Ginger for Nausea: What Studies Show, Other Benefits and Side Effects

Ginger for nausea has the most support in pregnancy: pooled trials found ginger eased nausea better than placebo, though it did not clearly reduce vomiting, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) lists ginger among things to try. Results for nausea after surgery are promising but uncertain, chemotherapy studies conflict, and most motion sickness studies have been negative. No trials have tested ginger for nausea caused by GLP-1 medicines. Ginger is a common food, but concentrated supplements can cause heartburn and stomach upset and may raise bleeding risk with blood thinners. Here is what the research shows and how to read a ginger supplement label.

Peptide Labs sells supplements that contain ginger, but this article does not recommend any of them. It is general information, not medical advice.

What is ginger root?

Ginger, Zingiber officinale, is native to the warm parts of Asia and is now also grown in South America, Africa and the Middle East. The part we eat is a rhizome, an underground stem, although it is usually called ginger root. The FDA lists ginger as a spice and as a flavoring extract that is generally recognized as safe for its intended use in food.

Ginger’s bite comes from compounds called gingerols. A 2015 review in Phytochemistry explains that gingerols break down with heat and drying into shogaols, which give dried ginger its sharper taste. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) attributes ginger’s anti-nausea action to these compounds and to a substance that blocks one type of serotonin receptor in lab studies, the same receptor targeted by some anti-nausea drugs. Fresh ginger, dried powder, tea, candy and extracts differ in how much of each compound they contain.

Ginger for nausea: what the research shows

Nausea in pregnancy

A 2014 meta-analysis pooled 12 randomized trials with 1,278 pregnant women. Ginger improved nausea compared with placebo, but the reduction in vomiting episodes was not statistically significant. The pooled trials showed no statistically significant rise in miscarriage, heartburn or drowsiness, though the miscarriage estimate was imprecise, and the authors rated the overall evidence as low quality. A 2015 Cochrane review of 41 trials covering many approaches found the evidence for ginger limited and not consistent, and concluded that no single approach had strong, high-quality evidence behind it.

ACOG’s patient guide, last reviewed in November 2025, says ginger can help settle your stomach and suggests capsules, candies, ginger ale made with real ginger or tea made from fresh-grated ginger. It lists vitamin B6 as an over-the-counter option that may be tried first. Experts do not fully agree on supplements: the NCCIH says ginger supplements in pregnancy may be safe, while MSK advises avoiding them during pregnancy and breastfeeding because data on fetal outcomes are lacking and animal studies raised concerns. Ask your obstetric provider before using capsules. ACOG says to call promptly if you pass little or dark urine, cannot keep liquids down, feel dizzy or faint when standing, or have a racing heartbeat; severe nausea and vomiting, called hyperemesis gravidarum, affects up to 3 percent of pregnancies.

Nausea after surgery

A 2006 meta-analysis of 5 trials with 363 patients found ginger lowered the risk of nausea and vomiting in the 24 hours after surgery compared with placebo; the only side effect reported was abdominal discomfort. The NCCIH still calls the benefit uncertain. MSK adds a practical caution: because ginger supplements may thin the blood, it advises stopping them two weeks before surgery and not using them right after an operation. Tell your surgical team about any supplement you take.

Nausea during chemotherapy

In a multicenter trial at the University of Rochester network, 744 people having chemotherapy were randomized and 576 were analyzed; all also took a standard anti-nausea drug. Every ginger group reported less severe nausea than placebo on the first day of chemotherapy. A smaller 2009 trial of 162 patients found no added benefit, and people who combined ginger with the drug aprepitant reported worse early nausea. The NCCIH concludes it is uncertain whether ginger helps alongside standard care. Never replace prescribed anti-nausea medicine with ginger.

Motion sickness

The NCCIH says most studies of ginger for motion sickness have not shown it to be helpful. MSK notes that some studies support short-term use. With results this mixed, ginger is an uncertain choice before travel.

Ginger and nausea from GLP-1 medicines

Nausea is the most common side effect of GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, and ginger is often suggested online. As of September 2026, our searches of PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov found no clinical trials testing ginger for nausea caused by these drugs, so any benefit is unknown. Our guide to GLP-1 medicine side effects explains how often nausea occurs in label trials and when it tends to ease. Contact your prescriber if vomiting is persistent, you cannot keep fluids down, or you have severe stomach pain. Several supplements with “GLP-1” in their names list ginger; they are dietary supplements, not GLP-1 drugs.

Other ginger benefits that have been studied

Beyond nausea, the NCCIH says ginger supplements might reduce the severity of menstrual cramps, and notes that many ginger studies have not been of high quality. Ginger is also a traditional remedy for indigestion and gas; MSK lists these as purported uses, meaning the evidence is thin. If occasional bloating is the concern, our guide on how to debloat covers steps with better support, and our overview of digestive health supplements compares ginger with fiber, probiotics and enzymes.

Choosing a ginger supplement: what labels show

A ginger supplement may contain powdered root or an extract, sometimes standardized to a percentage of gingerols. Tea and candy usually contain less. Many products sold for weight or digestion list ginger as one of many ingredients, which means research on ginger alone does not tell you how the blend behaves. Three examples from our shelves:

• NUVAIOBTY GLP-1 supplement lists ginger root extract standardized to 5% gingerols alongside hops extract, green tea extract, cinnamon, chromium and licorice root extract standardized to glycyrrhizin, which people who limit licorice should note.
• Sandhu’s Liver Cleanse & Detox lists ginger root extract with milk thistle, dandelion, berberine and turmeric; our turmeric side effects guide covers that ingredient. Its label asks pregnant or nursing women and anyone under 18 to consult a physician first.
• Lemme Burn gummies list black ginger, Kaempferia parviflora, a different plant in the same family as common ginger. Research on common ginger does not apply to it.

Side effects, interactions and who should be careful

The NCCIH lists abdominal discomfort, heartburn, diarrhea and mouth or throat irritation as possible side effects of ginger taken by mouth, and MSK adds skin irritation. Ginger in food is generally not a concern. For supplements, MSK flags these situations:

• Blood thinners and anti-inflammatory painkillers: ginger may increase bleeding risk with warfarin, other anticoagulants and drugs such as ibuprofen, although a systematic review found the evidence inconclusive. MSK describes case reports of bleeding in older adults on blood thinners.
• Surgery or bleeding disorders: avoid ginger supplements unless your doctor agrees.
• Insulin and other glucose-lowering medicines: ginger may add to their effect.
• Tacrolimus: an animal study found ginger raised blood levels of this transplant drug.
• Gallstones: ginger may increase bile flow.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: expert advice differs, so ask your provider.

Nausea that comes with vomiting blood, severe abdominal pain, chest pain, confusion or signs of dehydration needs medical care, not a supplement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about a label? Contact us or read our Buyer’s Guide. Follow the label and ask a healthcare provider before starting any supplement, especially if you take medicines. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Last reviewed September 2026.

Related guides: How to Debloat: Common Causes of Bloating, What Helps and When to See a Doctor, Digestive Health Supplements: Fiber, Probiotics, Prebiotics and Enzymes Explained, GLP-1 Side Effects: What Every GLP-1 Drug Label Warns About, Ozempic Nausea: How Long It Lasts and What Helps, Turmeric and Black Pepper: Why Piperine Is Added and What to Know.