Definition of Ginger

Ginger: Ginger, the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale, has been used as medicine in Asian, Indian, and Arabic herbal traditions since ancient times. In China, for example, ginger has been used to help digestion and treat stomach upset, diarrhea, and nausea for more than 2,000 years. Today, health care professionals may recommend ginger to help prevent or treat nausea and vomiting from motion sickness, pregnancy, and cancer chemotherapy. It is also used as a digestive aid for mild stomach upset, to reduce pain of osteoarthritis, and may even be used in heart disease or cancer.

Ginger may lead to blood thinning. It is therefore best not taken with medications that prevent blood clotting (anticoagulants) such as warfarin (Coumadin).