Black ginger, while not as well-known as its cousin ginger, is a deep purple root whose health benefits are backed by both modern science and ancient tradition. Often referred to as “eastern viagra,” traditional uses of black ginger also extend to vitality, cardiovascular health, inflammation, and various other ailments.

Today, modern research findings are bringing black ginger into the limelight, and it's becoming a more popular choice for athletes and those looking for natural wellness support. 

Because of its unique profile of beneficial compounds and deep roots in traditional medicine, black ginger is a foundational ingredient in Rasāsvāda's black ginger spirit. A zero-proof functional beverage that harnesses the wellness-promoting benefits of black ginger and 17 other beneficial botanicals. 

Read on to learn about the history of black ginger and its research-backed benefits.

Botanical Overview

Black ginger health benefits

Botanical name: Kaempferia parviflora
Family: Zingiberaceae
Common name: Black turmeric, thai ginseng, “fountain of youth,” “eastern viagra,” black galingale, black galangal, krachaidam, krachaidam hoi, krachai dum 
Location: Thailand and sub-tropical regions of Southeast Asia

History of Black Ginger

Kaempferia parviflora, Black Ginger, cut open.

Black ginger is indigenous to Thailand, Cambodia, Burma/Myanmar, and Laos, and has been a cornerstone of traditional Thai herbal medicine for over a thousand years.  It’s used in teas, infusions, ointments, and even wines to treat an array of health issues such as inflammation, ulcers, gout, colic disorders, abscesses, allergies, and osteoarthritis. But its myriad uses extend beyond treating specific ailments. 

In Thai folklore, black ginger is often associated with narratives of love, desire, and virility, giving it the nickname “eastern viagra” and “fountain of youth.” It's been rumored to be used by Thai kickboxers before a match to aid in performance and endurance. 

Health Benefits of Black Ginger

Modern scientists have been able to pinpoint some of the properties that make black ginger such a versatile herb. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities make it useful for general well-being and more. 

Here we’ll explore the benefits and how black ginger works in the body.

1. Antioxidant Properties

Black ginger is a rich source of antioxidants— compounds that play an important role in keeping cells healthy. There are different types of antioxidants, and they all have different roles. 

The types of antioxidants in black ginger are:

  • Flavanols (polymethoxyflavones): May help promote blood flow, promote a healthy inflammatory response, and cellular health. These are found in citrus foods like grapefruit and oranges. 
  • Anthocyanins: Support heart health, fitness, and exercise endurance. Support cellular health and a healthy inflammatory response. These are found in dark purple fruits and vegetables like blueberries, acai, and raspberries. 

In general, diets high in antioxidants are linked to lower disease risk. This is because antioxidants help neutralize free radicals, compounds that can damage cells and contribute to an array of health issues. While oxidative stress is a normal part of life (environmental pollutants, lack of sleep, general stress, and alcohol are just a few factors that can cause oxidative stress), when left unchecked, it can lead to disease. 

That's why, in addition to other healthy habits, it’s important to eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables—  natural sources of beneficial antioxidants.

Rasāsvāda's black ginger spirit is an easy way to incorporate antioxidants and other botanicals into your daily ritual.

2. Sexual Health and Libido

Black ginger is traditionally referred to as “Eastern viagra,” and today’s researchers are working on confirming these findings with large human trials. So far, some animal studies have found that black ginger may have a positive effect on sexual health. These results were supported by one small human study that looked at factors such as sexual performance, like erectile function and male satisfaction.  

Researchers do have a clear idea of how black ginger may work to support men’s sexual health. Black ginger contains various types of antioxidants that are known to promote nitric oxide and influence testosterone levels. This is important because nitric oxide increases blood flow, and balanced testosterone levels are associated with sexual health.

3. Energy and Physical Fitness

When it comes to performance enhancement, black ginger isn’t like creatine or caffeine. It offers another effective way to support your workout. Black ginger has been found to act on the body's metabolism by way of antioxidants called polymethoxyflavones (PMFs). Black ginger helps your cells generate energy and generate it more efficiently—this is especially important during exercise. 

And scientists think that black ginger's effect on metabolism could help overall athletic performance, from strength to endurance.

A few studies have found that grip strength (the gold standard for assessing muscle strength) was improved, while other studies noted that endurance also improved. While this research corroborates black ginger's traditional use as a stamina and endurance enhancer, particularly among athletes such as Thai kickboxers, more human trials are needed to confirm these effects.

