Ginger Essential Oil
Botanical binomial: Zingiber officinalis
Family: Zingiberaceae
Other names: Ginger
Country of Origin: China
Part of plant used in production: Roots
Methods of production: Steam distillation
| Description: | A perennial herb with pungent tuberous roots, ginger can grow up to 1 metre high. Ginger is a tropical plant originating from Asia. Now it is found in Africa, Arabia and Central and South America. |
| Characteristics: | The oil is pale yellow but may darken depending on origin. Ginger oil, just like the root has a sharp, spicy and warm fragrance reminiscent of citrus and coriander with a hint of a balsamic-floral woody odour. |
| Properties: | Analgesic, antiseptic, bactericidal, carminative, cephalic, expectorant, febrifuge, laxative, stimulant, stomachic, tonic. |
| Constituents: | pinene, camphene, 1,8 cineole, linalool, borneol, geranyl acetate, zingibernene |
| Uses: | In perfumery, ginger oil creates oriental and floral fragrances. In the food industry, it is a popular spice. Ginger makes a warming massage oil for easing swelling from fluid retention or for rheumatism. It treats colds, coughs and sore throats and is recommended for catarrhal lung conditions for its expectorant properties. Ginger is well known to treat digestive problems and is also good for travel sickness, nausea and vomiting. |
| Blends well with | Bay, black pepper, cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, lemon, nutmeg, oragne, rosemary, peppermint, tea tree, thyme. |
| Interesting Facts: | Ayurvedic medicine considers ginger a universal medicine used to treat many physical and spiritual ailments as well as preserving food. It was used in the middle ages to concquer black death? and  by Chinese sailors to prevent sea sickness. |
| Safety: | Non-toxic, non-irritant, may be sensitizing to some individuals. Dilute before use, for topical uses only. Contact with eyes and mouth should be avoided. |
