Sep 13, 2021

Does Ginger Root Help with Motion Sickness?

does ginger root help with motion sickness

If you’ve ever ridden in a car or on a boat, you might be familiar with the sensation of motion sickness. This common syndrome often presents with nausea and vomiting – and can effectively sideline you to misery until the car stops. And if you’ve ever taken Dramamine or Benadryl to counteract your motion sickness, you know just how unpleasant some of those side effects can be. ¹

Ginger root, often referred to as just ginger, is often touted as a natural, low-impact alternative to antinausea medication. This powerful plant from Southeast Asia is well-known for being healthy, potent – and delicious. The rhizome (underground stem) is chopped, ground, dried, and powdered for traditional dishes and herbal medicines in many cultures. One such use for ginger-based herbal medication is the treatment of nausea and motion sickness. ²

While ginger has long been used for nausea and vomiting, it’s only recently that medical science has been able to examine proponents’ claims of efficacy. Maybe you have friends or family who swear by ginger as a nausea cure-all. Perhaps you’ve seen the other side of the coin: those who claim that the science around ginger is bogus. But who is right? Does ginger root help with motion sickness – or doesn’t it?

What is Motion Sickness?

what is motion sickness

Motion sickness is a common experience triggered by side-to-side or back-and-forth motion. Knowledge of motion sickness dates back to ancient times when Hippocrates wrote that "sailing on the sea proves that motion disorders the body." The telltale symptoms of motion sickness vary but may include: ¹

Nausea and vomiting
Dizziness
Headache
Sweating
Yawning
General discomfort or malaise

It’s thought that motion sickness occurs due to conflicting information between your body and nervous system. While your eyes and ears tell your brain that you’re in motion, your nervous system tells your brain that you’re sitting still. This discord can lead to a cascade of motion sickness symptoms, with nausea being the most common. ¹

Ginger’s Effects on Nausea and Vomiting

Before we address motion sickness as a whole, let’s look at the science on ginger and nausea.

The link between ginger and nausea is well-documented throughout the last century – but the exact efficacy is difficult to pinpoint. One review study that examined ginger in clinical trials found that assessing ginger is difficult due to inconsistencies in the type of ginger – fresh versus dried – and the dose. The authors found that, across 12 studies, dosages ranged from 600 milligrams to 2500 milligrams. ³

Despite these discrepancies, the review also found that ginger elicits positive effects on nausea. For instance, it noted, one meta-analysis of six studies between 1991 and 2009 found that taking up to 1,000 milligrams per day reduced nausea better than a placebo. The results were compounded when taking ginger over a minimum of four days. A second meta-analysis of 12 studies found that ginger is more effective than vitamin B6 and placebos at preventing nausea. ³¹¹

Another independent clinical trial assessed the efficacy of ginger against dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) in pregnant women. The authors found that ginger was just as effective and presented with fewer side effects when treating nausea. Another clinical trial found that ginger was slightly less effective than metoclopramide at reducing nausea and vomiting in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. However, the authors of this study also posited that ginger root is an effective alternative for patients with medication sensitivities. ⁴⁵

While there are some discrepancies, we can see that available research suggests ginger root works to mitigate general and pregnancy-related nausea. But what about nausea (and other symptoms) caused by motion sickness)?

Does Ginger Root Help with Motion Sickness?

Unfortunately, clinical trials on ginger and motion sickness often present conflicting information. Whereas above, we noted that ginger is typically effective against nausea, the evidence on motion sickness is not so clear-cut.

One PubMed article review reaffirms that ginger is an effective antiemetic (anti-vomiting) treatment with few side effects. At the same time, the review also notes that ginger presents mixed results in motion sickness-related research. ⁶

For instance, a targeted study from 1982 induced motion sickness by placing blindfolded subjects in a rotating tilt chair. Individuals then received either Dramamine, ginger, or a placebo and self-reported symptoms of motion sickness. The authors concluded that ginger was more effective than both a placebo and Dramamine in reducing motion sickness. ⁷

On the other hand, a second study from 2014 found that behavioral strategies – such as exposure therapy or watching the road – were most beneficial against motion sickness. This study also determined that scopolamine and antihistamines promoted positive benefits, whereas ondansetron and ginger root neither prevented nor treated motion sickness. A similar study from 1991 had determined similar outcomes, with scopolamine mixed with a placebo producing better outcomes than powdered ginger root. ⁸¹⁰

But at least one double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial on the open sea determined otherwise. Eight naval cadets were monitored for seasickness symptoms every hour for four hours after consuming either 1 gram of ginger root or a placebo. The authors found that ginger root reduced vomiting and cold sweating "significantly better" than the placebo. Furthermore, cadets reported "remarkably fewer" symptoms of nausea and vertigo. ⁹

Is Ginger Root Safe to Take for Motion Sickness?

With so much mixed information spanning over 30 years, more clinical trials are clearly needed to determine whether or not ginger root helps motion sickness. However, while scientists can’t seem to agree on ginger’s efficacy, they can agree on one thing: ginger is typically safe to try in moderate doses.

So, how much ginger root should you take?

On the whole, most clinical studies recommend a safe daily dose of up to 1,000 milligrams. Others found that doses of less than 1,500 milligrams were most effective. Higher doses were often associated with less efficacy and increased risk of side effects. ³

One meta-analysis of twelve studies on pregnant women – a high-risk group for side effects – found that ginger does not: ¹¹

Pose a significant risk for miscarriage
Lead to increased heartburn or drowsiness
It is most effective in doses less than 1.5 grams (1,500 milligrams) per day.

But that’s not to say that ginger is entirely without side effects. For instance, pregnant women who have a prior history of miscarriage may be at increased risk of future miscarriages. And because ginger has been shown to have blood-thinning properties, individuals on blood thinners or with clotting disorders are encouraged to minimize exposure to ginger. ¹² ¹³

Still, more clinical trials are clearly needed to determine if ginger can help treat motion sickness and what dosages and forms are most effective for this – and other – ailments.

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Does Ginger Root Help with Motion Sickness?

What is Motion Sickness?

Ginger’s Effects on Nausea and Vomiting

Does Ginger Root Help with Motion Sickness?

Is Ginger Root Safe to Take for Motion Sickness?

So, how much ginger root should you take?

Bolster Your Body's Nutrition With Wellixir's Turmeric & Ginger Root Supplements

References

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