Gan Jiang Root vs Litsea cubeba

Side-by-side comparison of medicinal herbs

Herb

Gan Jiang Root

Zingiber officinale siccum

Digestive

Digestive

Gan Jiang Root

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

❌ Not recommended while nursing

Litsea cubeba

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

✅ Generally safe while nursing

Description

TCM dried ginger; warmer than fresh ginger; warms the interior, expels cold, and rescues yang; different TCM actions from fresh.

Deciduous aromatic tree of East and Southeast Asia with small pepper-like fruits yielding lemony essential oil.

Active Compounds

shogaols, gingerols, paradols, zingerone, volatile oils

citral, limonene, linalool, geraniol, flavonoids

Traditional Uses

Warms interior and expels cold, Rescues devastated yang, Warms spleen and stomach, Warming collapse conditions

Traditional Chinese medicine for digestive and heart conditions, Used in Southeast Asian folk medicine for pain and infections

Modern Uses

Digestive warming, Antiemetic, Cardiovascular warming, Anti-inflammatory

Antimicrobial action, Anti-inflammatory, Digestive support, Mood lifting aromatherapy

Adult Dosage

3-9g dried

Essential oil diluted 1-2% topically; Tea from fruits: 5g per cup

Contraindications

Heat conditions, Pregnancy caution with large doses, Peptic ulcer in excess

Skin sensitization, Pregnancy in high doses

Side Effects

GI heat in excess, Heartburn

Skin sensitization from essential oil, Mild gastrointestinal effects

Drug Interactions

0 known interactions

Reviewed by: HerbAlly Editorial Team, Medical herbalists and healthcare professionals

Sources: WHO Monographs · NCCIH · PubMed · Commission E