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Ginger (Zingiber officinale, rhizome extract)
Ginger is one of the better-evidenced botanical antiemetics available without a prescription.
- Evidence
- Likely Effective
- Category
- Probiotics & Gut Health
- Best form
- Dried/powdered ginger root in capsules (the form used in nearly every published nausea RCT, including Vutyavanich 2001 and Smith 2004)
- Effective dose
- 1,000-1,500mg dried ginger root daily for nausea, typically split into 250-500mg doses 3-4 times daily
- Lab tested
- 6 of 8 products
- Category
- Probiotics & Gut Health
- Best form
- Dried/powdered ginger root in capsules (the form used in nearly every published nausea RCT, including Vutyavanich 2001 and Smith 2004)
- Effective dose
- 1,000-1,500mg dried ginger root daily for nausea, typically split into 250-500mg doses 3-4 times daily
- Lab tested
- 6 of 8 products
Key takeaways
- →Pregnancy nausea (NVP) is the strongest use — multiple RCTs and ACOG Practice Bulletin endorse ginger 250mg four times daily as a non-pharmacologic option.
- →Chemotherapy-induced nausea as adjunct: Ryan 2012 URCC trial in 576 patients showed 0.5-1g/day starting 3 days before chemo reduced acute nausea. Not a replacement for 5-HT3 antagonists.
- →Postoperative nausea: 1g taken before surgery has meta-analysis support with effect size comparable to metoclopramide.
- →Osteoarthritis benefit is real but small — smaller than NSAIDs, useful as an adjunct over 8-12 weeks.
- →Mild antiplatelet activity — discuss with your physician if you take warfarin, clopidogrel, or aspirin, and stop 1-2 weeks before scheduled surgery.
What Is Ginger (Zingiber officinale, rhizome extract)?
Ginger is one of the better-evidenced botanical antiemetics available without a prescription. The strongest data sit in pregnancy nausea (NVP), chemotherapy-induced nausea (CINV), and postoperative nausea (PONV), with osteoarthritis a more modest secondary use. ACOG's Practice Bulletin on nausea and vomiting in pregnancy lists ginger as a non-pharmacologic option (typically 250mg four times daily), and multiple Cochrane and Nutrition Journal meta-analyses back that placement. If you want a botanical to take seriously for queasy stomach situations, ginger is the one with the trials behind it.
For pregnancy nausea specifically, the Vutyavanich 2001 RCT in 70 women showed 250mg four times daily significantly reduced both nausea severity and vomiting frequency compared to placebo over four days. Smith 2004 randomized 291 women under 16 weeks gestation to ginger or vitamin B6 and found ginger was non-inferior to B6 for symptom improvement. Pongrojpaw 2007 compared ginger head-to-head with dimenhydrinate and found similar efficacy with less drowsiness. The Viljoen 2014 meta-analysis pooled six trials and concluded ginger significantly improved nausea symptoms without increasing adverse pregnancy outcomes.
For chemotherapy-induced nausea, the Ryan 2012 URCC CCOP trial is the largest piece of evidence: 576 cancer patients on chemotherapy added 0.5g, 1g, or 1.5g/day of ginger to standard antiemetics, and the lower two doses significantly reduced acute nausea on day 1 of chemo. The effect held only when ginger was started 3 days before infusion. Marx 2017 reviews this data and supports ginger as a reasonable adjunct, not a replacement, for 5-HT3 antagonists.
For postoperative nausea, Chaiyakunapruk 2006 pooled five RCTs (n=363) and found that 1g of ginger taken pre-operatively significantly reduced PONV vs placebo, with effect size comparable to metoclopramide.
Osteoarthritis is the weaker secondary case. The Bartels 2015 meta-analysis of five RCTs found a small but statistically significant reduction in OA pain and disability over 3-12 weeks, but effect sizes are smaller than NSAIDs and trials are short. Altman 2001's EV.EXT 77 trial in 261 patients with knee OA showed modest pain improvement on standing and after walking. Worth a try as an adjunct; not a replacement for established OA care.
