Ginger & the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)

As an herbalist-RN, my first recommendation for my patients starts with food. Food is our first medicine. Since we all have to eat, it’s a good place to begin.

As our Endocannabinoid System is very dependent on our food intake, my research has shown that MANY, MANY, food and medicinal plants impact our ECS, either by directly activating or blocking the CB-1 and CB-2 receptors, by targeting related receptors, by inhibiting or building their breakdown enzymes, or by actively or indirectly contributing to the creation of our endocannabinoids. It’s a complex system!

Our two endocannabinoids, anandamide and 2-AG, are both made of linoleic (omega-6) fatty acid. So, foods with any fat-related compounds can frequently be turned into building blocks for our ECS. 

One of these foods is ginger (Zingiber officinalis), the peppery, aromatic root (rhizome, actually), a common flavor in Asian food. Ginger has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. These rhizomes are the part with the goodies! Of the 115+ components in fresh and dried ginger, it’s the gingerols in the rhizomes which are the most abundant.

Gingerol is a lipid, too, and is included as part of the “Extended” ECS. It can activate the TRPV-1 receptor, a related receptor, but not the “Classic” CB-1 or CB-2 receptors. This TRPV-1 receptor is one of the many non-cannabinoid receptors that indirectly form part of the “Extended” ECS. It is activated by excess heat, capsaicin, ginger and various lipids, initiating or reducing the sensation of pain, based on the context and duration of the activation. Interestingly, short term activation leads to pain, but prolonged activation brings pain relief.

While these gingerol lipids link into the ECS, our endocannabinoid anandamide (a lipid) can also activate this TRPV-1 receptor, in addition to activating the “Classic” receptors, leading to reduced pain and inflammation by several pathways.

Fresh ginger as tea is used for nausea, diarrhea, colds, flu, and damp coughs. But dried ginger is even more effective, including for chemo-induced nausea. It is also used for joint and muscle pain, and poor circulation to the hands and feet.

Ginger may enhance bleeding in those on blood thinners, but other studies show no significant issues, if it’s used at normal doses. It does reduce the availability of the immunosuppressant cyclosporine in rats. So, use it with caution. And consult with your herbalist!

Bauman H and Hill K, Food as Medicine, Ginger (Zingiber officinale, Zingiberaceae), HerbalEGram: Volume 12, Issue 3, March 2015.
Kuhn M and Winston D, Herbal Therapy & Supplements, 2nd Edition, 214-219, Walters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31207668/