4. Cardiovascular Health

Black ginger may help support heart health by helping keep blood vessels elastic and flexible. Healthy blood vessels are key for preventing heart disease—  high blood pressure and clogged arteries (or plaque buildup) are caused by blood vessels hardening or becoming rigid. Black ginger promotes nitric oxide, which helps with blood flow and blood vessel health. 

Scientists also think the antioxidants in black ginger can help promote heart health by protecting the body from normal oxidative stress, a type of stress caused by naturally occurring, yet harmful, compounds called free radicals. Excessive or unchecked free radicals can cause damage to mitochondria, an important energy-producing component of the cell. Damage to mitochondria can lead to various types of heart disease. 

Bottom line: While drinking black ginger hasn’t been directly linked to a lower risk of heart disease, it contains antioxidants that are known to help support heart health.

5. Sleep-Wake Cycle/Jet lag

Your circadian rhythm, also known as your sleep-wake cycle, plays a role in many aspects of your health, not just your sleep. Your metabolism and immune system are also directly linked to your circadian rhythm, making it that much more important to maintain a regular sleep cycle. 

This is where black ginger may help. 

Some researchers have found that certain antioxidants found in black ginger can have a positive impact on the circadian rhythm for people who experience circadian rhythm disruption, like shift workers or those who experience jet lag. 

While the compounds in black ginger have this potential effect, more studies need to be done to confirm that consuming black ginger has a positive impact on weight management and circadian rhythms. 

6. Weight Management

Researchers are interested in seeing if black ginger may have the potential to help people living with obesity or those who are overweight. This is because the compounds in black ginger can have an impact on metabolism, including acting on how the body breaks down fats and carbohydrates. 

A few studies have looked at how black ginger can impact body fat percentage and other important health markers like triglycerides. Some early small studies have found that black ginger does influence energy expenditure and fat loss. However, the effect on weight was minimal, and more studies need to be done. 

7. Cognitive Support

Black ginger is traditionally used to support focus and mental sharpness, and modern science is beginning to explore its potential brain benefits. One animal study found that black ginger helped negate some of the negative effects that chronic stress has on the brain, including impairing memory and learning.   

While this is promising, researchers still need to conduct studies on humans to fully understand the impact black ginger has on brain health.

Rasāsvāda's Black Ginger Spirit Restorative

We selected black ginger as a foundational ingredient in our Black Ginger Spirit Restorative because of its powerful health benefits. It's sourced from Myanmar and Rasāsvāda is the only beverage in the U.S. that incorporates black ginger. It pays homage to both tradition and science, featuring pure black ginger balanced with other directly sourced plants, each with unique health-promoting properties. Black Ginger Spirit Restorative is made from 100% plants and is crafted to support recovery, libido, gut health, detoxification, and to provide natural GLP-1 support.

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Key Takeaways

Black ginger has been used for thousands of years in traditional Thai medicine. It’s used to treat a variety of ailments like joint discomfort, gout, allergies, and inflammation. It's known as the “fountain of youth” and “Eastern viagra” because of its usefulness for supporting vitality, sexual health, and libido. Today, researchers think it may be helpful for supporting heart health, performance and endurance, energy, and weight management.

FAQs

Black ginger (Kaempferia parviflora) has many health benefits. It may support muscle strength and endurance, energy, cardiovascular health, men’s sexual health, and weight management.

Sources

Journal of Food Chemistry | Black ginger (Kaempferia parviflora): A source of functional ingredient for food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications

Indian Council of Agriculture Research | Black ginger: Importance, cultivation and prospects for Mizoram

Nutrition Research | A systematic review and meta-analysis of animal and human studies demonstrates the beneficial effects of Kaempferia parviflora on metabolic syndrome and erectile dysfunction

Asian Pacific Journal of Reproduction | Effect of combined Kaempferia parviflora extract and fenitrothion treatment on male reproductive parameters in a murine model

Section Nutrition and Metabolism | Kaempferia parviflora Extract (SIRTMAX®) reduces body fat in adults who are overweight: a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

National University of Medical Sciences | Black ginger (Kaempferia parviflora): a review of historical use, pharmacology, preclinical and clinical studies, and safety.

100% plants. 0% preservatives.

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Longevity Duo

The Longevity Duo features Ruby Artemisia and Black Ginger—our two top-performers in scientific longevity screening tests for healthy aging. Together, they support longevity, gut health, detoxification, skin health, vitality, and more.

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