Benefits of Ginger Oil

Ginger has retained a long and proven association with wellness and upkeep through the ages, with this warm and sweet spice retaining its place as a key ingredient in countless herbal remedies.

Whether it’s adding ginger root and honey to hot water to ease cold symptoms or applying a diluted oil mixture to parts of the body for pain relief, it’s easy to see why it remains an integral part of natural and holistic medicine systems.

In the West, ginger is more commonly used as a culinary ingredient, adding depth and spice to a host of sweet cooking recipes, producing things like ginger ale and gingerbread.

However, that has begun to change in recent years as more people look towards aromatherapy for additional physical and mental health support, learning more about ginger oil benefits and what it has to offer.

We cover all that and more in this guide, giving you more insight into its history, practical uses and common questions asked.

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What is ginger oil?
Ginger is a tropical plant that is also known by its botanical name Zingiber Offcianale.

It is native to several regions in Asia and is extracted from the ginger rhizome following a steam distillation process.

Once extracted, the oil has a natural yellow colour, with a sharp yet slightly sweet aroma that adds to its overall warmth.

There are several different types of ginger oil, which are separated by their levels of zingiberene – a key component of the plant that varies depending on the type of soil the rhizome plant is grown in.

How does ginger oil work?
Ginger essential oil is rich in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that are derived from two compounds called monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes.

Once inhaled via diffusion or applied to the skin after being diluted with a carrier oil, these compounds work to combat the negative effects of free radicals, which can reduce inflammation and prevent related cell damage.

From supporting digestion and relieving cold symptoms to regenerating the skin and providing pain relief, ginger oil offers a wide range of health benefits that can be used to treat a host of ailments that affect both body and mind.

Large piece of flowering ginger root

Benefits of ginger oil
The benefits of ginger oil continue to be studied by scientists around the world, producing results that find it can:

1. Support better digestion
When it comes to treating gastric complaints, ginger essential oil is often seen as the go-to option for many people.

This has also been backed up by various studies over the years.

For example, in 2015 researchers oversaw an animal study that found the growth of ulcers could be inhibited by ginger essential oil by up to 85%.

Gastroprotective activity of essential oils from turmeric and ginger

They also learned that the gastroprotective properties of ginger oil could prove effective at treating diarrhoea, indigestion and even colic.

Another study, conducted in 2014, found that patients inhaling ginger oil after a surgical procedure were able to reduce feelings of nausea – results which offer some confirmation as to why so many people use ginger as a natural remedy for sickness and vomiting.

Essential Oils for Complementary Treatment of Surgical Patients: State of the Art

2. Ease cold symptoms
It is a long-held belief in many households that ginger can prove very effective at reducing cold symptoms.

This is because it is a natural expectorant, helping mucus to move through blocked airways, whilst also flushing away harmful bacteria.

Once extracted into ginger essential oil, it also retains its antiseptic properties that offer protection against infections and the ability to kill cold-related pathogens.

The oil’s anti-inflammatory properties are derived from its gingerol and zingiberene components, which can also help to open airways and soothe lung swelling.

Researchers looking into cold relief abilities of ginger oil found that it can quickly relax airway smooth muscles, which supports better breathing through a stuffy nose.

Effects of Ginger and Its Constituents on Airway Smooth Muscle Relaxation and Calcium Regulation

3. Offer pain relief
Ginger oil contains a component called zingiberene, that has been found to have significant pain-relieving properties.

This was put to the test by researchers in 2001 who found that ginger oil was linked to the reduction of inflammation-induced pain and proved effective at treating symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee.

Effects of a ginger extract on knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis

A later study, conducted in 2010, also found that exercise-induced muscle pain could be reduced through use of ginger oil by as much as 25%.

Daily ginger consumption eases muscle pain by 25 percent, study suggests

It is also believed that ginger essential oil can reduce the number of prostaglandins in the body – compounds associated with pain sensation.

4. Lift low moods
The warm, stimulating properties of ginger essential oil is enjoyed through diffusion by many people who rely on the fragrance to manage feelings of stress or anxiety.

A study in 2010 found that the human serotonin receptor could be triggered through interaction with ginger oil.

This offers a possible explanation as to why ginger has long been associated with happiness and confidence.

In another study, researchers wanted to discover if using ginger could help to reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms.

Effect of Treatment with Ginger on the Severity of Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms

Participants in the clinical trial were asked to take two ginger capsules daily seven days before menstruation and three days after menstruation for three cycles.

After 1, 2 and 3 months of treatment, scientists saw there was a significant reduction in the severity of mood, behavioural and physical symptoms of PMS, suggesting ginger could provide a very effective natural remedy.

5. Improve skin condition
The antioxidant properties contained in ginger essential oil offer protection against free radicals that are responsible for several issues, such as premature ageing.

These properties can restore elasticity to the skin, whilst other ginger oil benefits can also work as an astringent, which can reduce hyperpigmentation, scars and blemishes.

This is also the reason why it is widely held belief that ginger oil can also benefit the scalp, supporting all-round hair health by combatting flaking and itching.

If you intend to apply ginger essential oil to your scalp or any other area of skin, we always advise that you dilute it with a carrier oil to minimise the possibility of experiencing irritation or an allergic reaction.

First-time users should ideally complete a patch test before using the oil on large areas of skin.