Ginger Allergy | Allergy

Ginger Allergy

by Allergy Guy

It is possible to have an allergy to ginger. In this case, you may have a food allergy to other members of the Zingiberaceae family including various species of ginger, turmeric, and cardamom.

If you have an allergy to ginger, do not take ginger supplements.

Allergy Symptoms

Rashes are sometimes reported by those with contact sensitivity to ginger.

Eye allergy symptoms have also been reported.

Allergy Treatment

Avoid consuming ginger or ginger supplements.


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{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Molly April 13, 2019 at 23:46

I’m years late to this, but after a lifetime of feeling like a freak, it’s cool to see other folks with ginger allergies. I’ve had it all my life. Even the smallest exposure causes severe gastrointestinal pain, full-body cramping, elevated blood pressure, bad headache, and sometimes vomiting. It generally takes days to recover, ugh. (I have a chronic illness, so my body is a stinker when it comes to recuperating.)

I find that Fall & Winter are the worst times, thanks to holiday baking and the Pumpkin Spice craze. I usually get poisoned at least once during the holidays by friends or family members who swear that whatever they’re serving me is ginger-free.

I wish food companies had to list each spice individually on labels! Even when I’ve called and explained the issue, most still tell me that information is ‘proprietary’. I guess trade secrets are more important than people’s health.

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2 Brianna July 3, 2018 at 14:23

I noticed that when I eat ginger type cookies, I get red in the cheeks and it tingles a bit. I eat a Lot of Chinese food and do not get the same reaction. Anyone have any idea why?

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3 yp August 19, 2016 at 07:50

My allergy test confirmed that I was allergic to Ginger. I would like to know what restaurants include ginger in their prepared foods. Also, what foods that are available in the Grocery Stores that contain ginger as one of its ingredients.

It is easy to find ginger as one of the ingredients if ginger is part of the food name. (ginger bread, ginger snaps, etc.) Also, some Chinese Foods have ginger in them

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4 DLaity February 19, 2016 at 15:15

I have a known adult-onset allergy to ginger. Always verging on anaphylaxis, but we’ve learnt over time to manage it without Epi.

Tonight, my fella brought home a spice mix with no ginger in it (we were excited, we used to love to eat Indian before). Most of the ingredients (except Cassia and Kashmiri Chilli) I’ve come across before and since being allergic to ginger, but this dinner tonight kicked off a full anaphylaxis almost immediately.

Just wondering if anyone knows, are any of these ingredients ones I should also avoid?

Ingredients as per packet: Turmeric (30%), Salt, CUmin, Black Pepper, Coriander, Paprika, Star Anise, Green Cardamom, Cassia, Fennel (2%), Kashmiri Chilli, Black Cardamom, Clove, Rose Petal, Mace, Nutmeg.

Thanks in advance for any insight!

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5 Allergy Guy February 24, 2016 at 00:57

Tumeric is in the ginger family so that is the most likely culprit.

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6 Elaina Nelson July 25, 2018 at 19:55

Cardamom is also part of the same family as ginger and turmeric. It could have easily been both.

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7 Me May 24, 2015 at 02:11

I also have a ginger allergy and a bit relieved to see others effected with it as well as I have never met anyone else in day to day life that had a ginger allergy. Normally people are in almost disbelief when I say I am allergic to Ginger. I dIscovered the allergy when my husband made a meal he has made many times before but that time he added ginger and I had a reaction. I have since tested it out by trying ginger by itself and within minutes I had broken out and my tongue, lips, and throat were swelling. I have since been exposed to it several times unknowingly, since it is in so many things, and my reaction has only worsened. I try to be very careful, but it is in things you would never expect so it’s best to ask about everything you consume!

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8 Jazz January 10, 2015 at 23:03

I’m severely allergic anaphylactic allergic to Ginger, I’m also sensitive to turmeric. It’s in EVERYTHING! Cereals, yogurts, mustard, steak sauces, candy etc. If a label says “spice” don’t eat it. This allergy has changed my whole life.

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9 Gaz July 23, 2013 at 16:40

I took Ginger powder in my tea for about 9 months every day as recommended to lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol, I was fine at first then after a few months my body started to become allergic to it, if I just sip a bit of Ginger tea I feel like I can’t breathe properly and go all panicky and I get heart palpatations, it’s a very strange feeling like you are not in control of yourself, it can take a few days to feel 100% afterwards.

