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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{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Kara July 10, 2011 at 00:39

I am not alone. So many look at me like I am crazy when I tell them I am allergic to Ginger. It started when I was young and progressed over the years. The smell of fresh Ginger would make the right side of my face Nd right arm go numb. At first when I would it Ginger in a dish I would get light headed and that not quite here feeling. Then it happened -I ate a dish with a large amount of Ginger. My throat began to swell. I was coughing uncontrollably. The not quite here feeling returned and my vision blurred. Thank you benadryl! I have not carried and Epi pen but keep benadryl on me always. I recently developed a cough that has lasted 2 going on 3 weeks. Could not pin point why but I would get better when I left the house and worse when I returned. I would go into coughing fits when I went in my bedroom and bath room. I believe we have found the culprit. My husband had started using a new body spray from bath and body. Ingredient – Ginger. I can’t wait to air out my room and bathroom so I can breathe normally again! All I can say is know your ingredients. And when in doubt avoid it!

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2 Bonnie July 11, 2011 at 16:31

wow, Kara! You really have a severe allergy to ginger. I only get migraines from it. It must be hard for you to watch out for it, it’s in so many different things. Yes, body lotions and soaps and teas too. Do you ever get to eat Asian food?

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3 linda May 10, 2011 at 21:26

I think i react to ginger also. I have only just realised this, this year. Every time we eat thai i feel ill(i always thought there was something wrong with the food). Iv recently brought a digestive tea which has ginger in it and realized that i also feel ill after drinking it. my stomach hurts and i get really bad gas, uncontrolable and real stinky!!
Is this normal???!!!

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4 Allergy Guy May 16, 2011 at 13:19

If you usually get this reaction to ginger, then it is normal for you. At least avoiding ginger is easier than avoiding some other allergens like gluten or yeast!

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5 Lorie May 1, 2011 at 18:46

I have been allergic to Ginger and Ginsing for a while. It has gotten so severe when either coming into contact with it thru the air, touch, taste,smelling that I have to carry an Epi pen around at all times, and have others in the house. The Dr. has advised me that I needed to show everyone that will be around me often how to use the pen and what to do afterwords. I will say, after being put on ice packs, oxygen and given many shots that I not only carry around my Epi pen, but Benedryl. The hospital and Drs. say to take 2x the dose normal of benedryl and eat a pepcid complete they contain anehistimene. I am trying to find all the alternate names to ginger and ginsing… Its very annoying to go into BATH & BODY works or anywhere that sales any kind of smell good stuff and have to rush out due to a reaction.
No one that works at these stores seem to know the ingredients… or any alt. names they have.
I can only say BEST OF LUCK to you all… its in shampoos,lotion,soap,food, diet pills, and cleaners…..

๐Ÿ™‚

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6 Bo April 14, 2011 at 10:25

I have been reacting to ginger for quite a while, mostly with migraines. There are a million sites that recommend ginger for nausea and also for migraines! This site finally helped me to confirm that I need to add ginger to my long list of trigger foods and I’ll be aware to see if I get the same symptoms from cardamom and turmeric. BTW, I’m also allergic to citrus, so that’s not an antidote for me!

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7 Michael March 20, 2011 at 00:49

I am a celiac. About three weeks ago I got the flu and felt like I wasn’t kicking it so I started drinking ginger tea about three times a day.Symptoms started appearing like swollen pads of my feet and hands and tingling in several areas of my body.At my wits end and problems in major muscles I did a web search for allergies to ginger because that was the one constant that I hadn’t thought of. The feeling I get when I eat wheat is like I am not able to complete a sentence without pausing several times and my head is spinning. This was similar with ginger. I noticed that when I eat citrus the effects of the ginger subside. Just a thought if you ever accidently eat ginger find an orange and it may help you.

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8 Allergy Guy March 21, 2011 at 09:18

Interesting observation, Michael, thanks!

