PATIENT & CAREGIVER EDUCATION
Ginger
This information describes the common uses of Ginger,
how it works, and its possible side effects.
Tell your healthcare providers about any dietary
supplements you’re taking, such as herbs, vitamins,
minerals, and natural or home remedies. This will
help them manage your care and keep you safe.
What is it?
Ginger may help relieve or prevent nausea and
vomiting.
Ginger root contains compounds that may help relieve or
prevent nausea and vomiting. These substances can
increase the flow of saliva and digestive juices and may
also help calm the stomach and intestines. Some studies
have found ginger may help nausea caused by
chemotherapy, but larger studies are needed to confirm
these effects.
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Eating fresh ginger in high doses can have blood-
thinning effects by preventing platelets from sticking
together. Laboratory studies suggest that ginger can
protect brain cells from the plaques that cause
Alzheimer’s disease, but this effect has not been studied
in humans.
What are the potential uses and
benefits?
To stimulate appetite
Ginger is known to stimulate saliva flow and digestive
secretions, but clinical trials are lacking.
To relieve indigestion
Compounds in ginger are known to stimulate saliva
flow and digestive juices, reduce gas, and calm the
digestive system, but human data are lacking.
To treat diarrhea
Compounds in ginger are known to calm the digestive
system, but clinical data are lacking.
To treat nausea and vomiting
Some studies support the short-term use of ginger for
chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting and
motion sickness. However, ginger supplements should
not be used around the time of surgery because of
blood-thinning effects. It is also not suggested for use
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during pregnancy because of risks to the developing
embryo.
To treat arthritis
A few studies have been conducted with positive
results, but more research is needed.
To treat respiratory ailments
Certain compounds in ginger may reduce
inflammation and protect against certain viruses, but
human studies are lacking.
To treat drug withdrawal symptoms
A small animal study suggests that ginger may help
ease withdrawal symptoms from drugs like morphine.
However, clinical data are lacking.
What are the side effects?
Heartburn
Skin irritation, swelling, and redness
Case reports
Nosebleed, slow blood clotting: In a 76-year-old
woman on long-term blood-thinning therapy who took
ginger products. Clotting returned to normal after
discontinuing ginger and with vitamin K
administration.
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Severe fatigue and bleeding: In a 65-year-old
patient who was on multiple medications and also
took natural products like DHA, blueberry and ginger
extract supplements, licorice, and pineapple juice.
Some combination of these were determined to
contribute to the problem, which was resolved with
discontinuation of several products while limiting the
intake of others.
Fatal bleeding: In an 80-year-old man on a blood
thinner with a history of irregular heartbeat. He
presented with 1-day history of vomiting blood and
black stool that began 3 days after taking a boiled
mixture of ginger and cinnamon.
What else do I need to know?
Patient Warnings:
Due to its blood-thinning effects, ginger supplements
should be stopped 2 weeks before surgery, and
should not be used immediately after surgery to
control nausea or vomiting.
Ginger supplements should be avoided in patients
with bleeding disorders.
Ginger supplements should be avoided during
pregnancy or lactation.
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Ginger supplements should be avoided by individuals
with gallstones.
Do Not Take if:
You are taking warfarin or other blood thinners:
Ginger supplements may increase the risk of bleeding.
You are taking NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs: Ginger supplements may
increase risk of bleeding when used with these drugs.
You are taking insulin or medication to lower
blood glucose: Ginger supplements may cause larger
reductions in glucose levels. Clinical relevance is not
known.
You are taking tacrolimus: Ginger supplements
increase the blood levels of this drug and may
increase side effects. Clinical relevance is not known.
You have a bleeding disorder: Ginger supplements
may increase bleeding time.
You have gallstones: Ginger supplements may
increase the flow of bile.
You are having surgery: Ginger supplements may
increase risk of bleeding.
You are pregnant or lactating: The effect of ginger
supplements on human gestational development are
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unknown.
If you have questions or concerns, contact your
healthcare provider. A member of your care team will
answer Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Outside those hours, you can leave a message or talk
with another MSK provider. There is always a doctor
or nurse on call. If you’re not sure how to reach your
healthcare provider, call 212-639-2000.
For more resources, visit www.mskcc.org/pe to search
our virtual library.
Ginger - Last updated on June 2, 2022
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Cancer Center
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