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Food and medicine interaction

Ginger supplements and warfarin and other blood thinners

ProbableEvidence level: probable. Case reports in people plus a known mechanism, but no controlled studies.

Last reviewed

What can happen

The evidence is mixed. A controlled study in healthy volunteers found ginger at recommended doses did not change warfarin levels or clotting, but a 2021 systematic review listed ginger among foods and herbs linked with bleeding risk on warfarin, based mostly on case reports.

Why it happens
Lab studies suggest ginger may affect platelet function; no consistent effect on warfarin metabolism has been shown in people.
At ordinary food amounts
Ginger in food and tea has not been shown to matter. The question is about supplement doses.

What to do

If you take warfarin or another blood thinner, ask your prescriber before starting ginger supplements, and tell your anticoagulation clinic if you do.

Never stop or change a prescribed medicine without talking to the prescriber.

Common questions

Can I have ginger supplements while taking anticoagulants?

If you take warfarin or another blood thinner, ask your prescriber before starting ginger supplements, and tell your anticoagulation clinic if you do. Ginger in food and tea has not been shown to matter. The question is about supplement doses.

Sources

  1. Jiang X, et al. Effect of ginkgo and ginger on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of warfarin in healthy subjects. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2005. PMID 15801937.
  2. Tan CSS, Lee SWH. Warfarin and food, herbal or dietary supplement interactions: a systematic review. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2021. PMID 32478963.
  3. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Ginger: Usefulness and Safety.

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