Motion sickness data are old and mixed — Mowrey 1982 (Lancet, n=36) suggested ginger outperformed dimenhydrinate, but more recent laboratory studies have produced conflicting results. Menstrual pain (Daily 2015 meta-analysis) shows a small but real effect over the first 3-4 days of the cycle.
Practical bottom line: 250mg four times daily for nausea (especially pregnancy and chemo adjunct), 500-1000mg/day of a standardized extract for joint comfort over 8-12 weeks, and the form to buy is dried rhizome in capsules — that is what the trials used.
Does It Work? The Evidence
How A-F grades workNausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP)
Vutyavanich 2001 RCT (n=70, 250mg x4 daily x 4 days): significant reduction in nausea VAS and vomiting episodes; Smith 2004 RCT (n=291): ginger non-inferior to vitamin B6; Viljoen 2014 meta-analysis (6 RCTs): significant symptom improvement, no increase in adverse pregnancy outcomes; ACOG Practice Bulletin endorses ginger as a non-pharmacologic option
Chemotherapy-induced nausea (CINV) as adjunct to standard antiemetics
Ryan 2012 URCC CCOP trial (n=576, 0.5-1.5g/day starting 3 days pre-chemo): 0.5g and 1g doses significantly reduced acute nausea on day 1; Marx 2017 narrative review supports ginger as adjunct
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV)
Chaiyakunapruk 2006 meta-analysis of 5 RCTs (n=363): pooled fixed 1g pre-op dose significantly reduced PONV vs placebo (relative risk 0.65); effect size roughly comparable to metoclopramide
Osteoarthritis pain and function
Bartels 2015 meta-analysis of 5 RCTs (n=593): small but significant reduction in OA pain (SMD -0.30) and disability; Altman 2001 (n=261, EV.EXT 77 standardized extract): modest knee OA pain improvement
Primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain)
Daily 2015 meta-analysis of 6 RCTs (n=632): significant reduction in menstrual pain intensity over the first 3-4 days of the cycle; effect size small to moderate
Motion sickness
Mowrey 1982 (Lancet, n=36): ginger outperformed dimenhydrinate in a rotating-chair test; subsequent laboratory studies have produced inconsistent results; clinical-grade evidence is older and thinner than the pregnancy or chemo data
Cardiovascular markers and glycemic control
Scattered small RCTs suggest modest improvements in fasting glucose, HbA1c, and lipid markers in type 2 diabetes, but trials are small, heterogeneous, and not yet replicated at scale
| Grade | Claimed Benefit | Key Studies | Our Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) | Vutyavanich 2001 RCT (n=70, 250mg x4 daily x 4 days): significant reduction in nausea VAS and vomiting episodes; Smith 2004 RCT (n=291): ginger non-inferior to vitamin B6; Viljoen 2014 meta-analysis (6 RCTs): significant symptom improvement, no increase in adverse pregnancy outcomes; ACOG Practice Bulletin endorses ginger as a non-pharmacologic option | Supported |
| B | Chemotherapy-induced nausea (CINV) as adjunct to standard antiemetics | Ryan 2012 URCC CCOP trial (n=576, 0.5-1.5g/day starting 3 days pre-chemo): 0.5g and 1g doses significantly reduced acute nausea on day 1; Marx 2017 narrative review supports ginger as adjunct | Supported |
| B | Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) | Chaiyakunapruk 2006 meta-analysis of 5 RCTs (n=363): pooled fixed 1g pre-op dose significantly reduced PONV vs placebo (relative risk 0.65); effect size roughly comparable to metoclopramide | Supported |
| B | Osteoarthritis pain and function | Bartels 2015 meta-analysis of 5 RCTs (n=593): small but significant reduction in OA pain (SMD -0.30) and disability; Altman 2001 (n=261, EV.EXT 77 standardized extract): modest knee OA pain improvement | Early Signal |
