Ginger (Zingiber Officinale)

We evaluated 211 human studies on Ginger (Zingiber officinale), including 96 randomised controlled trials and 55 meta-analyses or systematic reviews; the controlled studies include 7,918 participants in total. As of 7 October 2026.

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1. What Is Ginger (Zingiber Officinale)? Occurrence, Origin and Forms

Ginger is the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale, a member of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae). The plant is cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions, and its aromatic, pungent rhizome has long served as a spice and as a traditional remedy for digestive complaints, nausea and colds. In studies, ginger is examined as fresh or dried rhizome, as powder, as an extract or as essential oil.

Ginger grows as a herbaceous perennial in warm, humid climates and is cultivated mainly in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The part used is the underground rhizome, which reaches the market fresh, dried or further processed.

After harvest the rhizome is washed and then used fresh, dried and ground, or processed into extracts; its pungency comes from gingerols and shogaols, which often serve as markers of the preparation in studies. Preparations examined include dried powder, aqueous and alcoholic extracts, standardized extracts and the essential oil.

Forms and Preparations Studied

• fresh rhizome
• dried rhizome and powder
• aqueous extract (infusion, tea)
• alcoholic or standardized extract
• essential oil

Not covered on this page:

• Galangal (Alpinia galanga) and other members of the ginger family such as turmeric (Curcuma longa)
• Wild ginger (Asarum species), an unrelated plant with a similar name
• other Zingiber species such as Zingiber zerumbet
• ginger flavouring and ginger-containing soft drinks that contain no rhizome

2. What Does Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) Do? Results by Area

How to read the table: counted are human studies whose results concern the area. “High” means at least one meta-analysis and two controlled studies showing improvement, or at least three controlled studies of which three quarters show improvement, with at least 300 participants in total. “Moderate” means at least two controlled studies showing improvement, as a majority, or one meta-analysis alongside controlled studies. “Low” means one controlled study showing improvement. Where an area has no controlled study, the strength of evidence is at most “low” (result “reviews only” or “observational data only”). Everything else is “unclear”. A study counts as showing improvement when at least half of its outcomes in this area improved. Reviews of combination products do not count as meta-analyses; results that only describe side effects or shares of users do not count as an effect. The same study is counted only once.

3. What the Studies Show in Detail

Ginger (Zingiber Officinale), Nausea and Vomiting, Including Pregnancy: Human Studies

In pregnant women, ginger alleviated nausea compared with placebo, the number of vomiting episodes did not fall with certainty 9. Two further reviews rate ginger capsules and ginger in general as effective against nausea in pregnancy 4448. An umbrella review and a meta-analysis found less nausea and vomiting, with nausea responding more clearly 2032. Capsules, powder or biscuits were examined 32, in one review fresh rhizome 50. After thyroid operations, inhaling essential ginger oil lowered the severity of pain and nausea compared with usual care 121. A standardized extract, added to a carbohydrate drink before anesthesia, reduced the number of vomiting episodes after brain tumor operations, but not the frequency of nausea and vomiting 97. In children with vomiting due to acute gastroenteritis, fewer children vomited again after oral ginger administration than with placebo 68. It remains open which preparation and dose works best in which baseline situation.

Further studies in this area: 35 44 48 50 53 66 68 97 104 105 113 121 135 171 176

Ginger (Zingiber Officinale), Blood Glucose and Metabolism: Human Studies

Compared with placebo, ginger lowered fasting blood glucose in type 2 diabetes 96, fatty liver 98, metabolic syndrome 106 and gestational diabetes 86; it lowered the long-term blood glucose HbA1c in type 2 diabetes 96. Insulin resistance fell compared with placebo in fatty liver, metabolic syndrome and gestational diabetes 8698106; in women with PCOS, cinnamon and metformin lowered it, ginger did not 77. Triglycerides fell compared with placebo in metabolic syndrome 106 and with an extract of steamed ginger in overweight, there also total cholesterol 78. In fatty liver, total and LDL cholesterol fell, but not triglycerides 98; in type 2 diabetes the individual blood lipids did not change 96. In gestational diabetes, ginger tablets additionally lowered fasting insulin, but not blood glucose two hours after eating 86. An aqueous extract reduced the blood glucose rise after a sugar solution in non-diabetic adults 115. The findings are based predominantly on dried rhizome and powder; most studies were small and short.

Further studies in this area: 37 42 45 48 52 65 77 78 86 96 98 102 106 115 126 154 155 165 170

Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) and Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea: Human Studies

For nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy, the studies on ginger show a mixed picture. In a large randomized study in cancer patients, ginger capsules in addition to antiemetics reduced the severity of acute nausea compared with placebo, most strongly at the lower doses 56. A meta-analysis found that ginger capsules with antiemetics led to less frequent severe acute nausea and high-grade vomiting 22. A standardized ginger extract improved nausea-related quality of life and fatigue in the first cycle compared with placebo in a randomized study, but not in the second 95. These are offset by findings showing no difference: a systematic review with meta-analysis found no less frequent nausea and no less frequent vomiting with ginger 43. Only in a subgroup did acute vomiting occur less often 43. In cervical cancer under cisplatin and radiation, ginger capsules did not relieve nausea and vomiting compared with placebo 122. In a randomized study with four groups, ginger alone improved delayed symptoms, but not acute symptoms and delayed vomiting 64. In a randomized pilot study with applied oils, patients using peppermint oil had the least frequent nausea, followed by ginger oil and rapeseed oil; there was no difference in vomiting 116. Mainly ginger capsules and a standardized extract were tested. It remains open which dose works reliably for which chemotherapy.

