Ginger Essential Oil

Latin name: Zingiber Officinale

Part of the plant used: root

Source: India

Extraction method: steam distillation

Ginger essential oil is extracted from the Zingiberaceae officinale plant, also known as common ginger or Jamaican ginger. The name ginger derives from the place called Gingi in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, and the Tamil word for ginger, inji-ver. The oil is extracted by steam distilling the plant’s unpeeled, ground or dried root. It is a warming oil and is particularly good for digestion and combating nausea and vomiting.

Ginger oil has many therapeutic properties. It is used to treat fractures and relieve pain from rheumatism, arthritis, and carbuncles. It helps with hangovers, dizziness, colds, flu, coughs, sinusitis, sore throats, skin sores, diarrhea, colic, cramps, chills, and fever. Used in a vaporizer, this oil combats loneliness and depression, and its energizing properties make it a good aphrodisiac. Put a drop of oil on a handkerchief and inhale to control nausea, motion sickness, and colds.

Ginger originates in India, China, and Java, but is also native to Africa and the West Indies. Sanskrit and Chinese texts mention the use of ginger as medicine. It is also mentioned in ancient Greek, Roman, and Arabic literature. Dried ginger is used for stomachaches, diarrhea, throat problems, and nausea. The Chinese also use it to stimulate the heart and reduce mucus and phlegm.