| C | Primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain) | Daily 2015 meta-analysis of 6 RCTs (n=632): significant reduction in menstrual pain intensity over the first 3-4 days of the cycle; effect size small to moderate | Early Signal |
| C | Motion sickness | Mowrey 1982 (Lancet, n=36): ginger outperformed dimenhydrinate in a rotating-chair test; subsequent laboratory studies have produced inconsistent results; clinical-grade evidence is older and thinner than the pregnancy or chemo data | Conflicted |
| D | Cardiovascular markers and glycemic control | Scattered small RCTs suggest modest improvements in fasting glucose, HbA1c, and lipid markers in type 2 diabetes, but trials are small, heterogeneous, and not yet replicated at scale | Not There Yet |
How to Choose: Forms, Doses & What Matters
Clinical dose: 1,000-1,500mg dried ginger root daily for nausea, typically split into 250-500mg doses 3-4 times daily; 500-1,000mg standardized extract daily for joint comfort
Best forms: Dried/powdered ginger root in capsules (the form used in nearly every published nausea RCT, including Vutyavanich 2001 and Smith 2004), Standardized ginger extract (look for disclosed gingerol or shogaol content; 5% gingerols is the NOW Foods extract standard), EV.EXT 77 (Eurovita) — a 4:1 standardized extract used in the Altman 2001 osteoarthritis trial, Whole-root capsules (Nature's Way, Solaray) — cheaper but less consistent on active-compound content
For nausea (pregnancy, motion, or general queasiness): 250mg of dried ginger root taken four times daily, the regimen used in Vutyavanich 2001 and supported by ACOG. For chemotherapy-induced nausea: 500-1000mg/day starting 3 days before infusion and continuing through the chemo cycle, divided into 2-3 doses (Ryan 2012). For postoperative nausea: a single 1g dose 60 minutes before surgery (Chaiyakunapruk 2006) — coordinate timing with your surgical team. For osteoarthritis: 500-1000mg/day of a standardized extract, taken with food, allowing 8-12 weeks before judging effect (Bartels 2015 timeframe). For menstrual pain: 250-500mg three times daily starting at symptom onset and continuing for the first 3-4 days of the cycle (Daily 2015). Take with food if you experience mild GI burning; ginger is generally absorbed well without it. Effects on nausea can be felt within 30-60 minutes; effects on joint comfort require weeks of consistent use.
Who Should Take Ginger (Zingiber officinale, rhizome extract)?
Adults experiencing occasional nausea — including pregnancy-related morning sickness (ACOG recognizes ginger 250mg four times daily as a reasonable non-pharmacologic option, ideally discussed with your OB), motion-related queasiness, or chemotherapy-related nausea as an adjunct to prescribed antiemetics (Ryan 2012 used 0.5-1g/day starting 3 days before infusion). People scheduled for surgery who want a single 1g pre-op dose to reduce postoperative nausea risk (Chaiyakunapruk 2006 — coordinate with your anesthesiologist). Adults with mild knee or hip osteoarthritis who want a non-NSAID adjunct over 8-12 weeks (Bartels 2015). Anyone wanting a botanical with real RCT evidence behind it rather than wellness-blog folklore.
Who Should Avoid It?
Not for everyone
Side Effects & Safety
Product Scores
8 products scored on dosing accuracy, third-party testing, cost per effective dose, and label transparency.
The Scorecard: 8 Products Compared
Ginger Root Extract 250mg (5% gingerols), 90 ct
NOW Foods$11.99 ÷ 92 days at 250mg/day (1 serving × 250mg)
NOW's ginger extract is one of the few mainstream SKUs that prints the gingerol percentage on the label, making it easier to compare across brands and dose-match to the trials.
Prices checked 2026-05-18. Cost shown is per clinically effective daily dose, not per pill.
