Overview

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a plant native to Asia. The ginger spice comes from the roots of the plant. It's used as a food flavoring and medicine.

Ginger contains chemicals that might reduce nausea and swelling. These chemicals seem to work in the stomach and intestines, but they might also help the brain and nervous system to control nausea.

People commonly use ginger for many types of nausea and vomiting. It's also used for menstrual cramps, osteoarthritis, diabetes, migraine headaches, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses. There is also no good evidence to support using ginger for COVID-19.

Uses & Effectiveness

Possibly Effective for

  • Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea). Taking ginger by mouth during the first 3-4 days of a menstrual cycle somewhat reduces painful menstrual periods. It seems to work about as well as some pain medications, like ibuprofen, mefenamic acid, or Novafen. Taking ginger along with medicines such as mefenamic acid also seems to be helpful.
  • Osteoarthritis. Taking ginger by mouth can slightly reduce pain in some people with osteoarthritis. But applying ginger gel or oil to the knee doesn't seem to help.
  • Morning sickness. Taking ginger by mouth seems to reduce nausea and vomiting in some people during pregnancy. But it might work slower or not as well as some drugs used for nausea.

Possibly Ineffective for

  • Nausea and vomiting caused by cancer drug treatment. Taking ginger by mouth doesn't reduce nausea or vomiting caused by chemotherapy.
  • Muscle soreness caused by exercise. Taking ginger by mouth doesn't reduce or prevent muscle pain from exercise.
  • Motion sickness. Taking ginger by mouth up to 4 hours before travel doesn't prevent motion sickness.
There is interest in using ginger for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Ginger is likely safe. It can cause mild side effects including heartburn, diarrhea, burping, and general stomach discomfort. Taking higher doses of 5 grams daily increases the risk for side effects.

When applied to the skin: Ginger is possibly safe when used short-term. It might cause skin irritation for some people.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy: Ginger is likely safe when eaten in foods. It is possibly safe when taken by mouth as medicine during pregnancy. It might increase the risk of bleeding, so some experts advise against using it close to the delivery date. But it appears to be safe to use for morning sickness without harm to the baby. Talk to your healthcare provider before using ginger during pregnancy.

Breast-feeding: Ginger is likely safe when eaten in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if taking larger amounts of ginger is safe when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Children: Ginger is possibly safe when taken by mouth for up to 4 days by teenagers around the start of their period.

Bleeding disorders: Taking ginger might increase your risk of bleeding.

Heart conditions: High doses of ginger might worsen some heart conditions.

Surgery: Ginger might slow blood clotting. It might cause extra bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using ginger at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Ginger is likely safe. It can cause mild side effects including heartburn, diarrhea, burping, and general stomach discomfort. Taking higher doses of 5 grams daily increases the risk for side effects.

When applied to the skin: Ginger is possibly safe when used short-term. It might cause skin irritation for some people.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy: Ginger is likely safe when eaten in foods. It is possibly safe when taken by mouth as medicine during pregnancy. It might increase the risk of bleeding, so some experts advise against using it close to the delivery date. But it appears to be safe to use for morning sickness without harm to the baby. Talk to your healthcare provider before using ginger during pregnancy.

Breast-feeding: Ginger is likely safe when eaten in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if taking larger amounts of ginger is safe when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Children: Ginger is possibly safe when taken by mouth for up to 4 days by teenagers around the start of their period.

Bleeding disorders: Taking ginger might increase your risk of bleeding.

Heart conditions: High doses of ginger might worsen some heart conditions.

Surgery: Ginger might slow blood clotting. It might cause extra bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using ginger at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions

    Moderate Interaction

    Be cautious with this combination

  • Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with GINGER

    Ginger might lower blood sugar levels. Taking ginger along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.

  • Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with GINGER

    Ginger might slow blood clotting. Taking ginger along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.

  • Phenprocoumon (Marcoumar, others) interacts with GINGER

    Phenprocoumon is used to slow blood clotting. Ginger can also slow blood clotting. Taking ginger along with phenprocoumon might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your phenprocoumon might need to be changed.

  • Warfarin (Coumadin) interacts with GINGER

    Warfarin is used to slow blood clotting. Ginger can also slow blood clotting. Taking ginger along with warfarin might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin might need to be changed.

  • Nifedipine (Procardia) interacts with GINGER

    Taking ginger along with nifedipine might slow blood clotting and increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.

  • Losartan (Cozaar) interacts with GINGER

    Ginger can increase how much losartan the body absorbs. Taking ginger along with losartan might increase the effects and side effects of losartan.

    Minor Interaction

    Be watchful with this combination

  • Medications for high blood pressure (Calcium channel blockers) interacts with GINGER

    Ginger might lower blood pressure. Taking ginger along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.

  • Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune) interacts with GINGER

    Taking ginger two hours before taking cyclosporine might increase how much cyclosporine the body absorbs. This might increase the side effects of cyclosporine. But ginger does not seem to affect how much cyclosporine the body absorbs when they are taken at the same time.

  • Metronidazole (Flagyl) interacts with GINGER

    Ginger can increase how much metronidazole the body absorbs. Taking ginger along with metronidazole might increase the effects and side effects of metronidazole.

  • Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates) interacts with GINGER

    Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Ginger might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.

  • Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6) substrates) interacts with GINGER

    Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Ginger might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.

  • Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) substrates) interacts with GINGER

    Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Ginger might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.

  • Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates) interacts with GINGER

    Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Ginger might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.

  • Medications moved by pumps in cells (P-Glycoprotein Substrates) interacts with GINGER

    Some medications are moved in and out of cells by pumps. Ginger might change how these pumps work and change how much medication stays in the body. In some cases, this might change the effects and side effects of a medication.

Dosing

Ginger is commonly consumed in foods and as a flavoring in drinks. As medicine, ginger is available in many forms, including teas, syrups, capsules, and liquid extracts. Ginger has most often been used by adults in doses of 0.5-3 grams by mouth daily for up to 12 weeks. Ginger is also available in topical gels, ointments, and aromatherapy essential oils. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what type of product and dose might be best for a specific condition.
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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
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