Organic Ginger Root Powder
Zingiber officinale
You might need ginger root if you . . .
Have you ever felt bloated or had a case of indigestion? Have you ever felt nauseous or queasy? Have you ever experienced morning sickness during pregnancy? Do your joints ever felt achy? Have you ever struggled with brain fog or felt your blood sugar is imbalanced? We have all been there in some way! This may be your body telling you need some support for your digestion. And what better way to support your digestion than with your stomach’s most trusted ally, ginger!
Ginger root is a great choice for those that:
- Struggle with brain fog
- Have nausea or morning sickness
- Have indigestion
- Want to support healthy blood sugar levels
- Have joint discomfort
- Struggle with brain fog
Benefits of Ginger
Settles stomach aches: Ginger root is recognized as a stimulant in Chinese medicine. Its stimulating nature can help with stomach aches by speeding up the movement of food through the digestive tract, which can reduce bloating and discomfort.
Supports blood sugar levels: Ginger root can help balance blood sugar levels because it can improve insulin sensitivity. It can also be helpful in slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates.
Relieves menstrual discomfort: Ginger root can help tame menstrual cramps because of its anti-inflammatory properties. It does this through inhibiting the production of prostaglandins, which cause contraction of the muscles in the uterus. Using ginger root during menstruation can calm muscle spasms and relieve discomfort.
Supports cognitive health: Ginger root can help stimulate the uterine muscles, which can encourage a late period to flow. It can also reduce heavy menstrual bleeding because of its ability to reduce prostaglandin production
Supports cognitive health: Ginger root can support cognitive health by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain, both which cause cognitive decline.
Supports metabolic health: Gingerols found in ginger root can help stimulate metabolism, which can increase calorie burning.
Antibacterial: Ginger root’s active constituent gingerol gives it antibacterial properties.
Anti-inflammatory: Ginger root contains compounds that reduce the production of inflammatory chemicals in the body.
The active constituent that is the most studied in ginger is gingerol. Gingerol has many known medicinal properties and a long history in traditional and alternative medicine. Most importantly, gingerol has robust anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that give it such a long list of benefits.
Common ways to use Ginger
Tea: You can make a simple herbal decoction of ginger root at home by adding ¼ cup of the root to 32 ounces of water and boiling it for 1 hour. You can sweeten it with raw honey to taste. Tinctures/Extracts: Ginger root is also consumed in tincture form or extract form. You can readily find them at health stores or online. Tinctures are also quite simple to make, although it takes about a month before the tincture is ready to be used. Find out how to make your own tincture here. Capsules/Powder: Another popular way to consume ginger root is in capsule or powdered form. Making your own capsules is quite simple. You’ll need dried ginger root and a capsule filler machine.
🌿Try making herbal extractions or ginger shots! ← 🟩 DIYs, recipes, and more!
Growing and Foraging Information
Ginger is a bit more difficult to come across in the wild, specifically in the United States, and that is because culinary ginger, which is used in dishes and herbal remedies, is a tropical plant. It doesn’t grow in the wild here in the US, and it is very different from the Wild Ginger that grows on the west coast, which is toxic. You can easily find fresh ginger at your local grocery store, and dried ginger online. But did you know you can grow it in some parts of the United States too?
Ginger grows best in US hardiness zones 9-12. Many people also do well growing ginger in zone 8. Ginger is a bit different when it comes to planting, because instead of being grown from a seed, it is grown grom a rhizome. Ginger loves rich, moist, warm, loamy soil and does well when it is constantly kept moist. It can take ginger 8 to 10 months to reach its full maturity, so sprouting them indoors in late winter will help maximize your growing time! You’ll want to wait to plant them in the ground until the temperature is consistently warmer than 60 degrees.
Safety Concerns
Ginger is native to tropical Asia and was heavily used in ancient China and India as a culinary spice and as medicine.
It is important to consider safety concerns in the context of history. You also must realize that many of the departments that bring up safety concerns, are responsible for managing pharmaceutical drugs that have been manufactured in recent history. The United States has no controlling authority or regulatory board specific to herbs. The most common reason you will see that these organizations question the safety of various herbs is “insufficient evidence to determine safety.” Since there is no way to patent a naturally growing plant, there is often insufficient funding to conduct massive human studies.
Ginger is safe for all ages.
Drug Interaction: If you have any health concerns or are taking any prescription medication, please consult with your healthcare provider before adding new herbs to your diet. One potential safety issue is using ginger in high quantities before surgery. As a blood thinner, it is not advised at this time.
Breastfeeding and Pregnancy: There are no known contraindications for breastfeeding and pregnancy.
Select Studies About Ginger Root
A systematic review of 12 studies with 1,278 pregnant participants found that 1.1-1.5 grams of ginger significantly reduced morning sickness symptoms.
Zingiber officinale Improves Cognitive Function of the Middle-Aged Healthy Women
A human study of healthy middle-aged women demonstrated improved reaction time and working memory with daily doses of ginger extract. This placebo-controlled study observed the effects of ginger on healthy middle-aged women and how it supported cognitive function. The study observed that women taking ginger over a two-month period had an improvement in their memory vs the women who were under placebo.
The study concluded that ginger just as effectively reduced menstrual pain as the two NSAIDs. This is not the only study to conclude this as well.
Ginger for Pregnancy: A systemic study on effects of ginger for nausea
This systemic review takes 12 studies that evaluated 1,278 pregnant women to see the effects of ginger and it’s safety for pregnant women struggling with morning sickness. The review found that 1.1-1.5 grams of ginger daily significantly reduced morning sickness symptoms.
Ginger for Mentrual Pain: Ginger, mefenamic acid, and ibuprofen compared
In this double-blind comparative clinical trial, 150 college students were observed for one year. A group was given 250 mg of One group was given 250 mg of ginger four times a day during their menstruation, another ginger 4 times a day during their menstruation, another group received 250 mg of ibuprofen, and the last received 250 mg of mefenamic acid. The study concluded that ginger just as effectively reduced menstrual pain as the two NSAIDs.