Ginger Extract 500mg, 120 Vegetarian Capsules
Pure Encapsulations$32.40 ÷ 120 days at 500mg/day (1 serving × 500mg)
Pure Encapsulations is one of the cleanest formulations in this set — no fillers, no flow agents, no proprietary blends. The right pick if you have multiple sensitivities or want the simplest possible label.
Prices checked 2026-05-18. Cost shown is per clinically effective daily dose, not per pill.
Ginger Root 550mg, 180 Veg Caps
Nature's Way
$12.99 ÷ 186 days at 550mg/day (1 serving × 550mg)
Nature's Way is one of the few mainstream brands to participate in TRU-ID botanical DNA authentication, which addresses the long-standing concern that ginger supplements sometimes contain adulterants or substitute species.
Prices checked 2026-05-18. Cost shown is per clinically effective daily dose, not per pill.
High Potency Ginger with Gingever 250mg (15% gingerols), 60 VC
Doctor's Best$13.99 ÷ 61 days at 250mg/day (1 serving × 250mg)
Doctor's Best's Gingever uses solvent-free supercritical CO2 extraction and discloses 15% gingerol content — useful if you want maximum gingerol load in the fewest capsules, especially for chemo-adjunct or OA use cases.
Prices checked 2026-05-18. Cost shown is per clinically effective daily dose, not per pill.
Ginger Root 550mg (Zingiber officinale), 100 Veg Caps
NOW Foods$10.99 ÷ 100 days at 550mg/day (1 serving × 550mg)
NOW Foods has dual SKUs for ginger — this whole-root version and the standardized 5% gingerol extract. For nausea, this version is closer to the trial-used form; for joint comfort over longer cycles, the extract may be the better pick.
Prices checked 2026-05-18. Cost shown is per clinically effective daily dose, not per pill.
Ginger Supreme (with Turmeric Root), 60 Liquid Phyto-Caps
Gaia Herbs$26.99 ÷ 60 days at 750mg/day (1 serving × 750mg)
If transparency is the deciding factor, Gaia's Meet-Your-Herbs program is the strongest published per-batch documentation among botanical brands sold on Amazon. The turmeric pairing also has independent anti-inflammatory evidence.
Prices checked 2026-05-18. Cost shown is per clinically effective daily dose, not per pill.
Ginger Root 1100mg per serving (550mg x2), 100 VegCaps
Solaray
$13.99 ÷ 100 days at 550mg/day (1 serving × 550mg)
Solaray is a long-standing botanical brand that manufactures in-house, which provides supply-chain control even without the published per-lot testing of brands like Gaia or NOW.
Prices checked 2026-05-18. Cost shown is per clinically effective daily dose, not per pill.
Ginger Root Extract Powder (500mg/serving), 250g
BulkSupplements
$19.96 ÷ 499 days at 500mg/day (1 serving × 500mg)
BulkSupplements is the most cost-efficient way to take ginger if you are comfortable weighing or scooping powder. Mix into water, smoothies, or yogurt; the taste is strong and acrid on its own.
Prices checked 2026-05-18. Cost shown is per clinically effective daily dose, not per pill.
