Ginger is an herb. The rhizome (underground stem) is used as a spice and also as a
medicine. It can be used fresh, dried and powdered, or as a
juice or
oil.
Ginger is commonly used to treat various types of "stomach problems," including motion sickness, morning sickness,
colic, upset stomach, gas, diarrhea,
nausea and vomiting after surgery, as well as loss of appetite. Other uses include treating upper respiratory tract
infections,
cough, and bronchitis.
Al-Suhaimi EA, Al-Riziza NA, Al-Essa RA.
Physiological and therapeutical roles of ginger and turmeric on endocrine functions. 1. Am J Chin Med. 2011;39(2):215-31. 
The natural product
ginger (Zingiber officinale) has active constituents gingerol, Shogaol and
Zerumbone, while
turmeric (Curcuma longa) contains three active major curcuminoids, namely,
curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin. They have the same scientific classification and are reported to have anti-inflammatory and many therapeutic effects. This article reviews the physiological and therapeutic effects of
ginger and
turmeric on some endocrine gland functions, and signal pathways involved to mediate their actions. With some systems and adipose tissue,
ginger and
turmeric exert their actions through some/all of the following signals or molecular mechanisms: (1) through reduction of high levels of some
hormones (as: T4, leptin) or interaction with hormone receptors; (2) by inhibition of cytokines/adipokine expression; (3) acting as a potent inhibitor of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating
enzymes, which play an essential role between
inflammation and progression of diseases; (4) mediation of their effects through the inhibition of signaling transcription factors; and/or (5) decrease the proliferative potent by down-regulation of antiapoptotic genes, which may suppress tumor promotion by blocking signal transduction pathways in the target cells. These multiple mechanisms of protection against
inflammation and oxidative damage make
ginger and
curcumin particularly promising natural agents in fighting the ravages of
aging and degenerative diseases, and need to be paid more attention by studies.