Zingiberis rhizoma - herbal medicinal product
Ginger
Herbal productHumanHerbal
Overview
This is a summary of the scientific conclusions reached by the Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) on the medicinal uses of Ginger rhizoma. It summarises the Committee’s recommendations on the use of Ginger rhizoma.
The HMPC conclusions are taken into account by EU Member States when evaluating applications for the licensing of herbal medicines containing Ginger rhizoma. When a Member State authorises a medicine containing Ginger rhizoma, detailed instructions on how to take it will be available in the package leaflet that comes with the medicine.
The information in this summary report concerns herbal medicinal products containing Ginger rhizoma which are only authorised when they comply with the strict pharmaceutical quality and other requirements for herbal medicinal products. They are approved by the competent authorities to be placed on the market as medicinal products. Other products, like food, food supplements, cosmetic products or medical devices do not follow the same criteria and regulatory requirements as medicinal products and are excluded from this summary.
Ginger rhizoma is the common name for the underground part of the plant Zingiber officinale Roscoe.
Medicinal products with Ginger rhizoma contain the powdered or the tincture of the dried rhizoma. The tinctures are obtained by putting the Ginger rhizoma in alcohol to dissolve compounds. Herbal medicines containing these Ginger rhizoma preparations are usually available in solid or liquid forms to be taken by mouth.
Ginger rhizoma preparation in powder is used for the prevention of nausea and vomiting in motion sickness. This is based on clinical studies which showed efficacy when used this way.
Ginger rhizoma preparations, in powder or as tinctures, has a traditional medicinal use for the symptomatic relief of motion sickness, for the symptomatic treatment of mild, spasmodic gastrointestinal complaints including bloating and flatulence, for temporary loss of appetite, for the relief of minor articular pain, and for the relief of symptoms of common cold. Traditional medicinal use means that the use in the specified indication is exclusively based upon long-standing medicinal use and not based on results from clinical studies.
You can find detailed instructions on how to take Ginger rhizoma medicines and who can use them in the package leaflet that comes with the medicine.
Do not use Ginger rhizoma:
- for children and adolescents under 18 year of age for the prevention of nausea and vomiting in motion sickness, for the symptomatic treatment of mild, spasmodic, gastrointestinal complaints including bloating and flatulence, for temporary loss of appetite, for the relief of minor articular pain and for the relief of symptoms of common cold because of the lack of adequate data.
- for children under 6 year of age for the symptomatic relief of motion sickness because of lack of adequate data.
- if you are pregnant or if you breast feed your child.
- if you are allergic to Ginger.
Consult a doctor or a pharmacist:
- if complaints such as articular pain accompanied by swelling of joints, redness, or fever when treating
your articulation occur during the use of Ginger rhizoma medicines. - if your symptoms persist longer than:
- 1 week during the use of the medicinal product for the relief of symptoms of common cold.
- 2 weeks during the use of the medicinal product for the symptomatic treatment of mild spasmodic gastrointestinal complaints, or temporary loss of appetite.
- 4 weeks during the use of the medicinal product for the relief of minor articular pain.
No interactions with other medicines when using Ginger rhizoma have been described in the literature, at the time of assessment.
You may experience some side effects with Ginger rhizoma medicines
You may get skin allergic reaction or nausea.
The frequency of these undesirable effects is not known.
You may get stomach problems.
The frequency of these undesirable effects is uncommon; it may affect up to 1 in 100 people.
The efficacy of a specific preparation of Ginger rhizoma in treating the prevention of nausea and vomiting in motion sickness is based on its well-established use. This means that there is a documented medicinal use for at least 10 years in the EU and published clinical studies to support the efficacy and safety when used for the prevention of nausea and vomiting in adults.
In its assessment, the HMPC considered a number of clinical studies with Ginger rhizoma. In particular, Ginger rhizoma has been compared with placebo (a dummy treatment) or other treatments in the prevention of nausea and vomiting in motion sickness. The results showed that Ginger rhizoma was more effective than placebo and as effective as other medicines in preventing motion sickness. The way Ginger rhizoma works in prevention of nausea and vomiting in motion sickness is not fully known, but it is thought from some studies, that it may modify gastro-intestinal motility.
The HMPC conclusions on the use of these Ginger medicines for the symptomatic relief of motion sickness, for the symptomatic treatment of mild, spasmodic gastrointestinal complaints including bloating and flatulence, for temporary loss of appetite, for the relief of minor articular pain, and for the relief of symptoms of common cold are based on their ‘traditional use’. This means that, although there is insufficient evidence from clinical trials, the effectiveness of these herbal medicines is plausible and there is evidence that they have been used safely in this way for at least 30 years (including at least 15 years within the EU).
Any applications for the licensing of medicines containing Ginger rhizoma have to be submitted to the national authorities responsible for medicinal products. Before approval, the national authorities assess the quality, safety and efficacy of the herbal medicine. The HMPC conclusions are taken into account when evaluating applications for the licensing of herbal medicines.
Information on approved Ginger rhizoma medicines in EU Member States may be obtained from the relevant national authorities.
BG (bălgarski): Джинджифил, коренище
CS (čeština): zázvorový oddenek
DA (dansk): Ingefær
DE (Deutsch): Ingwerwurzelstock
EL (elliniká): zιγγιβέρεως ρίζωμα
EN (English): Ginger
ES (espanol): jengibre, rizoma de
ET (eesti keel): Ingverijuurikas
FI (suomi): inkivääri, juurakko
FR (français): gingembre (rhizome de)
HR (hrvatski): đumbirov podanak
HU (magyar): gyömbér gyökértörzs
IT (italiano): Zenzero rizoma
LT (lietuvių kalba): Imbierų šakniastiebiai
LV (latviešu valoda): Ingvera saknenis
MT (malti): ginġer
NL (nederlands): Gemberwortel
PL (polski): Kłącze imbiru
PT (português): gengibre
RO (română): rizom de ghimbir
SK (slovenčina): podzemok ďumbieru
SL (slovenščina): korenika pravega ingverja
SV (svenska): ingefära, jordstam
NO (norsk): ingefær
Key facts
- Latin name
- Zingiberis rhizoma
- English common name
- Ginger
- Botanical name
Zingiber officinale Roscoe
- Therapeutic area
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Status
- F: Assessment finalised
- Date added to the inventory
- Date added to priority list
- Outcome of European assessment
- European Union herbal monograph