Full Comparison
| Category | Ginger Root Extract 250mg (5% gingerols), 90 ct NOW Foods | Ginger Extract 500mg, 120 Vegetarian Capsules Pure Encapsulations | Ginger Root 550mg, 180 Veg Caps Nature's Way | High Potency Ginger with Gingever 250mg (15% gingerols), 60 VC Doctor's Best | Ginger Root 550mg (Zingiber officinale), 100 Veg Caps NOW Foods | Ginger Supreme (with Turmeric Root), 60 Liquid Phyto-Caps Gaia Herbs | Ginger Root 1100mg per serving (550mg x2), 100 VegCaps Solaray | Ginger Root Extract Powder (500mg/serving), 250g BulkSupplements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand Score | 89/100Winner | 88/100 | 86/100 | 86/100 | 85/100 | 84/100 | 82/100 | 80/100 |
| Dosing & Form | 24/25 | 25/25Winner | 23/25 | 24/25 | 23/25 | 22/25 | 23/25 | 23/25 |
| Purity | 21/25 | 21/25 | 19/25 | 19/25 | 21/25 | 22/25Winner | 18/25 | 19/25 |
| Value | 22/25 | 19/25 | 24/25Winner | 21/25 | 21/25 | 17/25 | 22/25 | 23/25 |
| Transparency | 22/25 | 23/25Winner | 20/25 | 22/25 | 20/25 | 23/25 | 19/25 | 15/25 |
| Cost/Day | $0.13 | $0.27 | $0.07 | $0.23 | $0.11 | $0.45 | $0.14 | $0.04Winner |
| Dose/Serving | 250mg | 500mg | 550mg | 250mg | 550mg | 750mg | 550mg | 500mg |
| Form | Ginger Root Extract (standardized to 5% gingerols, veg capsule) | Ginger rhizome extract (hypoallergenic vegetarian capsule) | Whole dried ginger rhizome (veg capsule) | Gingever supercritical CO2 ginger extract (15% gingerols, veg capsule) | Whole dried ginger root (veg capsule) | Liquid phyto-cap (organic ginger root concentrate + organic turmeric root extract) | Whole dried ginger rhizome (vegetable capsule) | Ginger root extract bulk powder (no capsule) |
| Third-Party Tested | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | No | ✓ Yes |
| Proprietary Blend | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ginger safe during pregnancy?
ACOG's Practice Bulletin 189 lists ginger as a non-pharmacologic option for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, and the Viljoen 2014 meta-analysis pooled six RCTs and found no increase in miscarriage, congenital anomalies, or other adverse outcomes at typical doses. The studied regimen is 250mg four times daily (1g/day total). Stay at or below 1g/day; data above that range is thinner. Discuss with your OB if you are on any other medications, particularly anticoagulants. Pregnancy is also the use case with the strongest evidence base for ginger overall.
How much ginger should I take for nausea?
The most-studied regimen is 250mg of dried ginger root taken four times daily — that is what Vutyavanich 2001 used in pregnancy nausea and what Pongrojpaw 2007 compared favorably to dimenhydrinate. For chemotherapy-induced nausea, Ryan 2012 used 0.5-1g/day starting 3 days before infusion. For postoperative nausea, a single 1g dose before surgery has the strongest meta-analysis support. For acute motion sickness or queasy stomach, 500mg-1g as needed is reasonable; effects can be felt within 30-60 minutes.
Does ginger really work for chemo nausea?
The best trial is Ryan 2012 in 576 cancer patients on chemotherapy. Patients added 0.5g, 1g, or 1.5g/day of ginger to their standard antiemetic regimen starting 3 days before infusion. The 0.5g and 1g doses significantly reduced acute nausea on day 1 of chemo; the 1.5g dose did not, suggesting a U-shaped dose response. The signal is real but modest, and the timing matters — starting on the day of infusion does not seem to work. Ginger is a reasonable adjunct, not a replacement, for 5-HT3 antagonists like ondansetron. Talk to your oncologist before adding it.
Is ginger as good as ibuprofen for arthritis?
No. The Bartels 2015 meta-analysis of five OA RCTs found a small but statistically significant reduction in pain (standardized mean difference -0.30) and disability, but effect sizes are smaller than NSAIDs. Where ginger has an edge is the safety profile — no GI bleeding risk, no cardiovascular concerns, no kidney burden. Reasonable as an adjunct to physical therapy and other OA management, especially for people who cannot tolerate NSAIDs. Allow 8-12 weeks at 500-1000mg/day of a standardized extract before judging effect.
Can I just eat fresh ginger instead of capsules?
