Ginger for Nausea

Ginger is the rhizome of a plant from Asia, used in cooking and in folk medicine for a long time. Today, it is recommended for nausea and vomiting.

Origins

According to the American National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), ginger originates from warm regions of Asia and has been used in folk medicine since ancient times for indigestion and gastrointestinal issues. Authors of a Hungarian meta-analysis from 2018 state that it has been traditionally used for nausea and vomiting for thousands of years. The Polish name for the raw material in the EMA monograph is "ginger rhizome."

The British NHS lists ginger tea and ginger-containing foods, such as ginger biscuits, among things that may help with nausea. Before using ginger, read the Safety section.

What We Know

Label: Poor evidence. The NCCIH notes that many studies on ginger were not of high quality, and the benefits for nausea after surgery and during chemotherapy are uncertain. Results for motion sickness are inconsistent among institutions.

What Studies Say

• NCCIH (update February 2025): Most studies tested dietary supplements rather than regular food containing ginger. Most studies on motion sickness did not show benefits. It is unclear whether ginger helps as an adjunct to standard nausea treatment during chemotherapy or after surgery.
• EMA, Herbal Medicinal Products Committee (HMPC), 2025: powdered ginger was recognized as a medicine to prevent nausea and vomiting in motion sickness based on clinical studies. Other uses, such as for bloating or cold symptoms, are based solely on long tradition, not on studies.
• Nausea after surgery, Tóth et al., 2018: meta-analysis of 10 studies with random assignment, totaling 918 patients. Ginger reduced the severity of nausea and vomiting after surgery. Fewer cases of nausea and reduced need for antiemetic medication were not statistically significant compared to placebo.
• Nausea during chemotherapy, Choi et al., 2022: systematic review of 23 studies. Overall, ginger did not significantly reduce the frequency of nausea or vomiting. A benefit for early vomiting appeared only in one subgroup of studies. The authors state that further high-quality studies are needed. Ginger does not replace medications prescribed by an oncologist.

Safety

Risks

• Oral ginger may cause abdominal discomfort, heartburn, diarrhea, and irritation of the mouth and throat (NCCIH).
• The EMA monograph lists common side effects as stomach upset, belching, indigestion, heartburn, and nausea. Allergic reactions are also possible.
• Leaflets for some ginger-containing medications in Germany recommend contacting a doctor in cases of gallstones (EMA assessment report).

Who Should Avoid It

• People allergic to ginger (EMA).
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not use ginger on their own. The EMA recommends avoiding ginger-containing medications during pregnancy and does not recommend them while breastfeeding. The decision during pregnancy is made by a doctor or midwife.
• Children and adolescents: The EMA does not recommend ginger-containing medications for those under 18 due to a lack of data. For motion sickness, traditional preparations are allowed from age 6, but there is no data for younger children.

Drug Interactions

• The EMA monograph states: interactions unknown.
• However, the EMA assessment report describes isolated cases of bleeding or excessively high INR in people on anticoagulant medications who consumed large amounts of ginger. The committee considered these descriptions to be few and unconvincing, and the data insufficient to include this risk in the monograph. Leaflets for some preparations in Germany and the Netherlands warn against combining ginger with medications affecting coagulation.
• The NCCIH advises anyone taking medications to consult with a doctor before using ginger or other herbs. Do not change your medication doses on your own.

When to See a Doctor

• Call emergency services immediately if sudden nausea is accompanied by pressure or heaviness in the chest, pain radiating to the arms, back, neck, or jaw, or difficulty breathing. These may be symptoms of a heart attack (NHS).
• See a doctor if nausea does not go away after a few days or frequently returns (NHS).
• If nausea is accompanied by vomiting, dehydration may occur (NHS).
• If symptoms worsen during ginger use (EMA).
• Discuss nausea during chemotherapy, after surgery, and during pregnancy with your healthcare provider.

Sources

Information compiled by the editorial team of informacja.com based on sources. Status as of October 24, 2026. This is not medical advice.