# Ginger for chemotherapy nausea

Source: https://onco.cc/technologies/ginger-nausea/  
OnCo record `ginger-nausea` (Technology). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Ginger capsules taken alongside standard anti-sickness drugs reduced nausea in the largest randomised trial, but other trials found no effect and the doses and products vary. It is safe for most people, with a caution about bleeding for anyone on anticoagulants.

## Summary

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has antiemetic activity attributed to gingerols and shogaols acting on 5-HT3 and other gut receptors. In a randomised placebo-controlled trial of 576 patients (Ryan et al., Supportive Care in Cancer 2012), 0.5 g or 1 g of ginger daily for six days starting three days before chemotherapy, added to 5-HT3 antagonists, reduced acute nausea severity; higher doses did not, and vomiting was unaffected. Several other randomised trials were negative or too small, and systematic reviews describe the evidence as mixed. Ginger is not part of MASCC/ESMO or ASCO antiemetic guidelines. Ginger has mild antiplatelet effects, so caution is advised with anticoagulants and before surgery; products are unstandardised.

## Fields

- Kind: Technology
- Status: phase-2
- Last checked: 2026-09-10
- Tags: complementary; supportive-care; evidence:moderate
- Principle: Gingerols and shogaols antagonise 5-HT3 receptors, accelerate gastric emptying and may act on NK1 signalling, targets shared with prescription antiemetics.
- Strengths: Largest trial positive for acute nausea; Cheap, widely available, generally safe
- Limitations: Other trials negative; no effect on vomiting; Products and doses unstandardised; Antiplatelet caution

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger
- Ginger for chemotherapy-related nausea in cancer patients, randomised trial of 576 patients (Support Care Cancer 2012): https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1236-3
- MSK About Herbs: Ginger: https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/ginger

## Connected records

- fronts: [Chemotherapy](https://onco.cc/fronts/chemotherapy/), [Diet, Exercise & Lifestyle](https://onco.cc/fronts/nutrition-lifestyle/), [Supportive Care & Survivorship](https://onco.cc/fronts/supportive-care/)
- technologies: [Antiemetics for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting](https://onco.cc/technologies/antiemetic-therapy/), [Evidence-based integrative oncology](https://onco.cc/technologies/integrative-oncology/)
- bottlenecks: [Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued](https://onco.cc/bottlenecks/b-toxicity-qol/)
- key papers: [Ginger (Zingiber officinale) reduces acute chemotherapy-induced nausea: a URCC CCOP study of 576 patients](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-ryan-support-care-cancer/)

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