Updated 29 January 2024

Botanical characteristics

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Subdomain: Tracheobionta 
• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Liliopsida
• Subclass: Zinziberidae 
• Order: Zinziberales
• Family: Zingiberaceae
• Part used: Rhizome
• Country of origin: China, Sri Lanka, Thailand

Precautions for use

Ginger essential oil is quite flexible in its use.

All routes of administration are possible and only pregnant women and babies are prohibited from using it.

However, they can use it in diffusion and pregnant women over 3 months in skin application and ingestion under medical advice.

It is also important to dilute it when applied to the skin, as it is dermocaustic in its pure state and irritating to the skin.

Other precautions

Warning:

• Pregnant women over the age of 3 months can use it by mouth or diluted on the skin and under medical prescription.

Cutaneous use:

• Ginger essential oil is dermocaustic and irritating to the skin, so it should be diluted 20% in vegetable oil (20% essential oil to 80% vegetable oil).

Diffusion:

• Babies and pregnant women can use this essential oil in air diffusers.

Contraindications:

• Do not use if taking anticoagulants or before surgery.

Allergenic components:

Ginger essential oil contains several biochemical allergenic components:

• Geranial + neral (≤ 3%)
• Limonene (≤2%)
• Geraniol (≤ 2%)
• Linalool (≤1%)

Note: It is best to test the essential oil before use (two drops on the crease of the elbow for at least 24 hours to check for a reaction).

Authorised users

Risks of use

 Skin irritation

 Pure dermocautic