Ginger spice is fairly well-known for all of its wonderful health benefits. It is good for detoxing, improving digestion and reducing inflammation. Well, ginger essential oil (buy it here) also has all of these marvelous uses and more. It is high in sesquiterpenes and gingerols, which are antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, expectorant, tonic, laxative, stimulant and warming to the entire body.
1. Prevent or Cure Infections
Mix 1 to 3 drops of ginger essential oil into 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil and use it to fight infections of all types, both internal and external. Coconut oil is great for this but you can use any carrier oil you like. You can mix this oil to a stronger dilution rate, even as much as 25%, but ginger EO is very strong. The 1% to 3% dilution rate should be all you need. If you do decide to use a stronger dilution rate, build up gradually and use the stronger oil for no more than two weeks.
2. Improve Your Digestive Tract Health
Take a ginger essential oil bath to improve the health of your digestive tract. Its natural anti-inflammatory properties will calm and soothe your digestive system so it can heal and function properly. All it takes is 2 to 3 drops in a bathtub full of warm water. Don’t make the water too hot. Remember, ginger EO is warming to the body. You just want the water to be comfortably warm. Soak until it cools.
*Stronger dilution rates should only be used for 10 days to 2 weeks at a time. The 1% to 3% dilution rate (1 to 3 drops per teaspoon) is fine for everyday use.*
3. Relieve Upset Stomach
Practice ginger oil aromatherapy with 2 to 3 drops of oil in your diffuser for 30 to 60 minutes to relieve nausea and upset stomach. You can also massage a few drops of the 1% to 3% ginger oil/carrier oil blend into your abdomen. For a quick and dirty remedy, simply take a few deep inhales right from the ginger oil bottle. Breathe it in deeply through the nose and out through the mouth. Ginger oil can be taken orally, too, for nausea and digestive troubles. Add 1 drop to 8 ounces of water or tea and sip it. Don’t overdo it, though. Too much ginger EO will cause digestive upset, heartburn, diarrhea and sores in your mouth.
4. Alleviate Stress
Add a few drops of ginger oil to 1/2 to 1 cup of distilled water in your diffuser and run it for 30 to 60 minutes to alleviate stress. If you suddenly feel your stress level rising, take a few quick inhales from the ginger essential oil bottle. You can also massage the 1% to 3% ginger oil/carrier oil blend into the back of your neck and shoulders. As the oil warms and relaxes your muscles you will feel the stress quickly melt away.
*Apply a small amount of a 3% ginger oil/carrier oil blend to an inconspicuous area and wait for at least a few hours to see if you get a reaction before you begin using it all over.*
5. Reduce Anxiety and Boost Your Confidence
Practice ginger oil aromatherapy to lower anxiety levels and boost your confidence and self-esteem. A 30- to 60-minute session two to three times a day will keep help you on an even keel. If you feel yourself getting anxious or losing your confidence and you don’t have time for aromatherapy, just take a few quick inhales from the bottle.
6. Treat Bronchitis
Use ginger essential oil aromatherapy or take it orally to treat upper respiratory infections and bronchitis. Its natural expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties will thin and loosen phlegm so that it can be more easily expelled. You can also massage the 1% to 3% ginger/carrier oil blend into your chest and back for warming relief.
*Be sure to get food grade ginger essential oil if you are going to take it orally. Ginger EO sold for aromatherapy or as therapeutic grade may not be processed for consumption or could be mixed with other oils that you should not ingest.*
7. Treat Colds and Flu
Diffuse ginger oil in the air, inhale it, massage it into your chest and feet or take it orally to fight colds and flu. Diffusing it in the air will help remove the germs and you will be inhaling the decongestant, expectorant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Massaging it into your chest and feet will warm your body to help fight off the illness. It is also very comforting when the weather gets cold, like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket.
8. Relieve Asthma Symptoms
Inhale the ginger oil directly from the bottle to quickly reduce inflammation in your airways or put 2 to 3 drops in your diffuser and run it for 30 to 60 minutes at a time. Ginger oil also naturally reduces stress and calms you.
