Black Ginger (Kaempferia parviflora): Uses, Benefits, Dosage & Safety
Last updated: August 2026 · Reviewed by the FactoWiki Editorial Team for clarity and source accuracy
Quick summary
Black ginger is a Thai rhizome, unrelated to common ginger, containing distinctive methoxyflavones. It has small but real human trials on physical performance, blood flow and — more interestingly — brown fat activation and abdominal fat in a Japanese study.
What is Black Ginger (Kaempferia parviflora)?
Kaempferia parviflora is a Thai plant known locally as krachai dam, used traditionally as an energy and vitality tonic. Despite the common name it is not the same species as culinary ginger. Its actives are polymethoxyflavones, chiefly 5,7-dimethoxyflavone.
What Black Ginger (Kaempferia parviflora) is commonly used for
Physical performance and endurance, blood flow and erectile function, metabolic and abdominal fat support, and general male vitality.
How Black Ginger (Kaempferia parviflora) works
The methoxyflavones inhibit PDE5 — the same enzyme target as prescription erectile dysfunction drugs, though vastly more weakly — which underlies the blood-flow claims. Separately, they appear to activate brown adipose tissue, which is the basis for the metabolic claims. Both mechanisms are supported by preclinical work and small human studies.
What the evidence says
Each claim below is tied to the specific study behind it, rather than to a general reading list.
- Twelve weeks of Kaempferia parviflora extract increased whole-body energy expenditure and reduced abdominal fat in a Japanese randomised trial. Matsushita et al., Nutrients, 2015 — randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. (PubMed)
- Supplementation improved physical fitness measures in healthy older volunteers. Wattanathorn et al., American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, 2012 — randomised controlled trial. (PubMed)
- Methoxyflavones from K. parviflora inhibit PDE5 in vitro. Temkitthawon et al., Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2011 — mechanistic study. (PubMed)
Typical dosage used in studies
Human trials have used 100–180 mg daily of standardised extract over 4–12 weeks.
Side effects and safety
Well tolerated in the available trials, with no significant adverse effects reported at these doses. Long-term data are limited.
Medication interactions and who should avoid Black Ginger (Kaempferia parviflora)
Medication & safety check
Because of the PDE5 activity, theoretical caution is warranted with nitrates and with prescription PDE5 inhibitors. Anyone taking nitrates for angina should avoid it without medical advice.
General information, not personal medical advice. If you take any medication, confirm it is safe to combine with Black Ginger (Kaempferia parviflora) with your doctor or pharmacist first.
Sources & further reading
The claim-level citations above are drawn from these sources:
- Matsushita et al., Nutrients, 2015 — randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial — find on PubMed
- Wattanathorn et al., American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, 2012 — randomised controlled trial — find on PubMed
- Temkitthawon et al., Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2011 — mechanistic study — find on PubMed
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
- NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Frequently asked questions
Is black ginger the same as regular ginger?
No. Different species, different active compounds, different effects. The shared common name is misleading.
Does it work like Viagra?
It acts on the same enzyme, extremely weakly. It is not a substitute for prescription treatment for erectile dysfunction, and anyone on nitrates should avoid it.
What is the strongest evidence?
The brown-fat and abdominal-fat trial is the most interesting result, though it is a single study in a Japanese population and needs replication.
Where you'll find Black Ginger (Kaempferia parviflora)
Black Ginger (Kaempferia parviflora) appears in Men's Vitality & Metabolism formulas. Browse the supplement guides to see the products we review, each with a full breakdown of formula, pricing and safety.
Related ingredients to explore
Ingredients often studied or formulated alongside Black Ginger (Kaempferia parviflora).
General information, not medical advice.