Ginger benefits brain aging and inflammation, memory, attention, anxiety, depression, and more. Learn how to best use ginger as a food or supplement.
Ginger is an herb that’s remarkably versatile, both as a culinary spice and as a natural remedy.
It’s most commonly used as a digestive aid but offers a number of little-known benefits for the brain as well.
Here’s a look at the many mental health benefits of ginger and how to get the most therapeutic value from this potent herbal remedy.
Traditional Uses for Ginger
Ginger is one of the oldest and most widely used culinary spices in the world.
It comes from the rhizome (botanically similar to a root) of a flowering plant native to China (Zingiber officinale), but can be grown anywhere the climate is warm and humid.
The world’s largest producer of ginger is India.
Ginger has been used for over 5,000 years as a medicinal herb in both traditional Chinese and Indian Ayurvedic healing practices.
Its top traditional use is for treating digestive disorders of all kinds, but it is also used to treat colds, arthritis, migraines, and hypertension.
How Ginger Works: An Overview
Science is now beginning to understand how ginger works as a natural remedy.
So far, more than 400 bioactive compounds have been identified in ginger.
At least 50 of these are antioxidants.
Antioxidants are particularly important for the brain since it’s highly susceptible to oxidative damage.
Ginger is anti-inflammatory, which makes it a popular remedy for treating the inflammation of arthritis.
Chronic brain inflammation, linked to many neurological and psychiatric disorders, underscores ginger’s anti-inflammatory role in brain health and function.
- anxiety
- Alzheimer’s
- depression
- Parkinson’s
- schizophrenia
- suicidality
Ginger’s anti-inflammatory effects on the brain are attributed mainly to two unique compounds, 10-gingerol and 6-shogaol.
Ginger increases blood flow to the brain.
Adequate blood flow is vital because blood delivers nutrients to the brain and removes metabolic waste, toxins, and other debris.
Ginger can increase levels of neurotransmitters, chemicals that brain cells use to communicate with one another.
And finally, ginger, like the Indian spice turmeric, contains the compound curcumin.
Curcumin is naturally anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal.
[Learn why curcumin is considered “nutritional gold” for your brain and mental health.]
Used to treat depression, anxiety, brain aging, and neurodegenerative diseases, it’s a powerful herbal brain supplement ingredient.
Research has found curcumin to be as effective for depression as the antidepressant Prozac.
7 Brain-Enhancing Properties of Ginger
The ancients who used ginger for healing were on the right track and largely had its benefits right.
Here’s a look at what the latest research shows about ginger’s benefits for brain health and mental wellness.
1. Ginger Protects the Brain From Damage
Ginger is rich in antioxidants that protect the brain from free radical damage.
Unattached oxygen molecules, known as free radicals, are a natural byproduct of metabolism.
“ So far, more than 400 bioactive compounds have been identified in ginger. At least 50 of these are antioxidants.
But overproduction of free radicals leads to inflammation and premature cell aging, and can even damage cell DNA.
The brain is particularly susceptible to free radical (oxidative) damage because it uses a lot of oxygen.
Free radicals are caused by things we are exposed to every day, including:
- air pollution
- alcohol
- exposure to toxins
- fried food
- mobile phone radiation
- stress
- tobacco smoke
The antioxidants in ginger also defend the brain against further damage and improve memory loss after a stroke.
In addition, ginger shields glial cells in the brain from damage.
These specialized brain cells help preserve neurons and remove the metabolic debris and toxins in the brain that contribute to Alzheimer’s.
2. Ginger Balances Brain Chemicals to Alleviate Depression
Ginger increases the level of two of the most important mood-boosting neurotransmitters, serotonin and dopamine.
Low levels of both neurotransmitters are strongly linked to depression.
Serotonin earns the moniker “happiness molecule” for its crucial role in maintaining a positive mood.
Considered the “motivation molecule,” dopamine aids focus and productivity.
It’s also in charge of your pleasure-reward system.
Additionally, ginger can help depression due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Inflammation is now gaining scientific acceptance as a root cause of depression.
3. Ginger Helps Improve Memory and Attention
Traditionally, ginger has been used to treat memory loss and dementia.
Now, research shows that it enhances a wide variety of other cognitive functions besides memory.
Healthy adults showed improvements in working memory, reaction time, and attention when given dried ginger supplements.
Ginger may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.
Acetylcholine Supplements for Memory & Cognition (detailed guide)
Bioactive compounds found in ginger increase the activity of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in learning and memory.
The most commonly prescribed Alzheimer’s drugs are based on a similar mechanism.
These cholinesterase inhibitors work by blocking an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine.
4. Ginger Can Protect Against “Diabetes of the Brain”
Ginger should be a welcome addition to the diet and supplement regimen of anyone with diabetes.
It can help with blood sugar control for those with type 2 diabetes.
Antioxidants found in ginger, known as gingerols, enhance insulin sensitivity and can help prevent diabetic complications, many of which are neurological.
Controlling blood sugar levels is very important for long-term brain health in everyone, especially those with diabetes.
Researchers now suspect that Alzheimer’s disease is a type of diabetes occurring when brain cells become insulin-resistant, unable to take up blood glucose, the brain’s main energy source.
5. Ginger Combats Adrenal Fatigue
The HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis) is a complex network of interactions between the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal glands that control the stress response.
Chronic stress can lead to dysfunction of the HPA axis system, commonly referred to as adrenal fatigue or adrenal insufficiency.
