The Complete Guide to Using Ginger Essential Oil (And WHY It Should Be in Your Home)
Here is a complete guide to using ginger essential oil, its benefits and uses, and some recipes to try in your home for your health and wellness.
Ginger (Zingiber oficinale) essential oil is becoming a hot health item recently. That’s because Ginger is an herb with some pretty powerful benefits and helpful uses. Ginger essential oil is just an excellent essential oil to have around for overall body support. We’ll go over the benefits and uses of ginger essential oil below.
Ginger has been around a very long time, and its powerful medicinal properties are undisputed. It’s also a tasty culinary herb, being used in a variety of Asian dishes.
Ginger’s pungent aroma is very strong, and I have not met a single person who doesn’t enjoy it. The essential oil is wonderful and as effective if not more so than the fresh rhizome as long as you purchase it from a quality company.
NOTE: You can find out criteria for how to choose a good essential oil company here. There are many good companies out there these days, but you do have to be careful about some things. Don’t buy your essential oils from the grocery store!
FTC Disclosure: There are affiliate links scattered throughout this article. If you click through and make any kind of purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Ginger essential oil consists of the volatile chemicals from the ginger rhizome.
Is There a Difference Between Ginger Essential Oil and Ginger Oil?
This is a very good question, and I included it in this article because when I was doing my research, I kept coming across articles people had written about “making your own ginger essential oil.”
RED FLAG, my friend!
Also, some people talk about ginger oil and ginger essential oil interchangeably. Even when talking about ginger essential oil, some people will just call it “ginger oil.” It’s really ginger essential oil, and I think it’s a good idea to use the correct terminology to avoid confusion.
You see, true essential oils require some pretty intensive equipment, skill, and processes to create. Plus, essential oils require a LOT of plant matter—more than most of us have access to.
When I looked into these articles about “how to make your own ginger oil”, what these people were really describing was an herb (in this case Ginger) infused oil, like olive oil.
This is when you soak an herb in oil for a period of time to extract the plant chemicals into the oil. What you really have in this case is a ginger-infused oil, NOT an essential oil.
Pure essential oils are the volatile compounds extracted from the plant through a variety of processes (CO2 extraction, steam distillation, and other time and money intensive ways) and in reality are not that “oily” at all.
You can find out how to infuse herbs in oil for making salves and other body care products in this article if you want to make your own SAFE Ginger infused oil. It just won’t be essential oil!
Ginger root is not really a true root. Instead, it is a rhizome, a horizontal creeping root stalk! Ginger is a tremendously useful herb in both its natural form as well as the essential oil.
The ultimate guide to the benefits and uses of ginger (zingiber officinale) essential oil! Everyone should have ginger essential oil in their home apothecary, and you can find out why and how right here. #ginger #essentialoil #benefits #uses #benefitsanduses #howtouse #why #healingharvesthomestead #gingeressentialoil #essentialoilremedy #homeremedy #naturalremedy #soremuscles #jointpain
Therapeutic Properties of Ginger Essential Oil
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) comes from the botanical family Zingiberaceae and originates in India and China.
Ginger contains:
Zingiberene, ar-Curcumene, B-Sesquiphellandrene, B-Bisobalene, Camphene, B-Phellandrene, Borneol, 1,8 Cineole, a-Pinene, and B-Elemene.
Because of the chemical constituents it contains, Ginger essential oil has these medicinal properties: anti-inflammatory, anti-coagulant, digestive aid (carminative), anesthetic, anti-microbial, and expectorant.
Ways You Can Easily Use Ginger Essential Oil for Maximum Health Benefits
1) Ginger Essential Oil for Digestive Issues:
Ginger has been used for thousands of years, and is both a culinary and medicinal herb. In China, ginger is used often in meat dishes because it enhances digestion.
Ginger essential oil can be used to soothe nausea and stomach upset as well. Ginger essential oil should be combined with a carrier oil, then can be rubbed into the abdominal area to help.
