 Concerning possible dangers of using Ginger, it is generally recommended that pregnant women and people with gallbladder complications should avoid this herb.