Ginger ale for an upset stomach, ginger candies for a long car ride, ginger tea for morning sickness: ginger is probably the most widely used home remedy for nausea in the world. It is also one of the few herbal remedies that has been tested in dozens of clinical trials.
We looked at what those trials show for pregnancy nausea, motion sickness and general queasiness. Short version: ginger has reasonable evidence for easing nausea in pregnancy, mixed evidence for motion sickness, and a good safety record at normal doses.
Ginger for nausea at a glance: how strong is the evidence?
- 🤰 Nausea in pregnancyModerate; helps nausea more than vomiting
- 🚗 Motion sicknessMixed; some positive lab studies
- 🍽️ Indigestion and fullnessSpeeds stomach emptying
- 💊 Compared with medicinesMilder, but fewer side effects
- ✅ Safety at food-like dosesGood
🫚 How ginger works
Ginger root contains pungent compounds called gingerols and shogaols. They seem to act in the gut rather than the brain, blocking serotonin receptors (5-HT3) involved in nausea, the same receptors targeted by the anti-nausea drug ondansetron, though far more weakly. Ginger also helps the stomach empty and calms abnormal electrical rhythms in the stomach wall that go along with nausea.
🤰 Pregnancy nausea: the best evidence
Nausea affects up to 80 percent of pregnant women, mostly in the first trimester. A 2014 meta-analysis in Nutrition Journal pooled 12 randomized trials involving 1,278 pregnant women. Ginger significantly improved nausea compared with placebo, but it did not significantly reduce the number of vomiting episodes. No increased risk of side effects or pregnancy complications was found.
A 2015 Cochrane review of all treatments for nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy took a more cautious view, rating the evidence for ginger, like most options, as limited and of low quality.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists lists ginger as a reasonable non-drug option to try for morning sickness. Most studies used about 1 gram of ginger a day, split into several doses.
Always check with your midwife or doctor before using ginger supplements in pregnancy, and seek care quickly if you cannot keep fluids down, since severe vomiting (hyperemesis gravidarum) needs medical treatment.
🚗 Motion sickness: mixed results
Ginger’s reputation for motion sickness comes from a famous 1982 study in The Lancet. Researchers spun 36 college students who were prone to motion sickness in a tilted rotating chair. Those who had taken about 940 mg of powdered ginger lasted longer before feeling sick than those who took the motion sickness drug dimenhydrinate or a placebo.
A 2003 study in the American Journal of Physiology used a different setup, a spinning visual drum that creates the feeling of motion. Ginger at 1 to 2 grams delayed the onset of nausea, reduced its severity and calmed abnormal stomach rhythms.
Not every study agrees, though. Some later trials, including research for space travel, found little or no effect. Overall, ginger may help some people with mild motion sickness, but it is less reliable than medicines like scopolamine patches or meclizine for people who get very sick.
🍽️ Indigestion and an unsettled stomach
In people with functional dyspepsia, ginger taken before a meal sped up stomach emptying in a 2011 study. That is one reason ginger may help with the heavy, slightly queasy feeling after a big meal. It pairs naturally with other digestive herbs such as fennel and peppermint, which we cover in our guide to herbs for bloating and gas.
📏 How to take it
- Dose: most trials used 1 to 1.5 grams of ginger root a day, divided. In pregnancy, 1 gram a day is the usual ceiling.
- For travel: take it about 30 minutes to an hour before you set off, and again every few hours.
- Forms: fresh ginger tea, capsules, crystallized ginger, chews and liquid extracts all work. Most ginger ales contain little real ginger.
- Take it with a little food if it gives you heartburn.
⚠️ Who should be careful
NCCIH notes that ginger is generally safe at food-like amounts. Side effects are usually mild: heartburn, burping, diarrhea and a stomach-warming feeling.
- Blood thinners: high doses of ginger may increase bleeding risk with warfarin and similar drugs. Ask your doctor.
- Gallstones: ginger increases bile flow, so check with your doctor first.
- Diabetes medicines: ginger may lower blood sugar slightly.
- Before surgery: stop concentrated ginger supplements about two weeks ahead.
🧠 Other tricks for motion sickness
- Sit where motion is smallest: the front seat of a car, over the wing on a plane, mid-ship on a boat.
- Look at the horizon, not at a phone or book.
- Get fresh air and avoid strong smells.
- Eat a light, bland snack before travel rather than traveling hungry or overfull.
For travel and an unsettled stomach
WishGarden Herbs Digestive Rescue is an organic tincture featuring ginger with fennel, peppermint and catnip. It is a convenient travel-kit option for occasional queasiness and upset stomach, made for ages 12 and up. If you are pregnant, ask your provider before using any herbal tincture.
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Price and availability are set by the retailer and can change.
🩺 When nausea needs a doctor
See a doctor promptly for nausea with severe abdominal pain, a high fever, a stiff neck, confusion, chest pain, signs of dehydration, vomiting blood, or vomiting that lasts more than a day or two. In pregnancy, call your provider if you cannot keep any fluids down for 12 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Does ginger help nausea from chemotherapy?
Some trials suggest ginger adds a little benefit to standard anti-nausea drugs, but results are mixed. Always talk to your oncology team before adding supplements.
Is fresh ginger better than capsules?
Both contain the same active compounds. Capsules make the dose easier to measure; fresh ginger tea is gentle and hydrating.
Can kids take ginger for car sickness?
Small amounts of ginger in food are fine for children. For supplements and tinctures, check the age on the label and ask your pediatrician.
The honest bottom line
Ginger is one of the best-studied herbal remedies for nausea. It eases pregnancy nausea more than placebo, helps some people with motion sickness, and speeds stomach emptying, all with a good safety record at normal doses. It is milder than prescription anti-nausea drugs, so treat it as a first step, and check with your provider if you are pregnant or take blood thinners.
Studies and sources
- Viljoen E et al. (2014). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect and safety of ginger in the treatment of pregnancy-associated nausea and vomiting. Nutrition Journal, via PubMed.
- Matthews A et al. (2015). Interventions for nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, via PubMed.
- Mowrey DB, Clayson DE (1982). Motion sickness, ginger, and psychophysics. The Lancet, via PubMed.
- Lien HC et al. (2003). Effects of ginger on motion sickness and gastric slow-wave dysrhythmias induced by circular vection. American Journal of Physiology, via PubMed.
- Hu ML et al. (2011). Effect of ginger on gastric motility and symptoms of functional dyspepsia. World Journal of Gastroenterology, via PubMed.
- Morning sickness: nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. ACOG.
- Ginger. NCCIH.
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting a supplement, especially if you take medication or have a health condition. 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.