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9 Tammy Trew May 1, 2012 at 01:45

Wow…that is a very interesting observation! My story about ginger is a bit different from most I have seen here and it just happened a little over three weeks ago now. So I have never had a known problem with ginger, I use turmeric in my cooking and actually take it orally as a supplement because dementia, alzheimers, and arthritis run in my family very strongly. I do have a low tolerance to gluten but not celiac’s, and I have a problem with casein but not lactose. My sister might have celiac and she also has a problem with gluten. So a few weeks ago I started making this tea with fresh squeezed Meyer lemon, including the zest of it, raw unfiltered organic honey, gynostemma tea, and decided to try adding freshly grated ginger to it! And well…lets just say that it looks real odd in my arm pits! I broke out only in my arm pits and I think I am not allergic to ginger but have a tolerance level that I apparently surpassed and this was the result. The reason I know it was the ginger was because my arm pits were healing and two things happened..I had not realized what the reaction was and had the tea again with only a small amount of ginger and they flared up again, then a couple of days later I ate a ginger cookie without thinking about it and within an hour they were all itchy and annoyed! I also know it was ginger because that was the only new thing that was in my food routine! I love fresh ginger in my tea and am sad that I probably can not have it now :(. I wonder if I use enough fresh squeezed lemon and only had it once in a while if I would be okay? I will have to try it in a month or so. I have been using fresh aloe vera combined with a calendula gel to heal my arm pits! Fun stuff when you break out there…you tend to look like a monkey for a while!LOL!

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10 Guest April 15, 2013 at 19:43

I sufferd from the same thing as soon as i eat something that contains ginger my arm pits flare up and wouldn’t stop itching them. Be careful with me it began with that and then it got worse so stay away from ginger and try another substitute.

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11 Jill February 22, 2011 at 11:00

I’m very allergic to ginger. 25 years ago, it started with a sore tongue, then progressed within a few years to stomach troubles. About 15 years ago I had lobster bisque (which I later found out was “loaded with fresh ginger”) and had all of those symptoms plus severe flu symptoms, a smashing headache and then passed out. The next morning I woke up with a “neck injury” or muscle spasms that required physical therapy for years. The last time I had ginger accidentally (of course), it was in lemon sorbet which my son asked me to try because he couldn’t pinpoint the flavor. Loving food as I do, I tried some off the tip of a teaspoon and headed into anaphalactyc shock. Until today I thought I was the only one with a severe allergy to ginger (and cardamom and turmeric). Thanks for your site.

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12 Sarah February 6, 2011 at 02:53

I also have a Ginger allergy, I used to only get hives. I went out for Chinese last night and I have been coughing, sneezing, swollen and itchy throat as well as my ears, no stop running nose and flem.balmier like I have a cold, it is summer, 39 degres today. So why have my allergy symptoms changed. I could out up with a few hives before, but this is driving me crazy

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13 Allergy Guy February 7, 2011 at 11:36

Sorry to hear about your ginger allergy, Sarah.

Allergies sometimes get worse with time and increased exposure.

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14 michael March 20, 2011 at 00:56

Sarah, find out if maybe your Chinese dish had soy sauce in it as well cause that sounds like celiac “wheat”symptoms that I experience. Try tamari Sauce instead. I’m not a doc though just a long time allergy sufferer. Good luck!

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15 Allergy Guy March 21, 2011 at 09:20

Note about tamari sauce: some brands are made with wheat, others not, so check the label first! San-J is my personal favorite, but be careful which type you get, some types are wheat-free, others not, even within the same brand.

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16 Ambra January 23, 2011 at 17:40

about a month ago I ate a reed’s ginger candy. At first I thought it was just really strong, but then noticed a burning sensation in my throat and a feeling that i would attribute to minor swelling. Last night i ate a ginger cookie and felt the same burning but no swelling in my throat. I’ve been eating ginger all my life and was wondering if this burning sensation could be because of an allergy.