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10 Kathy March 27, 2015 at 16:15

Hi Gaz, I Had The Same Exact Feeling A Few Days Ago. I Had Always Drank Ginger So I Didnt Think It Was Allergy. At First I Felt Panicky And I Had Palpitations. After 2 Days My Jaw Started Tightening And I Have Ear Stuffiness And Mild Swollen Face. Did You Drink Any Over The Counter Antihistamines Or You Went To The Doctor. Please Let Me Know.- Kathy

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11 Njj May 3, 2013 at 18:25

I thought i had a Ginger allergy too until i went to a doctor yesterday. He did a needle test it was 45 on both hands (BTW It’s not painful ) 3 of them contained ginger after he did the test on me he told me to wait. When I opened my hands I was shocked that none of the ginger parts got red or hives or any thing. I went back inside and told the doctor to do the ginger test again because I was so sure that it was ginger he did it again and this time with a bit more ginger I went back in and nothing there Were two red spot that I didn’t know what were they caused by he told my you don’t have an allergy from ginger it’s something else In my mind I was like (no way but I am sure it can’t be ). It turned out that I have a dust mite allergy which explained every thing the hives in my legs ,hands ,the endless cold even asthma attacks ,red, itchy, watery eyes ,runny, itchy, stuffy noses,sneezing and feeling like having a sore throat .
I advice people to go to doctor I really did not want to go to a doctor but thanks to my mother whom I will be grateful to forever for helping me and encouraging me to go. I used to really think that it was a ginger thing just like some of you guys and the doctor told me that if you didn’t have it since you were born than you can’t have one now meaning it can’t pop out of no where.

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12 Allergy Guy May 3, 2013 at 21:53

Allergy tests really aren’t that accurate, they’re just a guide. If you now find you can eat ginger without a problem, great! But don’t count on it.

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13 Julie C March 4, 2017 at 07:58

Sorry, but I have a big issue with what this doctor told you in your last sentence. People can develop allergies to anything at any point in their lives. My son had eaten barramundi fish many times with no problems. Then one day he ate it and was covered in hives and tested allergic at the specialist and can now not eat it again. I have become allergic to ginger, tumeric and mushrooms at the age of 43 after eating them all my life with no problems. These allergies were also confirmed by an allergy specialist testing me. I have an autoimmune disease which I suspect is probably causing this as it appears my immune system has gone into overdrive.

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14 Zee January 21, 2013 at 13:21

Hi. I think am also allergic to ginger. I started taking as tea like 2 times a day @ least and now have been itching all my body since a day ago with rashes like mosquito bites.

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15 Atlgal August 28, 2012 at 09:24

I am allergic to Ginger. My favorite cookie: Ginger Snaps, when I am sick: Ginger Ale, and I love to cook a variety of different cuisines. I started with an aversion several years ago and blew it off(didn’t know what it was). Through the years, anytime I was sick or had Japanese I would get this unbearable burning, tortuous pain in my throat and (center)chest. When I finally deduced that it was Ginger, I had to surrender. And, there is no substitute for it. I hate it that we all have this allergy, or aversion. Take heed, the last experience I had sent me to the hospital. I felt like I was going into cardiac arrest and my life may be over. Thankfully, not the case.

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16 William magallanes June 19, 2012 at 05:08

what can ginger o to our body??

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17 Allergy Guy June 19, 2012 at 09:50

Ginger is generally very healthy and stimulates the immune system.

Only a very small number of people are allergic to ginger, and for them, eating ginger is not so healthy.

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18 Todd180 June 11, 2012 at 20:17

i do have a ginger allergy myself & when i eat it, my skin is covered & i mean COVERED in all these lumps…like the lumps that appear when you get stung by a mosquito. i can’t even look at ginger anymore for the fact that it might put me in hospital if i have it again.

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19 Argentina March 27, 2012 at 23:22

Love you all! I’m not alone! I discovered I have an allergy to ginger last week, when I decided to cook some Chinese food at home. I think that it is a kinda miracle for me to be alive. not kidding. I prepered rice with some vegetables in my wok and added to my preparation some fresh ginger. While eating my face tourned white and rounded and I felt like falling down. I couldn’t believe myself! It wasn’t the fisrt time I’ve eaten ginger. I’m from Argentina and is not as normal to eat it as in the US for example. And I’ve been there a couple years ago and I remember myself eaten it with no problem. I feel really sad. I love cooking ginger cookies but my doctor’s told me to not eat it anymore..