9. Soothe Sore Muscles
Massage the 1% to 3% ginger/carrier oil blend into sore, achy muscles or take a bath with 2 to 3 drops of ginger oil in the bathwater. It has been shown to reduce pain, increase circulation and reduce the inflammation that can make your muscles sore after a hard day at work or a workout.
*The warming action of ginger essential oil may cause you to sweat. If you take a ginger bath at night, you might want to sleep on a big towel and shower in the morning.*
10. Alleviate Headaches
Inhale the ginger EO from your diffuser or the bottle to help get rid of headaches. You can also massage a few drops of the 1% to 3% blend into your temples.
11. Relieve Inflammation
Massage achy, inflamed joints with the 1% to 3% blend or practice ginger oil aromatherapy to relieve pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. You can use it twice a day. Ginger oil is excellent for this. Its warming action will warm and soothe your achy joints while it reduces inflammation and increases circulation.
12. Boost Your Metabolism
Rub a few drops of the 1% to 3% ginger essential oil/carrier oil blend into your chest once in the morning and at night before you go to bed to boost your metabolism. It can actually help you lose weight. Another way to use ginger for weight loss is to drink ginger lemon tea. Mix 4 drops of ginger oil, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey into 4 cups of hot water.
*Consult with your physician before taking ginger EO if you are on blood thinners, blood pressure medications or diabetes medications.*
13. Lower Your Cholesterol Levels
Drink ginger tea two to three times a day to help lower your bad (LDL) cholesterol. It doesn’t have to be lemon, ginger tea, although the lemon is good for you, too. Simply add 1 drop of ginger essential oil to a cup of whatever tea you like. It is great in lemongrass tea. If you don’t like tea, put it in plain water or plain water with a squirt of lemon juice. That’s good for you, too.
14. Attack and Eliminate Free Radicals
Take ginger essential oil orally, diffuse it or massage it into your skin to help eliminate free radicals. Damage to your entire body, including your kidneys, liver and skin, can be caused by free radicals. Ginger has been proven to eliminate these free radicals and can even inhibit cancer cells throughout the body, including the skin, lungs, kidneys and even the pancreas.
15. Improve Your Love Life
Massage a small amount of the 1% to 3% ginger oil/carrier oil into your feet, lower back and/or lower abdomen to boost your libido and eliminate impotence. With its natural warming action and ability to increase circulation, ginger oil is excellent for this. You can also add 2 to 3 drops to your diffuser and practice a little ginger aromatherapy while enjoying a candlelight dinner with that special someone to really get into the right mood.
*Talk to your doctor before taking ginger EO if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and before giving ginger oil to children.*
16. Alleviate Menstrual Cramps
Massage your abdominal area and lower back with the 1% to 3% ginger/carrier oil to get relief from menstrual cramps. It soothes the muscles and reduces inflammation. Try massaging it into your shoulders and neck, too. The warming relaxation will help relieve menstrual-related aches and pains throughout your entire body.
17. Boost Liver Function
Drink ginger essential oil tea to detox your liver and give it a nice boost. Actually, the ginger/lemon tea is fantastic for this. Alternatively, you can massage the 1% to 3% ginger oil blend into your abdominal area. Start in the area of your liver (upper right abdominal area) and gently massage the oil into your skin. Work your way over the rest of your abdomen, too, so the digestive system can efficiently eliminate the toxins.
Was this list helpful to you? I had been taking ginger spice for decades as an anti-inflammatory and for detoxification. Finding out about ginger essential oil was great. It is so much easier to use. Ginger spice just doesn’t dissolve really well in a hot cup of tea. The oil, well, simply add a drop and stir. It is good in nearly any kind of tea, even iced tea. I hope you will give this essential oil a try, especially during the fall and winter. I’m not exaggerating about its warming effects. I think you will really enjoy it.
Please leave a comment to let me know if this list is helpful and share your own personal experiences. We can all learn from each other and continue to add to the on-going list of ginger essential oil’s great uses. Be sure to share, too, so that others can become aware of all the uses for this essential oil.