Ginger

Safety information

Toxicity: Mild - abdominal discomfort, heartburn, diarrhea, mouth/throat irritation. | None known at culinary scale. | Very low as food/spice. Modern: high doses may cause heartburn/GI upset; mild antiplatelet effect possible. Grieve warns commercial Essence of Ginger was often adulterated. | None known at culinary doses. | None known reported at culinary/normal doses. | Mild — heartburn, GI discomfort, mouth/throat irritation. | Low for culinary/food amounts. Higher supplement doses may cause mild GI upset, heartburn, or diarrhea. | Low; mild heartburn, GI discomfort at high doses.

Contraindications: Generally well tolerated. Supplements during pregnancy may be safe but consult a provider; limited breastfeeding data. | Caution with bleeding disorders / high doses. | None specified by source. Modern: large medicinal doses with anticoagulants; gallstones. | Avoid medicinal doses with peptic ulcers; in pregnancy and with anticoagulants keep to ≤2 g dried (≈4 g fresh) per day; essential oil professional-only internally. | Per Commission E, not recommended for morning sickness of pregnancy (though traditional use exists; TCM advises ≤2 g dried ginger daily in pregnancy). | Generally well tolerated; consult provider in pregnancy for supplement doses. | Generally safe in pregnancy at culinary/low supplement doses (used for morning sickness), but high doses and concentrated extracts not well characterized in pregnancy - caution and professional advice advised; caution with gallstones (cholagogue effect) and bleeding disorders. | Bleeding disorders/before surgery (antiplatelet, high doses); gallstones (cholagogue); high medicinal doses in pregnancy debated (culinary amounts acceptable; consult clinician).

Interactions: Talk to provider if on medication; theoretical additive effect with anticoagulants/antiplatelets at high supplement doses (described inconsistently). | May potentiate anticoagulants (modern note, not in source). | None specified by source. Modern: possible additive bleeding risk with anticoagulants in high doses. | Anticoagulants (dose-limit; mild antiplatelet effect). | May influence bleeding times (inhibits thromboxane synthase, prostacyclin agonist); large doses (12–14 g) may enhance anticoagulant drugs. | Theoretical additive antiplatelet/anticoagulant at high supplement doses. | Theoretical additive antiplatelet/anticoagulant effect (warfarin, aspirin, antiplatelet herbs); possible additive effect with antidiabetic and antihypertensive drugs at high doses. | Anticoagulants/antiplatelets (possible additive bleeding at high doses), antidiabetics, antihypertensives.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Supplements may be safe but consult provider; limited breastfeeding data. | High-dose medicinal use should follow medical advice (emmenagogue) (modern). | Excellent and safe for pregnancy nausea within the ≤2 g/day limit. | Per Commission E, not recommended for morning sickness; TCM advises ≤2 g dried ginger daily in pregnancy. | Consult provider in pregnancy for supplement doses (may help pregnancy nausea). | Safe at culinary/low doses (used for morning sickness); caution at high doses/concentrated extracts. | High medicinal doses debated; culinary amounts considered acceptable; consult clinician.