Culinary ginger has real value, but matching trial doses through food is harder than it sounds. Most RCTs used 1-2g/day of dried/powdered ginger root, which is roughly equivalent to 10-20g of fresh root (a substantial chunk daily). Ginger tea made from a few slices of fresh root gives you a small fraction of the studied dose. If you are using ginger for occasional queasiness, fresh root or ginger tea is fine. If you want to match what was actually tested in pregnancy, chemo, or OA trials, capsules of dried root are easier to dose consistently.
Does ginger thin the blood?
Mildly, yes. Ginger contains compounds that modestly inhibit platelet aggregation. The clinical concern is for people on anticoagulants (warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban) or antiplatelet drugs (clopidogrel, aspirin) and for anyone facing surgery in the next 1-2 weeks. At typical supplemental doses (1-2g/day) the effect is small, but the additive risk on top of prescription blood thinners is worth discussing with your physician. Stop chronic daily use 1-2 weeks before scheduled surgery. The single 1g pre-op dose used in PONV trials is administered under anesthesiology supervision and is distinct from chronic dosing.
Fresh ginger, dried ginger, or standardized extract — does it matter?
Almost every published nausea RCT used dried/powdered ginger root, not fresh and not a high-percentage gingerol extract. That is what is on the label of NOW Foods Ginger Root, Nature's Way, Solaray, and most of the major SKUs. Standardized extracts (NOW Foods 5% gingerols, Doctor's Best Gingever 15% gingerols) concentrate the active compounds and may be useful for joint comfort use cases. EV.EXT 77 is the specific extract used in the Altman 2001 OA trial. For nausea specifically, plain dried root in capsules is what the evidence supports and what is also cheapest.
Can I take ginger with my blood pressure or diabetes medications?
Talk to your physician first. Ginger may have modest glucose-lowering effects, so people on insulin or sulfonylureas should monitor blood sugar more closely when starting. Effects on blood pressure are smaller and less consistent in clinical trials. The main interaction concern is with anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs, not with antihypertensives or oral diabetes medications. If you take any prescription medication, a quick conversation with a pharmacist before starting any new daily supplement is always worth the five minutes.
Related Reading
Sources
- Vutyavanich T, Kraisarin T, Ruangsri R. Ginger for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2001;97(4):577-582.
- Smith C, Crowther C, Willson K, Hotham N, McMillian V. A randomized controlled trial of ginger to treat nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2004;103(4):639-645.
- Pongrojpaw D, Somprasit C, Chanthasenanont A. A randomized comparison of ginger and dimenhydrinate in the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. J Med Assoc Thai. 2007;90(9):1703-1709.
- Viljoen E, Visser J, Koen N, Musekiwa A. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect and safety of ginger in the treatment of pregnancy-associated nausea and vomiting. Nutr J. 2014;13:20.
- Ryan JL, Heckler CE, Roscoe JA, et al. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) reduces acute chemotherapy-induced nausea: a URCC CCOP study of 576 patients. Support Care Cancer. 2012;20(7):1479-1489.
- Chaiyakunapruk N, Kitikannakorn N, Nathisuwan S, Leeprakobboon K, Leelasettagool C. The efficacy of ginger for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting: a meta-analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006;194(1):95-99.
- Bartels EM, Folmer VN, Bliddal H, et al. Efficacy and safety of ginger in osteoarthritis patients: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2015;23(1):13-21.
- Altman RD, Marcussen KC. Effects of a ginger extract on knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2001;44(11):2531-2538.
- Daily JW, Zhang X, Kim DS, Park S. Efficacy of Ginger for Alleviating the Symptoms of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Pain Med. 2015;16(12):2243-2255.
- Mowrey DB, Clayson DE. Motion sickness, ginger, and psychophysics. Lancet. 1982;1(8273):655-657.
- Lete I, Allué J. The Effectiveness of Ginger in the Prevention of Nausea and Vomiting during Pregnancy and Chemotherapy. Integr Med Insights. 2016;11:11-17.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 189: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2018;131(1):e15-e30. (Lists ginger as a non-pharmacologic option for NVP.)
FDA Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products discussed on this page are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.