herb

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

5 uses reviewed2 with research behind them

What it’s good for

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) for Chronic Inflammation

Solid

1 study · 1 supporting · 0 against

Thought to turn down the signals that keep inflammation running.

Dose: 1000–3000 mg

Tested as: ginger powder/extract, 1-3 g/day for 4-12 weeks — effect on blood inflammatory markers (CRP, TNF-alpha, IL-6), not a specific inflammatory disease

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) for Joint Pain

Solid

1 study · 1 supporting · 0 against

Thought to block the chemicals that carry inflammation and pain in a joint.

Dose: 500–1000 mg

Tested as: dried ginger extract/powder, roughly 500 mg-1 g/day — knee and/or hip osteoarthritis pain

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) for Nausea

Mixed

5 studies · 3 supporting · 2 against

Thought to empty the stomach faster and act on the nerve pathway that triggers nausea.

Dose: 500–2500 mg

Tested as: dried ginger root powder, 500-2500 mg/day (most commonly ~1000 mg/day in 3-4 divided doses) — nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), first trimester | encapsulated ginger root powder / standardized gingerol-shogaol extract, roughly 0.5-2 g/day (also tested up to 1g/day as adjuvant, and 84 mg/day active gingerols/shogaols) — chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), as adjuvant to standard antiemetics | ginger powder/extract, fixed dose of at least 1 g given before or around anesthesia — prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) | ginger powder, roughly 0.5-1 g single or repeated dose before/during travel — motion sickness / seasickness

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) for Muscle Soreness

Mixed

2 studies · 1 supporting · 1 against

Proposed to block the inflammatory chemicals a muscle-damaging session produces.

Dose: 1425–4000 mg

Tested as: raw or heat-treated ginger powder/capsules, 1.4-4 g/day for several days around eccentric (soreness-inducing) exercise

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) for Irregular Digestion

No Benefit

1 study · 0 supporting · 1 against

How it was tested: 1.2 g of ginger sped up how fast the stomach emptied, which is a real and measurable effect.

Speeds the stomach emptying, which is a sensible theory for indigestion.

Dose: 1080–1200 mg

Tested as: ginger powder/capsules, roughly 1.0-1.2 g/day — functional dyspepsia (early fullness, bloating, epigastric discomfort)

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