It is also thought to be helpful for stomach cramps, alcoholic gastritis and a hangover. The shogaol content in ginger increases the activity of the digestive tract and is particularly helpful in digesting rich, fatty foods.

 It is slightly diuretic and further cleanses the body by strengthening kidney function and increasing kidney filtration.

The chemical gingerol appears to inhibit an enzyme that causes cells to clot and thereby reduces platelet aggregation and blood "clumping." Ginger helps to retard the production of cholesterol by the liver and has been known to reverse the increase in triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, thus helping to combat heart attack.

For centuries, the Chinese have used ginger as a drying herb to eliminate mucus and have used it for colds, diarrhea and coughs. This sweet, pungent, aromatic and warming herb is still considered a fine treatment for congestion, colds, influenza, asthma and chronic bronchitis.It is said to ease cold symptoms, and the shogaol in ginger is thought to kill cold viruses. Its pain-relieving properties have been said to ease the abdominal pain sometimes associated with colds and flu and also to counter the pain of strep throat.

The herb inhibits the production of immune system components called cytokines, chemicals that create a long-term tendency toward inflammation and also stimulates blood circulation, offering pain relief, increased joint mobility, decreased swelling and morning stiffness.

 It is also thought to relieve the pain and stop the production of hormones that cause swelling in fibrocystic breasts. Important new research from the University of Michigan has indicated that ginger causes ovarian cancer cell death. Furthermore, it did so in a way that may prevent tumor cells from becoming resistant to treatment, a common problem with chemotherapy. In the laboratory tests, ginger caused two kinds of cancer cell death. The first is called apoptosis, in which the cells essentially commit suicide, and the second is autophagy, in which cells digest or attack themselves. According to Dr. J. Rebecca Liu, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, most ovarian cancer patients develop recurrent disease that eventually becomes resistant to standard chemotherapy, and if Ginger can cause autophagic cell death in addition to apoptosis, it may circumvent resistance to conventional chemotherapy. It's already thought that Ginger helps control inflammation, which contributes to the development of ovarian cancer cells, and by halting inflammation, ginger may stop cancer cells from growing, the researchers suggested.

The chemical, zingibain, in ginger kills the anisakid worm, a parasite sometimes carried in raw fish. The antibiotic activity of Ginger's shogaol and zingerone is said to strongly inhibit the growth of salmonella and other bacteria.