Shunthi (Dried Ginger) in Ayurveda: Properties & Everyday Use

What it is

Shunthi is the Ayurvedic drug name for the **dried rhizome of Zingiber officinale Rosc.** (family Zingiberaceae): distinct from adraka, the fresh rhizome (Shunthi review, JPSR). Its characteristic phenolic compounds include gingerols, the major polyphenols in the fresh rhizome, as well as shogaols and paradols (JPSR Shunthi review; J-AIM standardization study). NCCIH notes ginger is native to the warm parts of Asia and that its rhizome (underground stem) is the part used for health purposes (NCCIH).

Classical properties

• Taste (rasa): pungent (Katu)
• Qualities (guna): light (Laghu), oily (Snigdha)
• Potency (virya): warming (Ushna)
• After digestion (vipaka): sweet (Madhura)
• Doshas: traditionally said to settle Vata and Kapha; may increase Pitta

Traditional use

In Ayurveda, dried ginger is a household spice of the cold season and of heavy meals. Classical texts describe it as an appetizer (ruchikar) and digestive of undigested food (amapachaka), useful in vomiting (chhardi), abdominal distension, and constipation, among other indications (IJAAR review of adraka/shunthi). NCCIH similarly records that ginger has been used in folk medicine since ancient times, traditionally for asthma, flu, indigestion, and gastrointestinal discomfort (NCCIH). These are traditional claims: the trial evidence is assessed separately below.

What research has looked at

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy

This is ginger's best-supported use. NCCIH concludes that research shows ginger may be helpful for nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy (NCCIH).

In a representative randomized trial (n=128) comparing ginger with vitamin B6, both groups had reduced nausea scores and vomiting episodes (PubMed). Never use it in place of, or alongside, prescribed medicine without your doctor. A systematic review reports that one meta-analysis of 1,278 pregnant women found ginger taken for four days a safe and effective intervention for gestational nausea, and that another meta-analysis of six studies (508 participants) found ginger taken for at least four days produced a five-fold improvement in nausea and vomiting scores (Nassif et al. systematic review, 2022).

Menstrual cramps

Research suggests ginger dietary supplements might be helpful for reducing the severity of menstrual cramps (NCCIH); a 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis in Cureus examined ginger for primary dysmenorrhea (Negi et al., 2021). Evidence is preliminary rather than conclusive.

Knee osteoarthritis, motion sickness, and other nausea

• Knee osteoarthritis: ginger supplements might help symptoms, but NCCIH notes much of the research has been of poor quality. Topical ginger has not been shown to help (NCCIH; key reference: Araya-Quintanilla et al., Pain Physician 2020).
• Motion sickness: most studies have not shown ginger to be helpful (NCCIH).
• Chemotherapy-induced and postoperative nausea: it remains uncertain whether ginger adds benefit to standard treatments (NCCIH).

Safety notes

NCCIH's safety summary: ginger has been used safely in many research studies taken orally as a dietary supplement; side effects can include abdominal discomfort, heartburn, diarrhea, and mouth and throat irritation (NCCIH). The use of ginger supplements during pregnancy may be safe, but NCCIH advises consulting a health care provider first; little is known about safety while breastfeeding (NCCIH). If you take any type of medicine, talk with your health care provider before using ginger: some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways (NCCIH).

FAQs

Is dried ginger (shunthi) different from fresh ginger?

Yes. Shunthi is the dried form of adraka (fresh ginger rhizome), and the chemistry differs between the two forms: gingerols are the major polyphenols in the fresh rhizome, while the dried form's phenolics include gingerols, shogaols, and paradols (Shunthi review, JPSR; J-AIM). Most clinical trials used dried ginger powder capsules, which is closer to shunthi than to fresh ginger.

Does ginger help nausea in pregnancy?

Research shows it may help: meta-analyses summarized in a 2022 systematic review found ginger effective for pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting over at least 4 days (Nassif et al. systematic review), and NCCIH concludes ginger may be helpful for nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy (NCCIH). Check with your provider first, as NCCIH advises.

Does ginger help motion sickness?

Most studies have not shown ginger to be helpful for motion sickness (NCCIH). Evidence is stronger for pregnancy-related nausea.

Can I take ginger with blood thinners or during pregnancy?

NCCIH advises talking to a health care provider before using ginger if you take any type of medicine, since herbs and medicines can interact (NCCIH). Ginger use during pregnancy may be safe but should be discussed with a provider; little is known about safety while breastfeeding (NCCIH).

Sources

• NCCIH — "Ginger: Usefulness and Safety" (updated February 2025): NCCIH
• Nassif MS et al. "Integrative and complementary practices to control nausea and vomiting in pregnant women: a systematic review." Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP. 2022;56:e20210515 — PMC · PMC10123954
• "How Safe Is Ginger Rhizome for Decreasing Nausea and Vomiting in Women during Early Pregnancy?" (safety review) — PMC · PMC4649576
• A randomized comparison of ginger and vitamin B6 in the treatment of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. PubMed — PubMed · PMID 14649969
• Chhabra P et al. "A review on Shunthi (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) with special reference to Nighantus." Journal of Pharmaceutical and Scientific Innovation. 2020;9(6) — jpsionline.com
• Shambharkar N, Dongre N. "Adraka (Zingiber officinale Rosc.): a multidimensional drug in Ayurveda — a review." International Journal of Applied Ayurved Research. 2022 — ijaar.in
• "Standardization of Shunthi — Zingiber officinale." Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine — jaims.in

Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Herbal products can interact with medications and are not suitable for everyone. Talk to a qualified healthcare practitioner before use — especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, managing a medical condition, or taking prescription medicines.