Remedy · root & spice

Ginger: what the evidence says about nausea, pain and more

The best-studied kitchen remedy for nausea. Trials support it for pregnancy and after surgery; the evidence for joint and period pain is thinner.

By the editors of Alimentotherapy Last reviewed October 18, 2026 4 min read Not medical advice

Ginger

Zingiber officinale

Best-supported use: Nausea in early pregnancy

EvidenceModeratebest use

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The short answer

Ginger has the strongest evidence of any kitchen remedy for nausea: in randomized trials it eased nausea in early pregnancy, and about 1 gram before surgery lowered the risk of post-operative nausea and vomitingViljoen 2014; Chaiyakunapruk 2006. For osteoarthritis and period pain the trials are small and the effects modest, and there is no good evidence that it does anything for colds.

The evidence, use by use

Each claim graded on human studies only. How we grade

Use	Grade	What the research found
Nausea in early pregnancy	Moderate	A meta-analysis of 12 randomized trials (1,278 women) found ginger improved nausea compared with placebo, though it did not significantly reduce vomiting. Trial quality was low to moderate. Viljoen 2014; Matthews 2015
Nausea and vomiting after surgery	Moderate	Pooling five trials (363 patients), a fixed dose of at least 1 g of ginger before surgery lowered the relative risk of post-operative nausea and vomiting by about a third versus placebo. Chaiyakunapruk 2006
Chemotherapy-related nausea (alongside standard anti-nausea drugs)	Limited	In one large trial (576 analysed patients) 0.5 to 1 g a day reduced acute nausea on day one of chemotherapy when added to standard anti-nausea medicine. Other trials disagree. Ryan 2012; NCCIH
Osteoarthritis knee and hip pain	Limited	Five placebo-controlled trials (593 patients) showed a modest reduction in pain, with more people stopping ginger because of stomach upset. Bartels 2015
Period pain (primary dysmenorrhea)	Limited	Four small trials found 750 to 2,000 mg of ginger powder in the first three or four days of the cycle lowered pain scores compared with placebo. Daily 2015
Colds and flu	Not supported	No controlled trials in people show that ginger shortens or eases colds. A hot ginger drink is comforting, which is a fine reason to have one. NCCIH

How people use it, and the amounts studied

Ginger is the underground stem (rhizome) of a tropical plant, eaten fresh, dried and ground, candied, or brewed as tea. Most trials used capsules of dried ginger powder because they are easy to dose and to hide in a placebo, so the amounts below are for the powder.

Pregnancy nausea: trials mostly used around 1 gram a day split into several doses. The meta-analysis found lower daily amounts (under 1,500 mg) did at least as well for nauseaViljoen 2014.
Before surgery: at least 1 gram taken beforehand Chaiyakunapruk 2006. This is something to agree with the anesthesiologist, not to do on your own (see safety, below).
Period pain: 750 to 2,000 mg a day for the first three or four days of the cycleDaily 2015.

In the kitchen

As a rough kitchen guide, a teaspoon of ground ginger is about 2 grams, and fresh ginger is mostly water, so it takes several times its weight in fresh root to match a dried dose. Ginger ales and biscuits vary widely and many contain little real ginger.

If you would rather buy a dried root or tea than a capsule, a well-stocked grocer is usually enough; online, iHerb carries single-ingredient ginger teas and powders.

Why it might work

Ginger contains pungent compounds called gingerols and shogaols. Lab and animal work suggests they act on the gut and on serotonin receptors involved in nausea, but that research does not by itself show a benefit in people, which is why this page grades the human trials rather than the mechanismNCCIH.

Ginger in pregnancy

Nausea in early pregnancy is the use with the most trials. A Cochrane review of interventions for nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy included ginger trials and judged the overall evidence for every option, ginger included, to be of low quality and inconsistent Matthews 2015. The Viljoen meta-analysis found no increase in miscarriage, heartburn or drowsiness compared with placebo Viljoen 2014, and NCCIH says ginger supplements in pregnancy may be safe but advises checking with your provider firstNCCIH.

Severe vomiting that stops you keeping fluids down (hyperemesis gravidarum) is a medical problem, not a kitchen one. Contact your midwife or doctor.

Before you try it: safety and interactions

Who should avoid it or ask first

You take a blood thinner such as warfarin, or an antiplatelet drug: ask your prescriber before using ginger supplements.
You have surgery coming up: tell your surgical team about any ginger supplements, because of the bleeding question.
You have gallstones: some herbal references advise caution because ginger may increase bile flow.

Possible side effects

Heartburn, stomach discomfort and diarrhea, mostly at supplement doses.
Mouth and throat irritation from strong fresh ginger or concentrated shots.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Trials in early pregnancy have not shown harm, and NCCIH says supplements may be safe in pregnancy, but check with your midwife or doctor first. Little is known about supplements while breastfeeding. NCCIH; Viljoen 2014

Medicine interactions

Ginger supplements and warfarin and other blood thinnersThe 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.Probable

Check another food or medicine in the interactions list.

Common questions

How much ginger helps with nausea?

Trials of ginger for nausea in early pregnancy mostly used about 1 gram of dried ginger a day, split into doses, and a 2014 meta-analysis found under 1,500 mg a day worked at least as well as more. Check with your midwife or doctor before taking supplements in pregnancy.

Is ginger tea as good as ginger capsules?

Nobody knows for certain, because most trials used capsules of dried ginger powder. Tea delivers a smaller and more variable amount. It is a reasonable, low-risk thing to try for mild nausea, but the trial results apply to the capsule doses.

Can ginger thin your blood?

Lab studies suggest ginger may affect platelets, and some references advise caution with blood thinners, but human evidence of a real interaction at food amounts is weak. If you take warfarin or an antiplatelet drug, ask your prescriber before using ginger supplements.

Sources

Primary research and government sources, each checked on the date this page was reviewed.