Ginger Essential Oil

Warming, Energising and Spicy!

Ginger root

Ginger essential oil.....I have started using this more and more in aromatherapy massage, especially in those long, cold winter months!

I also use ginger, the spice itself, when cooking......the spicy, warm qualities are a taste I love. It's also quite nice to make a ginger tea by infusing slices of ginger root in hot water. I like to have this as my first drink in the morning.....with a slice of lemon too!

Perhaps my love for ginger is why I have started experimenting with blends that include ginger oil. It is pungent so can overpower more delicate smelling oils - use carefully when blending!

Common Name:
Ginger

Botanical Name:
Zingiber officinalis

Source:
West Indies, Malaysia, India, Australia, West Africa

Common Method Of Extraction:
Steam distillation of root (rhizome) of the plant

Aroma:
Warm, earthy and spicy.

Note:
Top/Middle/Base - all notes present

Blends Well With:
Blends well with bergamot (citrus oils), benzoin, frankincense, sandalwood, cedarwood, geranium, rosemary, rose, ylang ylang and neroli.

Properties:
Analgesic, antiseptic, antidepressant, antispasmodic, expectorant, febrifuge, rubefacient, stimulant, tonic, stomachic, sudorific, cephalic, carminative.

See the glossary for definitions!

Mind, Spirit and Body:

  • Ginger is a warming and energising oil which works well to help ward off feelings of loneliness and depression....especially in the winter!
  • These same energising properties give it the reputation as an aphrodisiac!
  • It is often used for nausea - either morning sickness or travel sickness
  • Ginger oil is very useful for helping treat colds and flu.....especially when there is catarrah involved.
  • Dilute in a carrier oil and use on the skin to help get rid of bruises.
  • Helps ease muscle aches and pains.....especially those caused by colds and flu.
  • Often used for digestive problems and poor circulation.
  • Ginger oil can be used to help treat arthritic and rheumatic pain.
  • Last but maybe not least(!).........useful for helping with hangovers!

Skin:
Good for balancing moisture in the skin.

Ginger Essential Oil Precautions:

  • Slightly photoxic, so avoid sunlight and sunbeds for at least 12 hours.

Ideas For Using Ginger Essential Oil

  • Put a few drops in a diffuser/burner to help relieve the symptoms of flu and colds. Also good if you are feeling lethargic, down or a little lonely.
  • Put a few drops in a hot bath to help relieve arthritis, rheumatism and poor circulation. Also good for muscle aches caused by colds and flu. It's a good idea to mix the drops in a small amount of milk first (essential oils mix better with fats) and then add!
  • Use blended in a base oil, cream or lotion to help with arthritis, rheumatism and poor circulation.....and to help get rid of bruises.
  • Ginger essential oil is good used with a hot compress for achey muscles and digestive problems.
  • Put a couple of drops on a hankie to help with nausea, morning sickness, travel sickness and indigestion.

Additional Notes:

  • Ginger was one of the first spices to be traded from Asia to Europe in the middle ages. It has since been used in the Western world mainly as an aid to digestion.
  • Ginger is also regarded as an aphrodisiac.....women in Senegal, Africa, weave ginger root into the belts of their partners to increase their sexual potency.
  • In China they use ginger to restore depleted yang energy.


Return From Ginger Essential Oil Properties to Home Page

Return From Ginger Oil Properties to Essential Oil Properties