Overwhelming tiredness is the primary symptom of adrenal fatigue, but other symptoms include brain fog, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and an inability to handle stress.
Michael Lam, MD, is an expert on adrenal fatigue syndrome and the author of Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome – Reclaim Your Energy and Vitality with Clinically Proven Natural Programs.
He recommends ginger root, along with ginkgo and ginseng, as part of his natural adrenal fatigue treatment protocol.
These adaptogenic herbs increase energy and resilience to stress by strengthening the adrenal glands and modulating the levels of stress hormones.
6. Ginger Provides an Antidote to Neurotoxic Glutamate
Glutamate is an important neurotransmitter but, in excess, becomes neurotoxic and can even cause brain cells to die.
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a ubiquitous food additive that can spike glutamate to unhealthy levels.
Commonly reported side effects of MSG include:
- asthma
- brain fog
- heart palpitations
- migraine headaches
- mood swings
- muscle weakness
- sweating
MSG causes a cluster of symptoms known as MSG symptom complex.
MSG is common in processed, salty foods including salty snacks, soy vegetable protein, canned soups, and ramen noodles, but it is most associated with Asian restaurant food.
Asian cuisine generously uses ginger.
This is fortuitous since ginger shields the brain from the neurotoxic effects of MSG.
If you are sensitive to MSG, take supplemental ginger when you start to feel the side effects of MSG.
7. Ginger Reduces the Pain of Migraine Headaches
Ginger effectively reduces the pain of migraine headaches.
Its therapeutic effects compare favorably to the commonly prescribed migraine drug sumatriptan (Imitrex) which works by narrowing blood vessels to the brain.
Sumatriptan is not suitable for everyone, carries numerous side effects, and should not be combined with SSRI antidepressants.
Together, SSRIs and sumatriptan can lead to dangerous serotonin syndrome.
Ginger, on the other hand, can relieve headache pain with no dangerous interactions or side effects.
How to Consume Ginger: Supplements, Elixirs, Teas
Ginger is available in many forms for use as a food and as a supplement.
Most well-stocked grocery stores carry fresh ginger.
Or you can buy one of the many ginger products available.
Ginger People, a top brand of ginger products, offers a full line of ginger products — jars of minced or grated ginger, ginger juice, pickled ginger, dried ginger, and ginger candies.
You can buy ginger supplements in the form of capsules, loose powder, crystals, essential oils, extracts, and tinctures.
Here are a few of my favorite ways to use ginger therapeutically.
Traditional Anti-Anxiety Ginger Root Elixir
An Indian elixir, traditionally crafted with ginger, is believed to restore balance to an overactive mind.
By increasing energy to the digestive system, it draws excess energy away from the brain.
You can make this traditional anti-anxiety ginger tonic by combining 1 teaspoon minced ginger root with 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon honey.
Take this tonic by the spoonful 3 times per day.
Antidepressant Duo: Ginger and Magnolia Bark
Magnolia bark extract (Magnolia officinalis) is a traditional Chinese herb used to treat depression and anxiety.
When taken together, ginger enhances magnolia bark’s antidepressant properties.
Ginger Tea: For Caffeine-Free Energy
It’s reported that ginger tea can elevate mood and banish negative feelings and that even a whiff of ginger can lift your spirits.
By increasing blood flow to the brain and modulating blood sugar levels, ginger tea can help keep energy levels up during the day.
World-famous biohacker Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek, claims that he has personally tried just about everything to boost his mental performance, including most nootropics, smart drugs, and even psychedelics.
He now starts the morning with a brew of ginger and turmeric added to yerba mate or to pu-erh, a prized aged tea — a combination he calls “rocket fuel for the brain.”
He prefers this to coffee since he experiences no caffeine crashes.
You can buy ginger tea bags or make your own ginger tea concoction by adding grated ginger to any drink, hot or cold.
Drinking ginger tea or adding ginger to your favorite beverage offers healthy alternatives to highly caffeinated drinks like coffee, soda, or energy drinks.
Ginger Dosages, Side Effects, and Interactions
A typical dose of ginger is 1 gram.
The easiest way to ingest this is to take 2 ginger capsules since most supplements contain around 500 mg per capsule.
Here are some ginger dosage equivalents:
- 1 teaspoon of fresh, grated ginger root
- 2 droppers (2 ml) of liquid ginger extract
- 4 cups of ginger tea made by steeping 2 teaspoons of grated ginger in 32 ounces of water for 5–10 minutes
- 2 pieces of crystallized ginger, approximately 1-inch square and 1/4-inch thick each.
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Sometimes dried ginger can cause gas, bloating, heartburn, or nausea, but these side effects are rare.
Note: Supplemental ginger is not always safe.
Although ginger has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing morning sickness, doctors advise consulting them before taking ginger supplements during pregnancy.
According to Drugs.com, supplemental ginger should not be mixed with over 60 drugs.
Some of these are blood thinners since ginger has some blood-thinning properties.
If you take medications for diabetes or high blood pressure, discuss taking supplemental ginger with your doctor since it may require adjustments to your medication.
In the meantime, you can check for interactions between ginger and any medications you are taking by using one of these online interaction checkers.
Recommended: Upgrading brain health is key to making your brain work better.
Brain supplement can help you:
- Improve your mental clarity and focus.
- Boost your memory and your ability to learn.
- Increase your capacity to think critically, solve problems, and make decisions.
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