It can also be infused or inhaled for soothing nausea and digestive distress.
Are you wondering if it is OK to ingest ginger essential oil?
Some people say, “yes” to this question. Others say, “No.” And some say, “It depends.”
Frankly, I do not recommend ingesting ANY essential oil without the supervision of a certified aromatherapist because essential oils are very powerful. There’s been evidence that essential oils can cause damage to fragile internal linings, and it’s just too easy to over due the usage as you are dealing with very tiny drops.
Coupled with this fact, and very importantly, not all essential oils are created equal. Many are adulterated with other chemicals or oils, and this is very common among the unscrupulous. The FDA doesn’t regulate essential oils, and therefore it is up to the buyer to do research and beware.
The best thing to do is find two or three companies you feel confident with, and buy from them. I’m not a fan of any essential oils sold in grocery or even health stores. Find a good online company that specializes in quality sourcing.
You can find out more about how to choose an affordable, high quality essential oil company here.
In the meantime, my favorite essential oil companies are:
Plant Therapy, and
I also like Pompeii Organics and Mountain Rose Herbs.
2) Massage
Ginger essential oil is warming and extremely soothing to sore, tired muscles. Added to a carrier oil, like sweet almond oil or fractionated coconut oil, you’ll have a wonderful massage oil for helping with minor aches and pains and to warm up sore muscles that have been overworked.
Adding ginger to your carrier oil is also a wonderful remedy for soothing other random pains, like your joints…see below!
It smells really great, too!
3) Joints & Pain
Because of the warming property of ginger essential oil, it is also very useful in helping with inflammation and pain in sore joints. It also helps increase circulation on areas where it is applied.
I like to rub some ginger EO that is diluted in some good carrier oil, like carrot seed or almond oil or fractionated coconut oil, into my hands and knuckles. It really helps the range of motion in my pre-arthritic joints, and it even helps with my knee issues.
You can find out more about the best carrier oils to use in your favorite skin care products by clicking here.
Both ginger infused oil (sometimes) AND definitely Ginger essential oil are included in my Pain & Sore Muscle Salve, too!
4) Motion Sickness
Do you have a child who gets car sick? Or maybe that would be you?
I know if I’m sitting in the back seat of any kind of car, I have a tendency to feel ill. Even on airplanes, I’m not at my best.
Diffusing ginger essential oil is a great way to combat motion sickness.
You can also dab (or use a roller bottle) a drop or two of diluted essential oil behind your ears to help. Or, you can diffuse it with a car diffuser or add some to a neat bracelet diffuser!
5) Memory Support
Used in conjunction with Rosemary essential oil, you’ll have a wonderful blend that will help with brain health, including memory!
6) Congestion, Sinus, and Respiratory Issues
Because of its expectorant properties, ginger is very helpful with congestion and support with cough and breathing. It’s a wonderful essential oil to use with other essential oils containing menthols, as these help clear the sinuses REALLY well.
If you’d like a great natural decongestant that contains fresh or dried ginger, take a look at: The BEST Natural Decongestant That Really Works.
7) Emotional Grounding and Balance
Ginger creates feelings of courage and confidence. If you are feeling some tension or worry, using some ginger essential oil diluted in a good carrier oil on your solar plexus area is very helpful.
8) External Infections
Because Ginger essential oil has antimicrobial and anti fungal properties, it is excellent to use (diluted) on areas that may become infected, such as cuts or other abrasions.
It’s easy to make a spray to spritz on a small wound or cut containing ginger, rosemary, tea tree, and lavender for a nice antimicrobial spritzer. Here’s how to make a spray as well as two other kinds of perfumes. The spray in this article will work just fine for an antibacterial spray.
9) The Love Essential Oil (Aphrodisiac)
Oh, the lovely warming essential oils, like Ginger, are great choices for helping with sexual desire. Ginger calms, soothes, and increases circulation and temperature at the same time! Ginger strengthens the libido while helping reduce anxious feelings often felt at this time.
