Zingiberis rhizoma

Rhizome of ginger (Zingiber officinale; Zingiberis rhizoma ), ginger rhizome.

HMPC monograph: Well-established use: Prevention of travel sickness with nausea and vomiting: 1 - 2 g one hour before traveling, not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years of age

traditional-use: symptoms of motion sickness: 750 mg 30 min before traveling for adolescents, adults, children between 6 and 12 years only 250 or 500 mg. Use in children under 6 years of age is not recommended.

Mild gastrointestinal cramps, flatulence: Adults: 180 mg 3 x / day if necessary, not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years.

ESCOP monograph: Prevention of nausea and vomiting in motion sickness, or in pregnancy (under medical supervision) or post-operative vomiting

Commission E monograph: Dyspeptic complaints; prevention of symptoms of motion sickness.

Empirical medicine: nausea, vomiting after operations or chemotherapy, loss of appetite, to stimulate digestion, colds, hypotension

The ingredients shogaole and gingerole (6-gingerol = essential spice) contained in ginger have an antiemetic effect. Shagaols are formed from the gingerols by dehydration. Zingiberol is mainly responsible for the smell.

However, there is no precise knowledge about the mechanism of action.

In folk medicine (especially in Asian countries) ginger is widely used in the treatment of nausea (tested in tumour patients), digestive disorders, colics, colds, coughs, flu, circulatory disorders of the extremities as well as externally for cramp-like pain, rheumatism, lumbago, menstrual problems, haematomas and sprains.

Essential ginger oil has a virustatic effect against herpes viruses (HSV-1).

Its anti-inflammatory effect is explained by its influence on arachidonic acid metabolism; at the same time, it inhibits the production of the fever-inducing interleukin-1 beta.

When taken orally, the pungent substances excite the heat receptors in the oral mucosa and promote the reflection of saliva and gastric juice (Silcher H 2016).

Symptoms of kinetosis (motion sickness) such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness), dyspeptic complaints.

Indications from empirical medicine: loss of appetite; colds, antiemetic in tunor patients.

no malformations observed in studies nevertheless prophactic use during pregnancy is not recommended, see however under definition ESCOP monograph

Allergic reactions to ginger are rare (see below ginger allergy).

Mild gastrointestinal discomfort, belching, dyspepsia, nausea. Altered bleeding time!

Allergy to ginger

Warfarin -sodium for altered bleeding time.

1. Schilcher H Plant profiles. In: Guide to phytotherapy. Urban and Fischer Publishers Munich, pp. 164-166.
2. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-zingiber-officinale-roscoe-rhizoma_en.pdf
3. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/ingwer.php
4. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp. 131-132
5. Miller LG (1998) Herbal medicinals: selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions. Arch Intern Med. 9;158(20):2200-2211. doi: 10.1001/archinte.158.20.2200. PMID: 9818800.