Black galingale

BotanicalBest in the morning

What is it

Black galingale (Kaempferia parviflora), also called black ginger, is a Thai ginger family rhizome used traditionally as a tonic. Standardized extracts are marketed for exercise performance, energy, and male sexual health.

Evidence for 2 uses

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Exercise performance

Limited Evidence

Small randomized trials suggest modest improvements in muscular endurance and grip strength with standardized extract over 4-12 weeks. Effect sizes are small.

Erectile function

Limited Evidence

Limited human trials suggest improvement in erectile function scores in older men; larger trials are needed.

How it works

Black ginger contains methoxyflavones, including 5,7-dimethoxyflavone and 5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone, studied for phosphodiesterase inhibition, mitochondrial activity, and effects on testosterone-related pathways. Small human trials have explored effects on exercise performance, muscle, and erectile function.

Dosage

Human trials have used 90-180 mg/day of standardized extract (often standardized to total methoxyflavones). DSLD label data does not provide a consistent median dose.

When and how to take it

Often taken in the morning or before exercise. May be taken with or without food.

1 commercial form

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Standardized rhizome extract

Most common format; standardized to a percentage of methoxyflavones.

Methoxyflavone absorption improved with fat-containing meals

Safety

Short-term trials report good tolerability. Headache and stomach upset have been reported. Long-term safety is not well characterized.

Who should be cautious

Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding due to limited data. Caution with hormone-sensitive conditions or in people on PDE5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction.

Interactions

Methoxyflavones may inhibit cytochrome P450 enzymes in vitro; clinical relevance is uncertain. Use caution alongside medications metabolized by CYP3A4.

Food sources

Black ginger rhizome

Amount
variable
%DV
—

Frequently asked questions

Is black ginger the same as regular ginger?⌄

No. Black ginger (Kaempferia parviflora) is a different species with distinct methoxyflavone compounds and is not used as a culinary spice.

Will it boost testosterone?⌄

Some animal and small human studies suggest indirect effects on testosterone-related pathways; results are not consistent across trials.

References

Black galingale on Wikidata — Wikidata link

Black galingale on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Black galingale (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.