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17 Shirlae September 29, 2010 at 07:50

I discovered yesterday that I’ve developed an allergy to ginger. Had two stem ginger biscuits and within half an hour, I was itching all over my body. When I got home I looked like I had a bad case of sunburn! From round my neck down my whole body to tops of my thighs I was red and very itchy. I took an anti-hestamine which helped after a couple of hours. I also sprayed myself with Elemis Apricot toner which helped stop the itch. Took another anti-hestamine this morning and it’s now subisded thankfully. I’d never been affected before although I used to feel a slight discomfort in my stomach after eating these but nothing dramatic. Won’t be eating them again!

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18 peter July 21, 2010 at 05:17

I too get a dry throat and get a cough from ginger.It is the ginger in my case.

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19 Andrea June 2, 2010 at 06:23

I think I may have an allergy to giner, but Im not sure. I have been cutting up raw ginger and putting it into boling water, then drinking it. I am getting headaches and a cough. Anyone agree its the ginger or could it just be sinus’s?

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20 Guest February 25, 2010 at 15:08

Cardamom

I think I may have a sensitivity to cardamom. I just drank some Shah hawaash (a Somalian tea) and within a few min I developed a horrible headache and my face was flushed. I have had a similar reaction to some Chinese food, and always chalked it up to a shellfish allergy ( I am allergic to clams). Now I am wondering if it could be the ginger. I also have the same reaction to large amounts of fennel.

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21 Floree October 31, 2009 at 17:58

Could a Dog be Allergic to Febreze with Ginger?

I used a Febreze Moroccan Bazaar air freshener with contains ginger and noticed my dog pacing around and trying to get away from the smell. I let her outside but later noticed her face looked swollen and she seemed to be sweating on her forehead. I kept her away from the rooms I sprayed and she improved overnight but has not been feeling that great. Can pets take Benadril for allergic reactions?

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22 admin November 2, 2009 at 23:34

Air fresheners do the opposite

You’re poor dog is probably reacting to the chemicals and artificial sent in the frebreze.

It’s not good for you either.

There is no reason to use ‘air fresheners’. They only mask the smells, which in turn indicate a problem – mold for example.

So now you have two problems: a health-sapping chemical source, and molds, which can be toxic and allergy-causing.

So now that you’re dog has recovered, ditch the air freshener, and fix what ever problem caused you to feel you needed it in the first place.

As for pets taking allergy medication, best you ask your vet about that.

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23 Mel December 4, 2009 at 01:45

fabreeze

It was stated when febreeze first came out it was dangerous to pets, especially puppies. Also, dogs can take benadril – dosage depends on the weight of your dog – find this out from your vet. I’ve gave my dog who had allergies Benadril also when she got bit from a bug-spider the suspect. Every animal is different I got the approval/dosage from my vet.

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24 Guest July 8, 2009 at 15:11

try lemon grass

I have a ginger allergy but lemon grass (which tastes virtually identical) does not seem to effect me…

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25 esma February 14, 2009 at 05:19

ginger make semen bloody

why when i take ginger or cardomom my semen will turn to blood

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26 timG43 January 4, 2009 at 21:17

Substitutes

Is there anything with a similar flavor that we can use in cooking… y’know… without killing us…?? ๐Ÿ™‚
~tim

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27 Guest October 11, 2009 at 22:16

try Allspice – it gives a

try Allspice – it gives a similar flavor, especially in desserts, but is from a completely different type of plant, so no allergy problems

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28 Ryan Nagle December 5, 2008 at 23:23

Home treatment

When my wife gets a rash from touching boiled Ginger or whatnot, she wraps the rash in cabbage or other leafy greens. It is a macro-bioticians belief that cabbage etc has various healing abilities for skin and fevers. Hope this helps someone, Ginger allergy seems rough.

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29 admin December 20, 2008 at 22:40

Thanks

Thanks for the tip. I’ll have to try that on my eczema.