Further studies in this area: 116 122 125 160 169

Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) and Osteoarthritis: Human Studies

In osteoarthritis, two meta-analyses found less pain with ginger than with placebo 746. Inflammatory markers decreased in one of them and in a randomized study with ginger powder 4673. An extract from steamed ginger improved pain, WOMAC scores and patient assessment compared with placebo 75. In a network meta-analysis, ginger showed advantages in individual endpoints 3. A compress or patch with ginger relieved pain, fatigue and functional impairment in a study without a control group 118. Mainly ginger powder and extracts were tested; follow-up was mostly short, longer studies are still pending.

Further studies in this area: 139 143 163 177

Ginger (Zingiber Officinale), Digestion and Gastrointestinal Complaints: Human Studies

In mild to moderate functional dyspepsia, a standardized extract from steamed ginger improved the GSRS total score and the subscores for abdominal pain, constipation, indigestion and reflux compared with placebo 79. In tuberculosis patients under treatment, gastrointestinal complaints decreased with ginger as with peppermint in a randomized study 61. A systematic review counts ginger-based preparations among the approaches that relieve complaints in functional dyspepsia 18. Another sees better digestive function consistently supported 48. In healthy young adults, standardized ginger root powder changed gut bacteria and relieved indigestion in a randomized study, but not other gastrointestinal complaints or gut function 94. The findings are based on ginger powder and extracts; studies on fresh rhizome, infusions and essential oil are still pending.

Further studies in this area: 161 162

Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) and Menstrual Pain: Human Studies

In menstrual pain, a meta-analysis found a reduction in pain intensity and pain duration with ginger compared with placebo 38. Compared with NSAIDs, there was no difference in pain intensity, nor compared with exercise 38. The evidence is considered low here because only this meta-analysis was evaluated and its individual studies carry a risk of bias 38.

Ginger (Zingiber Officinale): Further Outcomes in Studies

Compared with placebo, ginger lowered inflammatory markers such as hs-CRP in type 2 diabetes 91, rheumatoid arthritis 90 and fatty liver 98. Extracts from steamed ginger lowered body fat in two randomized studies compared with placebo 7881, and in one also weight and body mass index 81. In healthy people, ginger powder did not change blood lipids, but in a laboratory test increased plasma's ability to take up cholesterol from cells 107. Antioxidative blood values improved compared with placebo with a standardized extract during chemotherapy 101 and with ginger powder in healthy people 107. In type 2 diabetes with periodontitis, ginger tablets in addition to gum treatment improved inflammatory values and gum pockets compared with placebo 99. In joint and muscle pain, a standardized extract from CO2 extraction and fermentation improved pain, stiffness and function compared with placebo 111. In muscle soreness after exertion, a ginger extract relieved pain in a controlled study 127. No difference from placebo was found for a ginger extract ointment for pain after episiotomy 85 and for ginger in performance and muscle soreness of cyclists 110. In allergic rhinitis, a ginger extract improved nasal complaints and quality of life similarly to the antiallergic loratadine, with less fatigue and drowsiness 80. In asthma, three measures of symptom control improved with ginger in addition to usual therapy, but not exhaled nitric oxide and blood eosinophils 109. The findings apply to the respective form tested — dried rhizome and powder, aqueous extract, standardized or alcoholic extract as well as essential oil — and cannot be transferred between the forms. The transferability to other baseline situations and the persistence beyond the short study durations remain open.

Further studies in this area: 13 14 15 16 17 19 21 24 25 27 28 30 31 34 39 40 47 48 49 51 52 54 55 58 60 63 64 65 69 70 74 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 97 98 99 100 101 103 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 117 119 120 123 124 126 127 128 130 131 132 133 134 136 138 140 142 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 153 154 155 156 158 159 164 166 167 168 169 171 172 173 174 175 178

4. How Is Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) Dosed? Preparation, Dose and Duration in Studies

The studies examined dried rhizome and powder in capsules or tablets, fresh rhizome, aqueous infusions and mouth rinses, standardized and alcoholic extracts as well as essential oil as inhalation, aromatherapy or gel. For nausea in pregnancy, mainly capsules, powder and biscuits were examined, for osteoarthritis powder and extracts, for nausea after operations also essential oil. The exact doses and preparations are shown in the table.

5. Is Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) Safe? Side Effects in Studies

In pregnant women, miscarriages, heartburn or drowsiness occurred no more frequently with ginger than with placebo or vitamin B6 920. A review found no harmful consequences for mother and child 53. Isolated cases of belching in pregnant women 25 and dizziness after moxibustion over ginger slices, a heat treatment of skin points, were reported 22. In a study with an Ayurvedic mixture of ginger, Tinospora cordifolia, Emblica officinalis and Boswellia serrata, the liver value SGPT rose without complaints in some participants 57.

6. What Remains Open: Limits of the Evidence

• Some investigations examined ginger as part of mixtures; there the contribution of ginger alone remains open.
• Most studies were small and short; larger and longer studies are still pending.
• For nausea during chemotherapy the results contradict each other; above all the appropriate dose remains open.
• For fresh rhizome, aqueous infusions and essential oil there are clearly fewer controlled studies than for dried powder and extracts.
• For menstrual pain there is a meta-analysis whose individual studies carry a risk of bias 38.

7. Bottom Line: What Is Established About Ginger (Zingiber Officinale)

Ginger is the rhizome of Zingiber officinale and is examined in studies as fresh or dried rhizome, as powder, aqueous extract, standardized or alcoholic extract as well as essential oil. Best supported are less nausea in pregnancy, less pain in osteoarthritis and a lower fasting blood glucose in metabolic disorders. In functional dyspepsia, an extract of steamed ginger improved the complaints in a randomized study 79.

The findings apply in each case to the form and preparation studied and cannot be transferred between them. For nausea during chemotherapy the picture is mixed. Tolerability was predominantly good in the studies; larger and longer studies are still pending.