Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBenefitsHow It Helps NauseaHow to UseIs It Safe?DosageOther Tips
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Benefits
How It Helps Nausea
How to Use
Is It Safe?
Dosage
Other Tips
Ginger is a perennial herb with an edible root. It can be enjoyed in a cup of tea, a piece of candy, or to spice up your favorite dishes.
A healthcare provider might also recommendgingerto calm nausea, vomiting, or mild stomach upset. Since ancient times, ginger has been used for various medicinal purposes, including relief of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.
nongmin / Imazins / Getty Images
1. Mild Upset Stomach
Ginger can help calm mildstomach upset. It eases nausea because it acts directly on the stomach instead of the central nervous system.It can also reducebloatingandgasdue to fermentation and constipation.For an occasional upset stomach, tryginger tea, ginger tea with lemon, or ginger ale made with real ginger.
2. Menstrual Cramps
Research shows that 750–2,000 milligrams (mg) of ginger supplements taken daily during the first three to four days of a menstrual cycle may help treatdysmenorrhea(painfulmenstrual cramps) and decrease menstrual pain.Some studies show that ginger is equally effective on pain severity asnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), such as Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen), with few or no side effects.
Ginger can also help alleviate the nausea associated withpremenstrual syndrome(PMS). Ask your healthcare provider about using ginger for frequent nausea during your period.
3. Morning Sickness
Taking a divided daily dosage of 1,500 mg of ginger is likely harmless and possibly effective in treating pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting.If you havemorning sickness, experts suggest trying:
Speak with a healthcare provider before taking large doses or adding supplements to your diet.
4. Motion Sickness
5. Chemotherapy
Nausea is a common side effect ofchemotherapy. Ginger may help ease nausea from chemo without some of the side effects that come with taking prescriptionantinausea medications.
A research review found that participants who took no more than 1 gram of ginger per day for up to four days had significantly less acute vomiting than the control group.It is important to discuss the dietary supplements you use with youroncologistwhile on chemotherapy. Even natural herbs can interact with chemotherapy drugs and interfere with their effectiveness.
6. Postoperative Nausea
In one study, 1 gram of ginger was more effective than a placebo in preventingpostoperative nauseaand vomiting.Other research found ginger lowered the severity and incidence of nausea. However, it wasn’t better at lowering the incidence of post-op vomiting.
Ginger can reduce post-op nausea with few side effects. Another review also found that ginger does not affect the incidence rate of post-op nausea and vomiting.Discuss options for dealing with nausea before the day of surgery.
7. Certain GI Disorders
Studies suggest that ginger may help relieveinflammation, bloating, abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea, and frequent stools related to gastrointestinal disorders such as:
Though research shows ginger can be an effective complementary treatment, more studies are needed to determine proper dosing and fully understand ginger’s longer-term effects on GI disorders.
A Word From VerywellGinger can easily be added to your diet in a variety of ways. With its citrus and sweet flavor, fresh ginger can complement soups, smoothies, or stir-fries. Ginger powder adds a mild spice to marinades and baked goods. You can also enjoy it as a juice or eaten raw.—KARINA TOLENTINO, RD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Ginger can easily be added to your diet in a variety of ways. With its citrus and sweet flavor, fresh ginger can complement soups, smoothies, or stir-fries. Ginger powder adds a mild spice to marinades and baked goods. You can also enjoy it as a juice or eaten raw.—KARINA TOLENTINO, RD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Ginger can easily be added to your diet in a variety of ways. With its citrus and sweet flavor, fresh ginger can complement soups, smoothies, or stir-fries. Ginger powder adds a mild spice to marinades and baked goods. You can also enjoy it as a juice or eaten raw.
—KARINA TOLENTINO, RD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Why Ginger Eases Nausea
Ways to Use Ginger
There are many ways to introduce ginger into your diet, such as:
You can slice or grate fresh ginger for cooking. Many foods and drinks contain ginger, including ginger snaps, ginger sticks, and gingerbread. Some types of tea are made with dried ginger (gan jiang).
Ginger alemade with real ginger can also be helpful, but many brands don’t contain any actual ginger. Some may have trace amounts, while others use artificial ginger flavor.
Ginger is generally safe.Side effects are rare, but in high doses, ginger may cause:
Speak with a healthcare provider before taking ginger if you:
Ginger can also interact with other herbs or supplements.
Recommended Dosage
There are no clear guidelines on which forms and doses work best for different causes of nausea. Some studies suggest that 1 gram of ginger daily, in divided doses, can help with nausea, gas, or indigestion. Adults should not take more than 4 grams of ginger per day.Ask a healthcare provider for the right dosage for children.
Other Tips for Nausea Relief
Whether or not you choose to use ginger, other methods toget rid of nauseainclude:
If nausea is a frequent problem, a healthcare provider can recommend anti-nausea medicines that may help. And be sure to see a provider if you often have unexplained nausea or you:
Summary
Ginger may help relieve nausea from morning sickness, chemotherapy, and mild stomach upset.In normal doses, it is generally safe and causes few side effects. This versatile herb can be enjoyed in many ways, including fresh, in tea, and to spice up your cooking.
