How effective is ginger in preventing or alleviating motion sickness symptoms?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Ginger is a natural remedy that may help reduce motion sickness symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and cold sweats. Its active compounds, gingerols and shogaols, are thought to calm the stomach and support digestion. However, results vary from person to person, and ginger may not work for everyone or every type of motion sickness.

Because nausea and dizziness can stem from many causes—not just motion sickness—it's worth understanding what's actually driving your symptoms before choosing a remedy. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to get personalized insights and clear guidance on your next steps.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Discover if ginger helps motion sickness Find likely causes of your motion sickness See whether motion sickness needs care Find OTC relief for motion sickness Find a doctor for motion sickness Explore medically proven motion sickness remedies Understand if nausea could be motion sickness

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Explanation

Ginger has been studied for its potential to help with motion sickness. Some studies suggest that ginger can reduce symptoms like nausea and vomiting.

Study 1: Research found that ginger might help with motion sickness by affecting the stomach's movements.
Study 2: Another study showed that ginger root was effective in reducing seasickness symptoms in a controlled trial.
Study 3: Additionally, ginger was found to decrease the likelihood of experiencing motion sickness in some people.

Overall, while ginger may help some people with motion sickness, its effectiveness can vary. If you're experiencing persistent nausea or other concerning symptoms, consider using a free symptom checker to better understand what might be causing your discomfort. It could be a helpful natural remedy for those looking for alternative options.

(References)

Lien HC, Sun WM, Chen YH, Kim H, Hasler W, & Owyang C. (2003). Effects of ginger on motion sickness and gastric slow-wave .... American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and liver physiology, 12576305.
Grøntved A, Brask T, Kambskard J, & Hentzer E. (1988). Ginger root against seasickness. A controlled trial on the .... Acta oto-laryngologica, 3277342.
Stewart JJ, Wood MJ, Wood CD, & Mims ME. (1991). Effects of ginger on motion sickness susceptibility and .... Pharmacology, 2062873.

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