Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a herbaceous plant of the Zingiberaceae family, originally from the island of Java, India and China, from where it spread throughout the tropical regions of the world. In northern Brazil is also known for mangarataia.

It is a perennial plant of the family Zingiberáceas, which can reach more than 1 m long. The dark green leaves are born from a hard stalk, thick and underground (rhizome). The flowers are tubular, light yellow and come in upright spikes.

In Brazil, ginger arrived less than a century after the discovery. Naturalists visiting the country (colony at the time) thought it was a native plant, it was common to find it in wild state. Today, ginger is grown mainly along the coast of Espirito Santo, Santa Catarina, Paraná and the south of São Paulo, due to the climate and soil conditions more appropriate.

Ginger is well suited for body detox programs, besides being a powerful anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antioxidant and bactericide. It is used to treat nausea, vomiting, headache, chest congestion, cholera, influenza, diarrhea, stomach pain, rheumatism and nervous diseases. This plant is an excellent remedy for sore throat, asthma, bronchitis, and help in fighting cancer.

This plant can also be used as an antibiotic, as well as having components that treat depression. The extracts stimulate the vasomotor and respiratory centers.