Does Ginger Help Nausea? Modestly in Pregnancy, Less Clearly for Vomiting and Chemo
Pooled pregnancy trials show ginger eases nausea but not vomiting, on low-quality evidence. One well-run chemotherapy trial found added benefit for delayed nausea. Experts disagree on supplements in pregnancy, and ginger can add to bleeding risk with blood thinners.
By Kymata Health Editorial Published Last checked
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Key takeaways
From 6 sources- In 12 pregnancy trials with 1,278 women, ginger improved nausea scores vs placebo (mean difference 1.20), but the drop in vomiting episodes was not significant (p = 0.06)1.
- The review authors rated the evidence low quality and found lower doses, under 1,500 mg a day, looked better for nausea1.
- In a 103-person chemotherapy trial, adding ginger to standard anti-sickness drugs cut delayed vomiting at cycle 3 from 23% to 2%, with no effect on nausea in the first 24 hours2.
- Sources disagree on pregnancy: NCCIH says ginger supplements may be safe in pregnancy and advises asking your provider first, while Memorial Sloan Kettering advises avoiding them in pregnancy and breastfeeding45.
- Ginger may raise bleeding risk with warfarin, aspirin or NSAIDs and add to glucose lowering with diabetes drugs; MSK advises stopping it 2 weeks before surgery5.
What this article covers
1 evidence profileThe evidence, graded
Pulled from the trial tables in our evidence profiles. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Graded findings
2 rows- BGrade BNausea in pregnancyImproved Nausea improved versus placebo (MD 1.20); vomiting episodes did not fall significantly (p=0.06). No increased risk of miscarriage, heartburn or drowsiness was found.Ginger · Meta-analysis · n=1,278 · 2014 · PMID 24642205
- CGrade CChemotherapy-induced nauseaImproved Nausea-related quality of life, delayed nausea and fatigue improved versus placebo; delayed vomiting at cycle 3 was 2% vs 23%.Ginger · RCT · n=103 · 2024 · PMID 37699474
Where these trials agree: Ginger and nausea, counted row by row in the Consensus finder.
The short answer
Ginger is one of the better-studied herbal options for pregnancy nausea, and NCCIH says research shows it may help4. The effect is on how sick people feel rather than on how often they vomit, and the trials behind it are small and uneven1.
For other kinds of nausea the picture is weaker. NCCIH says most motion-sickness studies have not shown a benefit, and it is uncertain whether ginger helps chemotherapy or post-surgery nausea4.
Pregnancy nausea: what the pooled trials show
A 2014 meta-analysis pooled 12 randomized trials of oral ginger in 1,278 pregnant women1. Nausea improved more than with placebo (MD 1.20, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.84, p = 0.0002), but vomiting episodes did not fall significantly (MD 0.72, p = 0.06)1. Subgroups seemed to favour daily doses under 1,500 mg1.
On safety, the review found no significant increase in miscarriage vs placebo, but the estimate was very imprecise (RR 3.14, 95% CI 0.65 to 15.11)1. Heartburn and drowsiness were not more common1. The authors flagged the limited number of studies, variable outcome reporting and low quality of evidence1.
Chemotherapy nausea: one solid trial
In an Australian double-blind trial, 103 adults starting moderately or highly nausea-inducing chemotherapy took four standardized ginger capsules a day (84 mg of gingerols and shogaols in total) or placebo for 5 days each cycle, on top of their usual anti-sickness medicines2. Ginger improved nausea-related quality of life, delayed nausea severity and fatigue2.
At cycle 3, delayed nausea occurred in 49% on ginger vs 79% on placebo, and delayed vomiting in 2% vs 23%2. Ginger made no difference to nausea in the first 24 hours or to anticipatory nausea, and no serious side effects were reported2. The trial was funded by Cancer Council Queensland, a charity3. MSK notes that a systematic review of ginger for chemotherapy nausea called for more research5.
Who should be careful
NCCIH says ginger has been used safely in many studies, with side effects such as abdominal discomfort, heartburn, diarrhea and mouth or throat irritation4. In arthritis trials, people on ginger were 2.3 times as likely as those on placebo to stop because of side effects6. Take extra care in these situations:
- Blood thinners and NSAIDs (warfarin, aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac): ginger can inhibit platelets, so combined use may raise bleeding risk, though a systematic review called the evidence inconclusive5.
- Diabetes medicines, including insulin: ginger may add to blood-sugar lowering; clinical relevance is not known5.
- Transplant drugs: ginger raised tacrolimus levels and lowered cyclosporine levels in preclinical studies5.
- Before surgery or with a bleeding disorder: MSK advises stopping ginger supplements 2 weeks before surgery and avoiding them with bleeding disorders5.
- Gallstones: MSK advises avoiding ginger supplements because they may increase bile flow5.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: NCCIH says supplements may be safe in pregnancy but to ask your provider first, and little is known about breastfeeding4; MSK advises avoiding supplements in both because human data on fetal outcomes are lacking and animal studies raised concerns5.
- Severe or persistent vomiting in pregnancy: the pooled trials did not show fewer vomiting episodes, so talk to a clinician rather than relying on ginger1.
Quick answers
Common questions
4 answersHow much ginger was used for pregnancy nausea?
Doses varied across the pooled trials, and subgroup results favoured under 1,500 mg a day1.
Does ginger help motion sickness?
NCCIH says most studies of ginger for motion sickness have not shown it to help4.
Does ginger tea count?
Can I take ginger with blood thinners?
MSK lists warfarin and other blood thinners as a reason not to take ginger supplements because of possible bleeding risk5.
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References
6 sources. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited in this article
6 sources- 1A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect and safety of ginger in the treatment of pregnancy-associated nausea and vomitingNutr J, 2014 · PMID 24642205
- 2Effect of a Standardized Ginger Root Powder Regimen on Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: A Multicenter, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Randomized TrialJ Acad Nutr Diet, 2024 · PMID 37699474
- 3Effect of a Standardized Ginger Root Powder Regimen on Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (funding record: Cancer Council Queensland)Europe PMC, 2024
- 4Ginger: Usefulness and Safety (last updated February 2025)National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2025
- 5Ginger (About Herbs, last updated June 2022)Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 2022
- 6Efficacy and safety of ginger in osteoarthritis patients: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trialsOsteoarthritis Cartilage, 2015 · PMID 25300574
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