Ginger Essential Oil (Zingiber officinale)

Overview

It is typically processed using steam distilled as a method for extracting oil from the root.

Summary

Ginger oil comes from the root of Zingiber officinale plants. It has a warm and spicy scent. It has warming, uplifting and stimulating effects.

The aroma of Ginger Essential Oil can vary widely, depending on the distillation and quality of the root being distilled. The distillation of fresh ginger root can lead to an aromatically superior oil.

Essential Facts

Aroma Description: Warm, spicy, earthy, woody.
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Synonyms(s) for Zingiber officinale: Amomum zingiber, Amomum zinziba, Zingiber aromaticum, Zingiber cholmondeleyi, Zingiber missionis, Zingiber officinale f. macrorhizonum, Zingiber officinale f. rubens, Zingiber officinale var. cholmondeleyi, Zingiber officinale var. macrorhizonum, Zingiber officinale var. rubens, Zingiber officinale var. rubrum, Zingiber officinale var. sichuanense, Zingiber sichuanense, Zingiber zingiber
Botanical Family: Zingiberaceae
Botanical Genus: Zingiber
Chemical Family: Sesquiterpenes
Major Compounds: Zingiberene, ar-Curcumene, B-Sesquiphellandrene, B-Bisabolene, Camphene, B-Phellandrene, Borneol, 1,8-Cineole, a-Pinene, B-Elemene
Perfumery Note: Base/Middle
Consistency: Thin
Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium - Strong
Color: Light Yellow
Indigenous Country: Indonesia
Cultivation: Wild Harvested
Processing Methods: Steam Distilled
Part Typically Used: Root
Shelf Life: 6 - 8 years

Wild Harvested
Vegan

Essential Details

Benefits & Uses

May be benefitial for addressing the following ailments:

Aches Appetite Stimulation Arthritis Autoimmune Diseases Libido Travel Sickness Varicose Veins

Therapeutic Benefits of Ginger:

Analgesic Anti-bacterial Anti-emetic Anti-inflammatory Anti-microbial Anti-oxidant Anti-spasmodic Anti-viral Carminative Cicatrisant Hypotensive Mucolytic Tonic Warming

Cautions & Safety

Cautions when using Ginger:

May cause photo-sensitivity.

Tisserand and Young do not indicate any known hazards for Ginger Essential Oil. Some sources do indicate that Ginger Oil is phototoxic. However, Tisserand and Young state that \"Low-level phototoxic effects reported for ginger oil are not considered significant (Opdyke 1974 p. 910-902).\" Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 295.]

This essential oil poses a higher risk of causing irritation and sensitization when used in the bath. Avoid using it in the bath, even if it is solubilized/diluted.

This profile pertains to the essential oil and not the CO2 extracts. Ginger CO2 Extracts contain constituents not present in the essential oil. Select and Total Ginger CO2 Extracts can be significantly stronger and more irritating and should be used with extreme care.

Safety Precautions for Ginger:

Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and be sure to first read the recommended dilution ratios for children. Consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children, the elderly, if you have medical issues or are taking medications. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.