GINGER ROOT, AN AGE-OLD NATURAL REMEDY for nausea, may have a place in modern medicine. Researchers found that ginger capsules taken with anti-nausea medication can reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) more than medication alone.
Despite advances in anti-nausea medications, research suggests up to 55% of patients still experience CINV within 24 hours of receiving chemotherapy, and 25% to 60% experience delayed CINV up to seven days post-treatment. CINV can contribute to malnutrition and fatigue and interrupt chemotherapy, affecting a patient’s treatment outcomes.
A study published March 2024 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics enrolled 103 cancer patients about to start chemotherapy known to cause nausea and vomiting. On the day of chemotherapy and for four days afterward, half of the participants took four ginger root capsules throughout the day, while the remainder took placebos, with both groups receiving other anti-nausea medications. Seventy of the 103 participants completed three rounds of chemotherapy. Those who received ginger root reported less nausea and vomiting in the days after receiving chemotherapy, as well as less fatigue, better nutritional status and higher quality of life, compared with those who took a placebo.
There are many ways to enjoy the health benefits of ginger. Oncology dietitian Hillary Wright, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, recommends trying these different forms in varying amounts to see which is most effective for you:
- Crystalized ginger
- Ginger ale (look for one made with real ginger)
- Ginger gummies or chews
- Raw chopped ginger steeped into a tea
“Some types of chemotherapy activate nausea and vomiting pathways. Bioactive compounds in ginger block these pathways, which stops the vomiting center in the brain from being switched on,” says Megan Crichton, the study’s lead investigator and a cancer and palliative care researcher at Queensland University of Technology in Australia.
Crichton adds that ginger’s bioactive compounds, namely gingerol and shogaol, bind to different receptor sites within the nausea and vomiting pathways than anti-nausea medications. Moreover, ginger is thought to help regulate digestion and reduce inflammation that may be linked with fatigue caused by cancer or treatment, providing added benefits when used with anti-nausea medications. “Interestingly, we found ginger to be more effective in the delayed phase [of CINV], which is often harder to manage, so it might be most effective in the one to five days after treatment,” Crichton says.
This tea recipe can help chemotherapy patients increase their ginger intake.
Hillary Wright, an oncology dietitian at Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, shares this recipe for fresh ginger tea:
- Combine 1 inch of sliced fresh ginger root and 8 ounces of water in a saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat, and simmer for five minutes.
- Using a strainer to remove the ginger, pour the liquid into a mug.
- Add a splash of orange or lemon juice and a drizzle of honey.
Many people find ways to incorporate ginger into their diets while undergoing chemotherapy, notes Hillary Wright, an oncology dietitian with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston who was not involved in the study. She often recommends that patients alternate ginger tea (see “Sweet and Spicy Relief” for her recipe) with ginger chews throughout the day. “Ginger root has many culinary uses, especially in Asian cuisine, but with nausea, it’s best to keep ginger use simple,” she says.
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