Finger Root
Boesenbergia rotunda
An Asian member of the ginger family used as a spice. A finger root mouth gargle reduced mouth sores in a trial of cancer patients.
Safety at a glance
- PregnancyNothing recorded
- BreastfeedingNothing recorded
- MedicinesNothing recorded
- Who should avoid itNothing recorded
- AllergiesNothing recorded
- ToxicityNothing recorded
Tap a box to read the safety notes below. “Nothing recorded” means our sources don't cover it, not that it's safe.
What is Finger Root?
- Plant family
- Zingiberaceae, the ginger family
- Parts used
- The finger-shaped rhizomes (underground stems)
- Where it grows
- Southern China, Southeast Asia and South Asia
- Genus
- Boesenbergia
- Species
- rotunda
Also called
Fingerroot, Chinese Ginger
Traditionally used for
- Spice
- Appetite
- Pain (folk use)
- Mouth sores
Traditionally described as
- Contains panduratin A
Natural compounds
What does the research say?
Traditional use
These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.
Finger root is a food plant and spice in Asia, traditionally used to help appetite and relieve pain.[1]Study
Laboratory & animal research
Lab and animal results show what might be worth studying in people. They don't show that the herb has these effects in humans.
In lab and animal studies, finger root extracts and compounds slowed cancer cells, calmed inflammation, killed bacteria, acted as antioxidants, reduced weight gain and protected the liver and kidneys.[1]Study
Research in people
In a trial of 56 people having chemotherapy and radiation for head and neck cancer, a finger root mouth gargle led to fewer mouth sores than no gargle (30% vs 41%). Side effects were similar in both groups.[2]Study
In short
In the mouth-gargle trial, side effects were similar to no treatment.
Sources
- [1] Traditional usages, chemical metabolites, pharmacological activities, and pharmacokinetics of Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf.: a comprehensive review · DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1527210Peer-reviewed study
- [2] Boesenbergia rotunda extract-based mucoadhesive mouth gargle for chemoradiation-induced oral mucositis: A prospective randomized controlled study · DOI: 10.1007/s00520-026-11282-wPeer-reviewed study
This information is educational and traditional in nature, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Unfamiliar word? See what these words mean.