A research review of human and relevant scientific studies on Zingiber officinale.
Last reviewed: August 2026
🔬 Research Summary
- Nausea & vomiting: Ginger is extensively studied for nausea and vomiting, including pregnancy-related nausea and postoperative or treatment-related nausea. Multiple randomized trials and reviews support further clinical interest.
- Digestive function & gastric motility: Human physiology studies show that ginger can influence gastric emptying and motility, although results are not uniform.
- Pain & inflammation: Clinical studies have examined ginger for osteoarthritis, menstrual pain and exercise-related soreness, with some systematic reviews reporting modest benefits.
- Metabolic health: Trials have investigated glucose, lipids, blood pressure and inflammatory markers, with mixed-to-promising findings.
- Respiratory and other uses: Smaller studies have explored respiratory symptoms and other outcomes, but evidence is less developed.
The sections below summarize the principal health areas investigated in the literature. Evidence strength is not uniform, and studies using extracts, oils, capsules or combination products are identified conceptually rather than treated as interchangeable with tea.
Nausea & vomiting
What researchers found
Ginger is extensively studied for nausea and vomiting, including pregnancy-related nausea and postoperative or treatment-related nausea. Multiple randomized trials and reviews support further clinical interest.
What remains uncertain
Study results, doses, preparations and participant populations differ. Where the evidence is based mainly on extracts, oils, capsules, combinations, laboratory models or people with a specific condition, that limitation should be considered when interpreting the findings for a normal cup of tea.
Digestive function & gastric motility
What researchers found
Human physiology studies show that ginger can influence gastric emptying and motility, although results are not uniform.
What remains uncertain
Study results, doses, preparations and participant populations differ. Where the evidence is based mainly on extracts, oils, capsules, combinations, laboratory models or people with a specific condition, that limitation should be considered when interpreting the findings for a normal cup of tea.
Pain & inflammation
What researchers found
Clinical studies have examined ginger for osteoarthritis, menstrual pain and exercise-related soreness, with some systematic reviews reporting modest benefits.
What remains uncertain
Study results, doses, preparations and participant populations differ. Where the evidence is based mainly on extracts, oils, capsules, combinations, laboratory models or people with a specific condition, that limitation should be considered when interpreting the findings for a normal cup of tea.
Metabolic health
What researchers found
Trials have investigated glucose, lipids, blood pressure and inflammatory markers, with mixed-to-promising findings.
What remains uncertain
Study results, doses, preparations and participant populations differ. Where the evidence is based mainly on extracts, oils, capsules, combinations, laboratory models or people with a specific condition, that limitation should be considered when interpreting the findings for a normal cup of tea.
Respiratory and other uses
What researchers found
Smaller studies have explored respiratory symptoms and other outcomes, but evidence is less developed.
What remains uncertain
Study results, doses, preparations and participant populations differ. Where the evidence is based mainly on extracts, oils, capsules, combinations, laboratory models or people with a specific condition, that limitation should be considered when interpreting the findings for a normal cup of tea.
Overall Assessment
Ginger has one of the strongest and broadest human research bases among culinary herbs. Nausea is particularly well studied, while digestive physiology, pain and metabolic outcomes have also received substantial attention. Preparation and dose still matter.
References
- Anh NH, Kim SJ, Long NP, et al. Ginger on Human Health: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of 109 Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2020;12(1):157. PMID: 31935866. doi:10.3390/nu12010157.
- Li H, Liu Y, Luo D, et al. Ginger for health care: an overview of systematic reviews. Complement Ther Med. 2019;45:114-123. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2019.06.002.
- Tavares L, Smaoui S, Pinilla CMB, et al. Ginger: a systematic review of clinical trials and recent advances in encapsulation of its bioactive compounds. Food Funct. 2022;13:1078-1091. PMID: 35080542. doi:10.1039/D1FO02998C.
Reference note: References were selected to represent the principal human clinical and systematic-review evidence discussed in this article. Where direct tea-infusion evidence is limited, the article explicitly identifies that limitation.
Publication version: August 2026
Try our Green Tea Ginger, blending zesty ginger with green tea leaves.
These statements have not been evaluated by Medsafe. This tea is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or managing a health condition, check with your healthcare provider before making it a regular habit.
