Ginger

What it is

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) root is one of the most widely used botanicals in the world, with an unbroken history as both food and remedy. In supplement briefs it appears in digestive comfort, travel, morning-wellness and joint formulations, and increasingly in functional gummies where its flavour is an asset rather than a problem.

Forms and sourcing

The choice is between whole-root powder, typically used at gram-level doses, and standardised extracts, commonly 5:1 to 20:1 concentrations specifying gingerol content at 5% or more. Extracts deliver a defined active dose in a capsule-friendly volume. Reputable supply includes full pesticide, aflatoxin and heavy-metal testing, which our certificate-of-analysis review covers as standard.

Benefits and evidence

Ginger’s research base is unusually strong for a botanical, centred on nausea and digestive comfort, with additional work on exercise-related muscle soreness and inflammatory markers. Clinical doses typically run 250 mg to 1.5 g of root equivalent per day, with 1 g common in digestive studies.

Typical dosage and formats

Briefs typically specify 250–550 mg of extract or 500 mg–1 g of root powder per daily dose. Ginger suits capsules, tablets, powders, liquids and gummies; in gummies and liquids the flavour integrates well with citrus and honey systems. Its pungency sets a practical ceiling on inclusion in unflavoured powders.

UK and EU regulatory position

Ginger is an established food in the UK and EU with no novel food issues at standard doses. Its health claims sit on the EU “on-hold” botanical list, which means submitted claims relating to digestive comfort and normal function may continue to be used in the UK and EU under transitional arrangements, provided the product matches the claim conditions and wording stays within the submitted scope. This makes ginger one of the few actives on this page with usable, ingredient-specific claim language today; our regulatory team confirms exact wording at artwork.