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20 liz January 19, 2012 at 18:30

Hi, I discovered I have an allergy to ginger a few years ago, my throat swells as well. I was wondering if anyone knew a link to foods or drinks to stay clear of. OR a list of beers that have it in it, cause I’ve noticed after drinking a few random beers (Boston lager) that my throat swells. Nothing like bud or keystone. Just wondering if there is a list. Thanks!

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21 Allergy Guy January 19, 2012 at 21:19

Hi Liz,

You should contact the breweries of beers that cause this and see if they add ginger to their beer. They may not, it could be something else you’re reacting too.

Please comment here if you find out anything one way or the other.

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22 Bex February 12, 2013 at 01:00

Hi, I have an allergy to ginger as well, when you mentioned then beers , especially lagers, one came to mind…Sam Adams with all of their seasonal ales. I’m pretty sure that the Oktoberfest is the one that they really mentioned that had ginger in it.
Hope this helps 🙂

Also watch out for steak marinades…they frequently use ginger ( I used to work in a restaurant)

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23 Norah November 15, 2011 at 22:17

Has anyone gotten a sore tongue and blisters from drinking strong ginger drink? I drank a lot of it over the weekend because of a cold and now my tongue is swollen and sore and my throat is raw and has little blisters. I don’t have strep, just a cold.

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24 Nij May 3, 2013 at 18:38

It could be that you used a lot of ginger and now it concentrated in your throat because the same thing happened to me and they told me that but I was using a breath spray which was about 75·· ginger . It might be nothing but you should go to a doctor just to be sure.

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25 Tricia Youngblood November 10, 2011 at 21:14

I’m also allergic to ginger. I can’t eat certain Chinese food. I usually chose sweet and sour, but I still check ingredients for ginger. I discovered my allergy when I went to a Chinese buffet. I ate lunch, then all of a sudden, I started choking. A good Samaritan saved my life that day. He had an epee pen and injected me. I would have died if I wouldn’t have gotten an injection. Ever since, I don’t touch the stuff.

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26 me. October 20, 2011 at 17:54

i also have an allergy to gingers. they try to attack me for my brunette locks. im so allergic, that even if they’ve died their hair, i come up in hives and rashes. i try to keep away from them and not eat it in my food, but they are secretly taking over the world and it is becoming increasingly harder. i hope your wife takes nessacery precations, like an EpiPen to stab them with. good luck.

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27 moi July 30, 2012 at 17:14

ha!

I’m on this forum trying to figure out why my daughter is complaining of watery eyes… thinking it might be ginger as I’m making ginger-fig compote.

and she’s a redhead – OMG maybe she’s allergic to herself!

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28 Njj April 15, 2013 at 19:11

Hi
I suffer from ginger allerjy too its horrible I can’t even smell it

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29 Gillian September 22, 2011 at 17:21

My mums been eating ginger for a year before she goes to bed,she spends the whole night itching and has also come out in rashes Gill

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30 olamide September 16, 2011 at 03:11

I have just concluded i am allergic to ginger.I use to make ginger tea cause i read its good for lossing weight and it medicinal but about a month ago i made this ginger tea a lilttle concentrated to help with the little cold i had only to have a severe cold,pharyngitis,and a lot of discomfort as pharyngitis comes with sore throat,swelling of the tongues,discomfort in my throat.i have been on prednisolone for about three weeks now and the symptoms disappeared but just this morning i took this ginger sweet and i am starting to get that awful feeling of discomfort in my throat,i have concluded ,i am allergic to ginger.

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31 Dunkelheit July 15, 2011 at 17:05

My husband always drank ginger ale and ginger beer just fine. Today he bought a ginger beer at a local international food store. He was excited at the extremely gingery kick of his fist few sips and the warm feeling as it slid down his throat. Then he told me he felt like he was on fire in a bad way. He got a sharp pain over his right eye and across the bridge of his nose. In less than 15 minutes after taking a few drinks, he said he felt like he was having an aneurysm.
Right now he is lying in bed miserable. I am wondering if he has a ginger allergy. I know some Chinese food has made him really sick before.

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