However, it may not be right for you if you have an illness such as heart disease or a bleeding disorder. Ginger can also affect medications, including blood thinners and diabetes drugs. Be sure to discuss ginger and other dietary supplements with a healthcare provider.
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lete I, Allué J.The effectiveness of ginger in the prevention of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and chemotherapy.Integrative Medicine Insights.2016;11:11. doi:10.4137/IMI.S36273University of Rochester Medical Center.Ginger.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ginger benefits.Daily JW, Zhang X, Kim DS, Park S.Efficacy of ginger for alleviating the symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.Pain Med. 2015;16(12):2243-55. doi:10.1111/pme.12853Negi R, Sharma SK, Gaur R, Bahadur A, Jelly P.Efficacy of ginger in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Cureus.2021 Mar 6;13(3):e13743. doi:10.7759/cureus.13743Bodagh NM, Maleki I, Hekmatdoost A.Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials.Food Sci Nutr.2018 Nov 5;7(1):96-108. doi:10.1002/fsn3.807American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Morning sickness: Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.Rahimzadeh G, Tay A, Travica N, et al.Nutritional and behavioral countermeasures as medication approaches to relieve motion sickness: A comprehensive review.Nutrients. 2023; 15(6):1320. doi:10.3390/nu15061320Brainard A, Gresham C.Prevention and treatment of motion sickness.American Family Physician.2014;90(1):41-46.Koch A, Cascorbi I, Westhofen M, Dafotakis M, Klapa S, Kuhtz-Buschbeck JP.The neurophysiology and treatment of motion sickness.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2018 Oct 12;115(41):687-696. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0687Choi J, Lee J, Kim K, Choi HK, Lee SA, Lee HJ.Effects of ginger intake on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials.Nutrients. 2022 Nov 23;14(23):4982. doi:10.3390/nu14234982Tóth B, Lantos T, Hegyi P, et al.Ginger (Zingiber officinale): An alternative for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. A meta-analysis.Phytomedicine. 2018;50:8-18. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2018.09.007Zhu W, Dai Y, Huang M, Li J.Efficacy of ginger in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting: A systematic review and meta‐analysis.J of Nursing Scholarship. 2021;53(6):671-679. doi:10.1111/jnu.12691Lu C, Chen X, Yan X, He J, Nie Z.The preventive and relieving effects of ginger on postoperative nausea and vomiting: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2022;125:104094. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104094Aregawi LG, Gebremeskel TG, Zoltan C.Preventive and therapeutic effects of ginger on bowel disease: A review of clinical trials.Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine. Volume 12, 100457. doi:10.1016/j.prmcm.2024.100457Mount Sinai.Ginger.MedlinePlus.When you have nausea and vomiting.
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lete I, Allué J.The effectiveness of ginger in the prevention of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and chemotherapy.Integrative Medicine Insights.2016;11:11. doi:10.4137/IMI.S36273University of Rochester Medical Center.Ginger.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ginger benefits.Daily JW, Zhang X, Kim DS, Park S.Efficacy of ginger for alleviating the symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.Pain Med. 2015;16(12):2243-55. doi:10.1111/pme.12853Negi R, Sharma SK, Gaur R, Bahadur A, Jelly P.Efficacy of ginger in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Cureus.2021 Mar 6;13(3):e13743. doi:10.7759/cureus.13743Bodagh NM, Maleki I, Hekmatdoost A.Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials.Food Sci Nutr.2018 Nov 5;7(1):96-108. doi:10.1002/fsn3.807American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Morning sickness: Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.Rahimzadeh G, Tay A, Travica N, et al.Nutritional and behavioral countermeasures as medication approaches to relieve motion sickness: A comprehensive review.Nutrients. 2023; 15(6):1320. doi:10.3390/nu15061320Brainard A, Gresham C.Prevention and treatment of motion sickness.American Family Physician.2014;90(1):41-46.Koch A, Cascorbi I, Westhofen M, Dafotakis M, Klapa S, Kuhtz-Buschbeck JP.The neurophysiology and treatment of motion sickness.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2018 Oct 12;115(41):687-696. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0687Choi J, Lee J, Kim K, Choi HK, Lee SA, Lee HJ.Effects of ginger intake on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials.Nutrients. 2022 Nov 23;14(23):4982. doi:10.3390/nu14234982Tóth B, Lantos T, Hegyi P, et al.Ginger (Zingiber officinale): An alternative for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. A meta-analysis.Phytomedicine. 2018;50:8-18. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2018.09.007Zhu W, Dai Y, Huang M, Li J.Efficacy of ginger in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting: A systematic review and meta‐analysis.J of Nursing Scholarship. 2021;53(6):671-679. doi:10.1111/jnu.12691Lu C, Chen X, Yan X, He J, Nie Z.The preventive and relieving effects of ginger on postoperative nausea and vomiting: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2022;125:104094. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104094Aregawi LG, Gebremeskel TG, Zoltan C.Preventive and therapeutic effects of ginger on bowel disease: A review of clinical trials.Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine. Volume 12, 100457. doi:10.1016/j.prmcm.2024.100457Mount Sinai.Ginger.MedlinePlus.When you have nausea and vomiting.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lete I, Allué J.The effectiveness of ginger in the prevention of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and chemotherapy.Integrative Medicine Insights.2016;11:11. doi:10.4137/IMI.S36273University of Rochester Medical Center.Ginger.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ginger benefits.Daily JW, Zhang X, Kim DS, Park S.Efficacy of ginger for alleviating the symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.Pain Med. 2015;16(12):2243-55. doi:10.1111/pme.12853Negi R, Sharma SK, Gaur R, Bahadur A, Jelly P.Efficacy of ginger in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Cureus.2021 Mar 6;13(3):e13743. doi:10.7759/cureus.13743Bodagh NM, Maleki I, Hekmatdoost A.Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials.Food Sci Nutr.2018 Nov 5;7(1):96-108. doi:10.1002/fsn3.807American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Morning sickness: Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.Rahimzadeh G, Tay A, Travica N, et al.Nutritional and behavioral countermeasures as medication approaches to relieve motion sickness: A comprehensive review.Nutrients. 2023; 15(6):1320. doi:10.3390/nu15061320Brainard A, Gresham C.Prevention and treatment of motion sickness.American Family Physician.2014;90(1):41-46.Koch A, Cascorbi I, Westhofen M, Dafotakis M, Klapa S, Kuhtz-Buschbeck JP.The neurophysiology and treatment of motion sickness.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2018 Oct 12;115(41):687-696. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0687Choi J, Lee J, Kim K, Choi HK, Lee SA, Lee HJ.Effects of ginger intake on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials.Nutrients. 2022 Nov 23;14(23):4982. doi:10.3390/nu14234982Tóth B, Lantos T, Hegyi P, et al.Ginger (Zingiber officinale): An alternative for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. A meta-analysis.Phytomedicine. 2018;50:8-18. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2018.09.007Zhu W, Dai Y, Huang M, Li J.Efficacy of ginger in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting: A systematic review and meta‐analysis.J of Nursing Scholarship. 2021;53(6):671-679. doi:10.1111/jnu.12691Lu C, Chen X, Yan X, He J, Nie Z.The preventive and relieving effects of ginger on postoperative nausea and vomiting: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2022;125:104094. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104094Aregawi LG, Gebremeskel TG, Zoltan C.Preventive and therapeutic effects of ginger on bowel disease: A review of clinical trials.Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine. Volume 12, 100457. doi:10.1016/j.prmcm.2024.100457Mount Sinai.Ginger.MedlinePlus.When you have nausea and vomiting.
Lete I, Allué J.The effectiveness of ginger in the prevention of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and chemotherapy.Integrative Medicine Insights.2016;11:11. doi:10.4137/IMI.S36273
University of Rochester Medical Center.Ginger.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Ginger benefits.
Daily JW, Zhang X, Kim DS, Park S.Efficacy of ginger for alleviating the symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.Pain Med. 2015;16(12):2243-55. doi:10.1111/pme.12853
Negi R, Sharma SK, Gaur R, Bahadur A, Jelly P.Efficacy of ginger in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Cureus.2021 Mar 6;13(3):e13743. doi:10.7759/cureus.13743
Bodagh NM, Maleki I, Hekmatdoost A.Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials.Food Sci Nutr.2018 Nov 5;7(1):96-108. doi:10.1002/fsn3.807
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Morning sickness: Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.
Rahimzadeh G, Tay A, Travica N, et al.Nutritional and behavioral countermeasures as medication approaches to relieve motion sickness: A comprehensive review.Nutrients. 2023; 15(6):1320. doi:10.3390/nu15061320
Brainard A, Gresham C.Prevention and treatment of motion sickness.American Family Physician.2014;90(1):41-46.
Koch A, Cascorbi I, Westhofen M, Dafotakis M, Klapa S, Kuhtz-Buschbeck JP.The neurophysiology and treatment of motion sickness.Dtsch Arztebl Int.2018 Oct 12;115(41):687-696. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0687
Choi J, Lee J, Kim K, Choi HK, Lee SA, Lee HJ.Effects of ginger intake on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials.Nutrients. 2022 Nov 23;14(23):4982. doi:10.3390/nu14234982
Tóth B, Lantos T, Hegyi P, et al.Ginger (Zingiber officinale): An alternative for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. A meta-analysis.Phytomedicine. 2018;50:8-18. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2018.09.007
Zhu W, Dai Y, Huang M, Li J.Efficacy of ginger in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting: A systematic review and meta‐analysis.J of Nursing Scholarship. 2021;53(6):671-679. doi:10.1111/jnu.12691
Lu C, Chen X, Yan X, He J, Nie Z.The preventive and relieving effects of ginger on postoperative nausea and vomiting: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2022;125:104094. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104094
Aregawi LG, Gebremeskel TG, Zoltan C.Preventive and therapeutic effects of ginger on bowel disease: A review of clinical trials.Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine. Volume 12, 100457. doi:10.1016/j.prmcm.2024.100457
Mount Sinai.Ginger.
MedlinePlus.When you have nausea and vomiting.
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