Does Ginger Help with Quitting Smoking and Bad Breath?

I read in a book that eating ginger root is good to help quit smoking and also is good for bad breath and odor. I wanted to know if eating ground ginger without food would give the same effects and is it harmful in any way to eat just plain ground ginger?

I don't know whether ginger root helps with quitting smoking or with bad breath. Because ginger is stimulating, it may serve as a substitute for the stimulating effects of tobacco.
Ginger is best taken with food. It contains strong oils that can be irritating if taken alone. Taken with food or other herbs, it supports digestion and absorption of nutrients through the stomach into the blood stream, and circulation of these nutrients to all parts of the body.
Powdered ginger can be taken if fresh is not available. The powdered form retains much of the benefit of the fresh form.