Profilo
- Latin Name: Zingiber Officinale
- CAS No.: 84696-15-1
- Active Ingredient: Gingerols
- Specifications: 4:1, 5:1, 10:1, 20:1, 30:1, 2%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%
- Test Method: HPLC
Description
Ginger, the underground stem, or rhizome of the plant Zingiber Officinale has been used as a medicine in Asian, Indian, and Arabic herbal traditions since ancient times. In China, for example, ginger has been used to aid digestion and treat stomach upset, diarrhea, and nausea for more that 2,000 years. Since ancient times, ginger has also been used to help treat arthritis, colic, diarrhea and heart conditions, In addition to these medicinal uses, ginger continues to be valued around the world as an important cooking spice and is believed to help the common cold, flu-like symptoms, headaches and even painful menstrual periods. Native to Asia where its use as a culinary spice spans at least 4,400 years, ginger grows in fertile, moist, tropical soil.
Today, ginger root is widely used as a digestive aid for mid stomach upset and is commonly recommended by professional herbalists to help prevent or treat nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness and pregnancy.
Motion Sickness
Several studies suggest that ginger may be more effective than placebo in reducing symptoms associated with motion sickness. In one trial of 80 novice sailors (prone to motion sickness), those who took powdered ginger experienced a significant reduction in vomiting and cold sweating compared to those who took placebo. Similar results have been found in healthy volunteers. Many people find it a welcome alternative to medications if it relieves their motion sickness, considering the major safety of this product.
Pregnancy Related Nausea and Vomiting
Some studies have found that ginger is more effective than placebo in relieving nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy. In a large study including 70 pregnant women with nausea and vomiting, those who received a dosage of 1 gram of ginger every day, felt less nauseous and experienced fewer vomiting episodes than those who received placebo.
Note: fresh ginger root is safe to use during pregnancy, but dried ginger root is not.
Inflammation
In addition to providing relief from nausea and vomiting, ginger extract has long been used in traditional medical practices to decrease inflammation. In fact, many herbalists today use ginger to help treat health problems associated with inflammation, such as arthritis, bronchitis and ulcerative colitis.