Ginger Materia Medica

Ginger has been an important part of herbal medicine for thousands of years. Many ancient herbalists considered ginger to be a remedy for some of the most tenacious chronic ailments. In Chinese medicine (in which it has been used for over 2500 years), ginger is considered to be a Yang remedy, supportive of the spleen, stomach and kidneys. It is specifically indicated for abdominal bloating, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, rheumatism and impotence.

Ginger is considered to exert the following therapeutic actions: analgesic, antiemetic (counteracts nausea and vomiting), anti-inflammatory, anti-scorbutic, anti-parasitic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive (stimulant and tonic), expectorant, nervine, sialagogue (stimulates production of saliva), stomachic, rubefacient, stimulant and tonic.

Download this chapter to learn more about GINGER—Zingiber officinalis.