Zingiber officinale · Ginger family (Zingiberaceae)
Hi, I'm Ginger! I'm the spicy one that warms you up from the inside.
Ginger may help when your tummy feels like it wants to throw up. Scientists have tested it most with mums who are expecting a baby.
🟡 Scientists think so
Some grown-up girls and women say ginger makes their period cramps hurt less. Small studies agree a little.
🟡 Scientists think so
Scientists think ginger may help a little with sore knees, the kind older people often get.
🟡 Scientists think so
For a very long time, families have sipped warm ginger tea after a big meal to help a full, puffy tummy.
🔵 Grandma's wisdom
A warm drink with ginger and lemon is a cosy tradition when you have a cold. It won't make the cold go away, but it can feel nice.
🔵 Grandma's wisdom
For kids OK in normal food Pills, powders & oils: ask a grown-up first
Ginger in cooking, cookies or a mild ginger tea is fine for most kids. Pills, powders and strong ginger shots are only for kids if a doctor says so.
⛔ Avoid
If ginger ever made your skin itchy or your mouth swell, stay away from it.
⚠️ Ask a doctor first
Mums expecting a baby should ask their doctor before taking ginger pills.
⚠️ Ask a doctor first
Mums feeding a baby with their milk should ask a doctor before taking ginger pills.
⚠️ Ask a doctor first
Ginger in food is fine for kids. Ginger pills and strong ginger shots are for grown-ups, unless a doctor says so.
👀 Be careful
If you take medicine, a grown-up should check with the doctor or pharmacist The medicine expert at the pharmacy who can tell you if plants and medicines mix safely. before you take ginger pills.
👀 Be careful
Too much ginger can give a burning feeling in your chest.
Natural does not always mean safe. Always ask a grown-up before trying something new, and a doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplement. Try the safety check →
Ginger is a bumpy plant part that grows under the ground. It looks like a root, but it is really a stem. It tastes hot and a little bit like lemon.
People first grew ginger in warm parts of Asia. Today we use it all over the world, in food, in drinks and in old family remedies.
🔵 Grandma's wisdom — not proven by science
The part we eat is not a root. It is an underground stem called a rhizome.
The hot taste comes from gingerol The spicy stuff in ginger that makes your tongue feel warm.. When ginger is dried or cooked, some of it changes and tastes even stronger or sweeter.
Ginger is a cousin of turmeric. Both belong to the same plant family.
In Morocco, ginger (skinjbir) is one of the spices in the famous mix called ras el hanout.
💡 Ginger loves warmth. Keep it inside when nights get cold.
Answer 3 questions. Get 2 right to win this plant’s badge for your garden!
Which part of the ginger plant do we usually eat?
We eat the bumpy underground stem, called a rhizome.
What gives ginger its hot taste?
Gingerol is the natural stuff that makes ginger spicy.
You feel sick in the car. What is the safest idea?
Tell a grown-up. Looking far away helps many people, and only grown-ups decide about pills.
🏅 You earned the Ginger badge!
Almost! Read the page again and retry — you can do it! 💪
Print it, cut it out and collect them all!
Zingiber officinale
Feeling sick (nausea)
Period cramps
Aches & swelling
🤩 The part we eat is not a root. It is an underground stem called a rhizome.
General information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using any herbal supplement — especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding, for children, before surgery, or if you take medicines. Medical disclaimer
| Use | Evidence | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Feeling sick (nausea) | 🟡 Some evidence (small human studies) | A meta-analysis of 12 trials (1,278 pregnant women) found ginger improved nausea compared with placebo, but not the number of vomiting episodes; the evidence was of low quality[3]. A Cochrane review judged the evidence for all remedies for early-pregnancy nausea, including ginger, to be limited[4]. The EU herbal committee accepts powdered ginger for preventing motion-sickness nausea in adults[2], whereas NCCIH notes that most motion-sickness studies have not shown a benefit[1]. |
| Period cramps | 🟡 Some evidence (small human studies) | A meta-analysis of four randomised placebo-controlled trials found ginger powder reduced pain in primary dysmenorrhoea; the authors called the evidence suggestive[5]. NCCIH also says ginger supplements might reduce menstrual cramp severity[1]. |
| Aches & swelling | 🟡 Some evidence (small human studies) | In a meta-analysis of five trials (593 people with osteoarthritis), ginger gave a modest reduction in pain and disability, but people taking it were more than twice as likely to stop because of side effects[6]. NCCIH notes much of this research is of poor quality[1]. |
| Tummy & digestion | 🔵 Traditional use (not scientifically confirmed) | The EU herbal committee recognises ginger for mild, spasmodic digestive complaints such as bloating and wind, and for temporary loss of appetite, as a traditional use based on long-standing use rather than clinical trials[2]. |
| Colds & coughs | 🔵 Traditional use (not scientifically confirmed) | Relief of common-cold symptoms is listed by the EU herbal committee as a traditional use only, not proven in clinical studies[2]. |
Not a recommendation. Not for children unless a doctor says so. Products differ a lot — follow the label and your health professional.
| Energy | 80 kcal |
|---|---|
| Water | 78.9 g |
| Carbohydrates | 17.8 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Protein | 1.8 g |
| Fat | 0.8 g |
| Potassium | 415 mg |
| Magnesium | 43 mg |
| Vitamin C | 5 mg |
| Iron | 0.6 mg |
✅ Reviewed by sm_owner on September 26, 2026.
Last updated September 25, 2026. How we write and check our pages
Spices
Natural does not always mean safe. Always ask a grown-up before trying something new, and a doctor or pharmacist before taking any supplement. 
How people use it
In the kitchen
Traditional uses
Home & garden
Fun facts
