Ginger is an underground stem that people have used for thousands of years to alleviate nausea, aid digestion and reduce stomach upset. Ginger contains pungent phenol compounds and volatile oils that might be effective in reducing nausea, but you should discuss any dizziness, vomiting or stomach upset with your doctor before attempting to treat yourself with dietary or herbal supplements.
Motion Sickness
Ginger might be effective for reducing motion sickness, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. It cites a study that found that novice sailors who took powdered ginger experienced a significant reduction in typical symptoms of motion sickness, such as vomiting and cold sweating. Sailors who received a placebo did not experience the same level of relief, which might indicate ginger is effective. But UMMC notes that other studies show that medications designed to alleviate motion sickness, such as scopolamine, might be even more effective than ginger.
Morning Sickness
Pregnant women who take ginger might decrease the severity of nausea and vomiting due to morning sickness, according to MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. UMMC reports that studies of pregnant women and nausea found that ginger is more effective than a placebo. One small study of 30 pregnant women found 1 g of ginger taken daily for four days provided relief from vomiting, according to the center. Pregnant women should never take any herb or supplement without first discussing their symptoms and dietary needs with their health care providers.
Ginger's Effectiveness
MedlinePlus says there is insufficient evidence for ginger's effectiveness for treating other conditions, such as colds, flu, migraine headache, loss of appetite, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It adds that results of studies related to ginger's effectiveness for treating chemotherapy-related nausea are contradictory. UMMC agrees that more research is needed to determine whether ginger alleviates chemotherapy-related nausea, but adds that a few studies seem to indicate that ginger can reduce the severity and duration of nausea during chemotherapy, though not vomiting.
Considerations
If you decide to take ginger, discuss your plans with your doctor. Generally, adults should take no more than 4 g of ginger per day, according to UMMC. Potential sources of ginger include ginger ale, ginger snaps and ginger bread, as well as ginger products derived from fresh or dried ginger root, including capsules, teas, tinctures, oils and extracts.
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