It’s a wonderful essential oil for massage prior to the hopeful event. Be sure to dilute it! Massage it into the lower back, the abdominal area, upper thighs, and even on your (or your partner’s) lower legs and feet.
Also, do NOT use it directly on sensitive areas like the genitals. NOT a good idea.
Ginger has a strong pungent scent and is highly aromatic.
Where Does Ginger Come From?
Oh, the history of Ginger!
The part of the ginger plant most used is a rhizome (a horizontal underground stem from which actual roots grow). It’s easy to grow, too!
It’s been used for nearly 5,000 years that historians know of, both for food and medicine. During the times of the Roman Empire, it was in demand during the Spice Trade and traversed thousands of miles.
The rhizome was priceless during the times of the Spice Trade, and it is said that a pound of ginger was worth the same as an entire sheep!
By the 13th century, it had become a part of the spice usage of the nobility in England. In fact Queen Elizabeth I is attributed with the invention of the Gingerbread Man sweet.
Later on, during the 17th century, it was taken to the New World, where it was planted in more tropical areas for import back to Europe. Around this time period, essential oils were being discovered and ways of extracting these volatile oils were first invented.
Ginger is extremely useful for cooking, as a tonic, and with the essential oils, for external use and inhalation.
What Other Essential Oils Blend Well with Ginger Essential Oil?
Ginger essential oil actually blends with a very wide array of essential oils. My favorites include the Citrus (Orange, Lemon, Neroli, Bergamot), Black Pepper (another warming essential oil), Cinnamon, Cedarwood (a scent many men love), and Clove, among others.
Contraindications (Safety Factors) of Using Ginger Essential Oil
Ginger is considered a safe essential oil to use for just about everyone.
However, if you are on medications or are pregnant or nursing, you should consult with your medical doctor before using any essential oil or herb especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or are on medications of any kind. See disclaimer below.
Final Thoughts About Ginger Essential Oil
I am just loving this exploration of the world of essential oils! As I complete my clinical aromatherapy courses, I realize essential oils are a wonderful addition to my already established herbal practice. Like my herbs, I use them every day.
***If you are interested in learning to use herbs for wellness and health, you might like my free series on How to Get Started Using Herbs!
Ginger essential oil is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I love its warm, soothing scent, and I think it really does help with confidence and courage! It’s become one of the essential oils I carry with me in my purse for a variety of reasons.
Have you tried using ginger essential oil? If you have some ways to use it not mentioned here, please do share with us!
You might also enjoy these related articles:
Insane Things You Need to Know About Frankincense Essential Oil
How to Make Delicious Ginger Beet Kvass
Insane Things You Need to Know About Tea Tree Essential Oil
Why Do People Say to Rub Essential Oils on the Soles of Your Feet?
What is the Best Way to Diffuse Essential Oils?
And there are a LOT more over on the blog! So go explore! (www.healingharvesthomestead.com)
Hugs, Health, and Self-Reliance,
Heidi
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Just complete the form below to get the newsletter and the password for the Resource Library! One of the offerings is a booklet on favorite essential oil blends and how to make essential oil preparations!
Ginger essential oil is a must-have home remedy these days! The more people know about and use it, the more popular it becomes! Find out the benefits, uses, + how to use Ginger essential oil for your health: circulation, confidence, muscles, joints, respiratory support, “love” stuff, and more! You’ll also know the difference between a ginger infused oil and ginger essential oil—you need to know this! #ginger #essentialoil #howtouse #benefits #uses #homeremedy #tips #health #healingharvesthomestead
Resources:
https://www.doterra.com/US/en/blog/spotlight-ginger-oil
B.M. Lawrence, Progress in Essential Oils. (Perfumer & Flavorist 20 no. 2, 1995), 55. Source cited in Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 295.
https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/ginger-oil.asp
https://organicdailypost.com/18-aphrodisiac-essential-oils/