Ginger Essential Oil
Latin name Zingiber officinale – Family species Zingiberacae
Ginger is also referred to as Common Ginger and Jamaica Ginger.
As noted by Mountain Rose Herbs with regard to ginger essential oil, “The aromas of the dried root distillation and fresh root distillation are quite different. The fresh root oil has a bright note in comparison, where the dried root oil has the traditional grounding rooty notes to the aroma.”
In Aromatherapy Workbook, Shirley Price states, “The attributes of ginger oil are wide ranging; it is a digestive tonic, relieves toothache, is anticatarrhal, warming to the muscular system (indicating its use for rheumatism) and reputed to be a sexual tonic.”
Oil Selection Guide
Color – Pale yellow to pale amber to pale green
Viscosity – Watery to slightly viscous
Scent – Warm, fresh, woody, spicy, green
Perfume Aroma – Top / middle note
Oil Source Information
Plant Type – Plant
Part Used – Root / Rhizome
Countries of Origin – India, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Java, Nigeria, Jamaica, West Indies, West Africa
Extraction Method – Steam distillation
Known Chemical Constituents
Alpha zingiberene, beta zingiberene, gingerin, gingenol, gingerone, linalol, borneol, ar curcumene, camphene, neral, b-bisacolene
Applications and Uses
In addition to being used in aromatherapy applications, Ginger is found in perfumery and used commercially in food and drink products.
Ginger blends well with
Precautions / Contraindications
Use only in very small quantities, if at all. Make sure to do a skin patch test if you have not used ginger oil before and plan to do so on the skin.
Ginger essential oil is phototoxic.
See also Essential Oils Safety and Usage.
References and Resources
See Aromatherapy References and Resources page.
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