Ginger has its best evidence for nausea in early pregnancy: a review of 12 trials found that it eased nausea compared with a placebo, although it did not clearly reduce vomiting. For motion sickness, nausea after surgery and nausea from chemotherapy, the results are mixed and experts read them differently. Ginger in food is safe for most people, but concentrated supplements need more care, especially in pregnancy, while breastfeeding and if you take blood thinners.
Does ginger help with morning sickness?
This is where ginger has been studied most. A 2014 systematic review and meta-analysis in Nutrition Journal (Viljoen and colleagues) pooled 12 randomised trials with 1,278 pregnant women. Compared with a placebo, ginger:
- improved nausea to a modest degree
- did not significantly reduce the number of vomiting episodes
- did not show more side effects or problems in pregnancy than the comparison groups
The authors were careful to add that the trials were few, reported their results in different ways, and the quality of evidence was low. So "may help with the nausea" is fair, "solves morning sickness" is not.
The NHS lists foods and drinks containing ginger among the things that may help, and adds an important line: check with your pharmacist before taking ginger supplements during pregnancy. The European Medicines Agency (EMA), in its 2025 review of ginger as a herbal medicine, found that data from 300 to 1,000 pregnancies showed no sign of harm to the baby, but still advised that, as a precaution, it is preferable to avoid ginger medicines during pregnancy, because animal studies were not good enough to rule out problems.
In practice that means ginger tea, ginger biscuits or fresh ginger in cooking are a reasonable thing to try. Capsules and extracts are a conversation with your midwife, doctor or pharmacist first. If you cannot keep fluids down, see a doctor: severe pregnancy sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum) needs medical care.
What about motion sickness?
Here the experts disagree, which tells you the evidence is not clear-cut.
- The EMA accepts powdered ginger root as a well-established herbal medicine for preventing nausea and vomiting from motion sickness in adults, at 1–2 g taken an hour before travel.
- The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says that most studies of ginger for motion sickness have not shown it to be helpful.
If you want to try it on a ferry or a long, winding drive up to Troodos, it is low risk for most adults. Children are different: the EMA's well-established dose is for adults only, and it does not recommend ginger medicines for motion sickness in children under 6 at all, because there is not enough data.
And nausea after surgery or chemotherapy?
- After surgery. A 2006 meta-analysis (Chaiyakunapruk and colleagues) pooled five trials with 363 patients and found that ginger taken before an operation reduced nausea and vomiting afterwards compared with a placebo. Later reviews have been broadly supportive, but NCCIH still calls the benefit uncertain. Never take ginger or any supplement before surgery without telling your anaesthetist.
- Chemotherapy. NCCIH says it is uncertain whether ginger adds anything to standard anti-nausea medicines. If you are having cancer treatment, ask your oncology team before adding any supplement.
Can ginger interact with medicines?
The most discussed concern is blood thinners (such as warfarin) and antiplatelet medicines (such as aspirin or clopidogrel). Ginger compounds can affect platelets in the lab, so in theory ginger could add to the effect of these drugs.
A 2015 systematic review in PLOS ONE (Marx and colleagues) looked at 10 human studies. Four of the eight trials found that ginger reduced platelet clumping and four found no effect. The authors concluded the evidence is equivocal. The EMA lists no known interactions.
"Not proven" is not the same as "safe", though. If you take a blood thinner or have a bleeding disorder, talk to your doctor before taking ginger supplements. Normal amounts of ginger in food are unlikely to matter, but tell your doctor if you suddenly start using a lot of it.
What side effects can ginger cause?
The EMA lists stomach upset, burping, indigestion, heartburn and nausea as common side effects of ginger medicines, plus allergic reactions in some people. NCCIH also mentions diarrhoea and mouth or throat irritation. These are usually mild, but if ginger gives you heartburn, it is not the right remedy for you.
How much ginger is reasonable?
There is no single "correct" dose, and amounts vary between studies. For reference, the EMA's motion sickness dose for adults is 1–2 g of powdered ginger root before travel. For everyday use, ginger in cooking or as a tea is the simplest option.
There are no authorised EU health claims for ginger. A product that promises it "cures nausea" or "boosts immunity" is going beyond what the law allows.
FAQ
Is ginger tea safe in pregnancy?
For most pregnant women, ginger in food and drinks is considered fine, and the NHS lists it as something that may help with nausea. Supplements are different: check with your pharmacist or doctor first, as the EMA prefers to avoid ginger medicines in pregnancy as a precaution.
Can I take ginger if I am on warfarin?
Talk to your doctor before taking ginger supplements. The evidence on bleeding is mixed and unproven, but blood thinners leave little margin for error. Ginger used normally in cooking is unlikely to be a problem.
Does ginger work for children's travel sickness?
The evidence is limited. The EMA does not recommend ginger medicines for motion sickness in children under 6, and gives smaller doses for children aged 6 to 12 only as a traditional remedy. Ask a pharmacist for advice suited to your child's age.
Sources: Viljoen E et al., A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect and safety of ginger in the treatment of pregnancy-associated nausea and vomiting, Nutrition Journal 2014, 13:20, European Medicines Agency (HMPC), European Union herbal monograph on Zingiber officinale Roscoe, rhizoma, Revision 1 (EMA/HMPC/885789/2022, adopted 7 May 2025), NCCIH, Ginger (updated February 2025), NHS, Vomiting and morning sickness in pregnancy, Chaiyakunapruk N et al., The efficacy of ginger for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting: a meta-analysis, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2006, 194(1):95, Marx W et al., The Effect of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) on Platelet Aggregation: A Systematic Literature Review, PLOS ONE 2015, 10(10):e0141119, EU Regulation 432/2012 (register of authorised health claims).
