Shunthi (Dried Ginger): Benefits, Evidence, Dosage & Safety

TL;DR

Shunthi is dried ginger, the rhizome of Zingiber officinale, distinguished in Ayurveda from fresh ginger (adraka). Ginger may ease nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (about 1 g/day for 4 days in trials) and possibly menstrual cramps; evidence for knee osteoarthritis and motion sickness is weak or negative. Side effects include heartburn and mouth irritation.

(56 words. Sources: NCCIH; ginger systematic review PMC10123954; JPSR Shunthi review.)

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).

Traditional use

In Ayurveda, ginger is a common household remedy for cough, cold, and indigestion. 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 modern research says

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). Study doses in pregnancy trials ranged from 1,000 to 1,500 mg/day (ginger safety review).

In a representative randomized trial (n=128), ginger and vitamin B6 both significantly reduced nausea scores and vomiting episodes, with no statistically significant difference between the two: i.e., ginger performed about as well as vitamin B6 (PubMed). A systematic review reports that one meta-analysis of 1,278 pregnant women found ginger at up to 1.5 g daily for four days a safe and effective intervention for gestational nausea, and that another meta-analysis of six studies (508 participants) found about 1 g/day 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

Dosage

Pregnancy-nausea trials used approximately 1 g of dried ginger per day for at least 4 days (doses across pregnancy studies: 1,000–1,500 mg/day): these are research regimens, not personal recommendations (Nassif et al. systematic review, 2022; ginger safety review). There is no single established dose for other indications.

Safety & contraindications

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 at about 1 g/day for at least 4 days (up to 1.5 g/day in one meta-analysis) (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

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.