Natural Remedies: Nausea vs. Ginger

Ginger for Nausea Relief

Ginger has long been a popular cure for nausea, a sort of stomach upset that often results from motion sickness, morning sickness, chemotherapy, migraines, food poisoning, and the use of certain medications. Many people use ginger supplements when treating nausea, although fresh, dried, and crystallized ginger may also help soothe nausea when consumed as foods or spices.

While it's not known how ginger might ease nausea, some scientists suspect that certain chemicals found in ginger may influence the nervous system, stomach, and intestines to help ease nausea.

Ginger

The Science behind Ginger and Nausea

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) lists ginger supplements as "possibly effective" for preventing morning sickness and controlling post-surgery nausea.Indeed, a 2005 report
from Obstetrics and Gynecology analyzed six clinical trials (with a total of 675 participants) and found that ginger was superior to a placebo and similar to vitamin B6 in relieving nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

Moreover, in a 2006 report from the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, investigators sized up five clinical trials (with a total of 363 patients) and concluded that taking ginger is more effective than placebo for post-surgery nausea and vomiting.

Contrariwise, the NIH classifies ginger supplements as "possibly ineffective" for preventing motion sickness and seasickness. Although several small studies suggest that ginger supplements may prevent or treat motion sickness to some degree, other research shows that ginger supplements are of little value in protecting against motion sickness.

When Should You Use Ginger for Nausea?

While ginger is mostly considered safe for most people, it may cause some mild side effects (including heartburn, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort). Furthermore, it's important to take caution when using ginger in combination with other medications. For instance, combining ginger supplements with blood-thinning drugs may increase risk of bleeding, while mixing ginger supplements with diabetes medications may decrease blood sugar.

If you're considering the use of ginger supplements in treatment of a chronic health problem (or during chemotherapy), ensure to consult your medical doctor before starting your supplement regimen.

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