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30 Anonymous September 3, 2008 at 16:02

stop eating ginger

stop eating ginger

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31 Eddy July 13, 2011 at 19:52

Wow I am so glad that I am not the only one that has this allergy. I have gotten really strange looks when I tell people that I am. Unlike some of you I get sever stomache problems and have to get fluids pumped back into me.

About the person(s) who said ‘don’t eat ginger’, Well thank you Captain Obvious I wouldn’t have been able to figure that out on my own.

What I would love to see is that certain food items that list just the generic ‘spices’ include what the spices are.

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32 Allergy Guy July 13, 2011 at 21:14

The “generic spices” listing can be a problem.

I guess you’d have to call up the food manufacturers if a number is available and ask them if there is ginger added, which sounds rather tedious, but necessary for some people.

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33 Sherry December 1, 2011 at 15:07

Thank you for showing my family that I’m not a big wierdo for being allergic to ginger. My allergy has increased with age. It initially caused heartburn, but after having my first child it has turned into a mouth blistering, whole body experience. Just a warning to those who are currently ‘mildly allergic’.
As far as labeling, calling the manufacture has mixed results. Some companies will refuse to answer because they think your trying to find out their secret recipe. When in doubt, choose other options.
Good luck everyone, and keep the benadryl handy!

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34 Lorie April 24, 2008 at 19:36

ginger allergy

I to have ginger allergy. I have also found that ginsing causes the same reaction. The only thing I have done is take benedryl when I have been around it, or exposed to it thru the air. Until today, that has worked. Now I have to get shots for this allergy. I am still researching to see what we can do.. So BEST OF LUCK to yall!

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35 Guest July 14, 2009 at 10:26

Ginger Allergy

I have recently developed a reaction to eating ginger. Within 10minutes it causes severe contractions of my stomach and then my bowels. I end up on the toilet for 2 – 3hrs. I have always eaten ginger – love it. The same reaction occurs for fresh as well as preserved, cooked or uncooked. Could there be anything else that I am eating/taking that could cause this sudden change. The only signficant change is I take 10mg of fishoil a day. Anyone out there that can help.

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36 Guest December 7, 2009 at 11:43

Ginger side effects

You are not alone! I used to tolerate ginger, but now it causes some pretty instant and awful side effects, with the pill form, the spice alone, or in ginger tea. I have to read labels more closely now, and many products just list “spices” without naming them.

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37 maria December 27, 2011 at 20:37

I had ginger about an hour and half ago and my thorat feels weird do u think maybe i am allergic to it?

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38 Anonymous November 21, 2007 at 14:09

Allergy to ginger

My wife appears to be allergic to ginger. She has breathing difficulty, sneezing and related reactions. Does anyone have any suggestions or know of treatments for this?

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39 Julie December 18, 2009 at 08:58

ginger allergy

I’m 17 and i found out a few years ago i have a ginger allergy. I have the same symptoms as you’re wife. Except i can’t be around it at all. My advice would be to maybe get an epi pen just in case she had a bad reaction. Benadryl is good to have too.

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40 Sandy April 27, 2010 at 06:34

My sister has recently developed a severe allergy to ginger after many years of eating ginger.
It is so fatal, that in 3-4 mins, other than the rash, and swollen palms and feet, her throat, tongue and inside nostrils start to swell up, she cant breathe, and if not rushed to a doctor to take an acute allergy intravenus shot, she could stop breathing. We are paranoid, about her being alone and not being able to reach a doc in time, at times. Any suggestions for instant reemedy that she can carry with her? I read an oversmart comment below saying ‘dont eat ginger’ obviously one wldnt eat if it were to kill you, but, it could be fed to her mistakenly whilst eating out etc.

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41 Allergy Guy April 27, 2010 at 09:27

It sounds like she might be getting an anaphylactic reaction to ginger.

If this is the case, an EpiPen would be a good thing for her to carry around.

I would not recommend just going out and buying one. She should see an allergist or at least a doctor to get further guidance to make sure this is appropriate for her, and to make sure she knows how to use it, and the implications of using it.

Hope that helps.

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