Ginger is an herb and a rhizome, an underground root. Fresh ginger can be found at any supermarket, but dried and powdered forms are readily available, as are ginger juices and teas. In addition to being used for medicinal purposes, it’s widely employed as a important cooking spice, especially in Asian countries such as India and China.

The key active components of the ginger are thought to be volatile oils and phenol compounds, such as gingerols and shogaols.