Ginger (Zingiber):

Therapeutic actions:

Anti-emetic, anti-spasmodic, cholagogue. (Fugh-Berman, 2003, p. 146) (Newall, et al., 1996. p. 135)

Phytochemical constituents that enhance these:

• Monoterpenes (eg. geranial & neral), sesquiterpenes (eg. "
b-sesquiphellandrene, b-bisabolene, a-curcumene, a-zingiberene"), phenolic ketones (eg gingerols). (Fugh-Berman, 2003, p. 146)

Supporting evidence:

Controlled trials for morning sickness and postoperative nausea and vomiting found ginger to be effective in most, but not all, cases. Animal studies showed anti-emetic effects as well as cholagogic and hepatoprotective effects for ginger. (Fugh-Berman, 2003, p. 146 & 147)

(6)-gingerol and (10)-gingerol were found in animal studies to have a cholagogue action on rats. (Newall, et al., 1996. p. 136)

In a study on naval cadets, powdered ginger root was found to be effective in reducing the symptoms of seasickness when compared to a placebo. Another study that induced motion sickness in a rotating chair, however, found ginger to be ineffective. (Newall, et al., 1996. p. 136)