In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleGinger & Drug InteractionsHow Much Ginger Is SafeWho Should Avoid ItThe Bottom Line
In This ArticleView All
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In This Article
Ginger & Drug Interactions
How Much Ginger Is Safe
Who Should Avoid It
The Bottom Line
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Ginger is a versatile ingredient that wears many hats—it is a food, a spice, a flavor enhancer and a medicinal ingredient. This rhizome is known for adding a pungent kick and pleasant aroma to bothsavory and sweet dishes.
The plant has been used in traditional medicine in many countries for over 3,000 years to treat headaches, nausea, vomiting,menstrual cramps, diarrhea, colds and more. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and more recent research suggests it may help reduce cholesterol and blood pressure and regulate blood sugar to protect the heart.
Given ginger’s potential power, it’s important to remember that although it’s an herbal remedy, it can interact with certain medications—and knowing what to look out for can help safeguard your health. We contacted experts, including a pharmacist and two registered dietitians, for their insights and recommendations. Here’s what you need to know.
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4 Medications Ginger Can Interact With
Ginger may havepotential health benefits, but if you take one of the following medications, consult with your health care provider before increasing your intake of ginger or taking a supplement.
1. Blood Thinners
In other words, ginger and ginger supplements may have blood-thinning properties and can increase the risk of bleeding when taken alongside blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin), aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto).
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2. Diabetes Medications
Ginger has been reported to lower fasting blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity and A1C levels in people with type 2 diabetes. That’s great news! But if you are already on blood-sugar-lowering medications, such as metformin and insulin, adding ginger may further lower your levels. Why is this? Compounds present in ginger may interfere with enzymes responsible for breaking down carbohydrates, which can exacerbate the impact of diabetes medication, says Ngo-Hamilton. When consumed in excess, ginger may contribute to hypoglycemia or low blood sugar.
3. Antiarrhythmic Medications
Ngo-Hamilton says that if you have an arrhythmia—or an abnormal heartbeat—ginger may also interact with antiarrhythmic medication, such as amiodarone (Pacerone, Cordarone).
Your heart cells have calcium channels that support the heart’s ability to contract.The compounds present in ginger may block calcium from entering the cardiac cells, potentiallylowering blood pressure.
4. Blood Pressure Medications
Ginger may enhance the effectiveness of blood pressure medications. It can potentially interfere with angiotensin, a hormone that regulates blood pressure and fluid levels in the body. In the long term, this can relax blood vessels, leading tolow blood pressure.
Effects of Ginger on Medication Absorption
In addition to interacting with the medications above, ginger may amplify the effects of medications when taken together. So, if you eat ginger or take ginger supplements alongside medication and experience side effects, such as sweating, shaking, nervousness, anxiety and dizziness, seek out medical help immediately.
How Much Ginger Is Safe per Day?
Eating foods containing small amounts of ginger is generally safe and unlikely to cause significant drug interactions, according toMichele Routhenstein, M.S., RD, CDCES, a preventive cardiology dietitian at EntirelyNourished. Unless you have an underlying health condition, eating natural ginger root up to 4 grams daily is considered safe. “This amount is equivalent to 2 teaspoons of powdered ginger or 4 teaspoons of grated raw ginger,” says Routhenstein.
However, consuming large amounts of ginger root can irritate your gastrointestinal system, causing nausea, cramps, bloating, diarrhea, heartburn and mouth or throat irritation, says Ngo-Hamilton.
It’s best to consume natural ginger in moderation, such as pairing it withsushior a poke bowl or using powdered ginger in recipes, recommendsMegan Huff, RDN,a clinical dietitian at Piedmont Healthcare. Speaking with a registered dietitian about food options and ginger alternatives can help you determine if you need to reduce the amount of ginger consumption in your meals. And if you are taking the medications above, you’ll also want to consult with your doctor about how much is right for you, especially if you’re looking to supplement. “Every individual may have a different dosage, depending on their health status and medications,” says Huff.
Who Should Avoid Ginger Supplements?
People with the following conditions should avoid ginger supplements:
Ginger is a traditional culinary and medicinal ingredient across many cultures. Cooking with ginger is generally safe. However, ginger contains compounds that may interact with certain medications, such as blood thinners and blood sugar- and blood pressure-lowering medications. Before taking ginger supplements as part of your routine, discuss with your doctor the potential interactions that ginger may have with your medications to lower the risk of side effects. In addition, reach out to a registered dietitian to explore ways to incorporate a safe amount of ginger into your dishes.
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SourcesEatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Kiyama R.Nutritional implications of ginger: chemistry, biological activities and signaling pathways.J Nutr Biochem. 2020;86:108486. doi:10.1016/j.jnutbio.2020.108486Abebe W.Review of herbal medications with the potential to cause bleeding: dental implications, and risk prediction and prevention avenues.EPMA J. 2019;10(1):51-64. doi:10.1007/s13167-018-0158-2Ebrahimzadeh A, Ebrahimzadeh A, Mirghazanfari SM, Hazrati E, Hadi S, Milajerdi A.The effect of ginger supplementation on metabolic profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Complement Ther Med. 2022;65:102802. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2022.102802Cooper D, Dimri M.Biochemistry, Calcium Channels. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Hasani H, Arab A, Hadi A, Pourmasoumi M, Ghavami A, Miraghajani M.Does ginger supplementation lower blood pressure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.Phytother Res. 2019;33(6):1639-1647. doi:10.1002/ptr.6362Modi M, Modi K.Ginger Root. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Anh NH, Kim SJ, Long NP, et al.Ginger on Human Health: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of 109 Randomized Controlled Trials.Nutr. 2020;12(1):157. doi:10.3390/nu12010157U.S. Food And Drug Administration.Mixing Medications and Dietary Supplements Can Endanger Your Health.Nocerino R, Cecere G, Micillo M, et al.Efficacy of ginger as antiemetic in children with acute gastroenteritis: a randomised controlled trial.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2021;54(1):24-31. doi:10.1111/apt.16404
Sources
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Kiyama R.Nutritional implications of ginger: chemistry, biological activities and signaling pathways.J Nutr Biochem. 2020;86:108486. doi:10.1016/j.jnutbio.2020.108486Abebe W.Review of herbal medications with the potential to cause bleeding: dental implications, and risk prediction and prevention avenues.EPMA J. 2019;10(1):51-64. doi:10.1007/s13167-018-0158-2Ebrahimzadeh A, Ebrahimzadeh A, Mirghazanfari SM, Hazrati E, Hadi S, Milajerdi A.The effect of ginger supplementation on metabolic profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Complement Ther Med. 2022;65:102802. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2022.102802Cooper D, Dimri M.Biochemistry, Calcium Channels. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Hasani H, Arab A, Hadi A, Pourmasoumi M, Ghavami A, Miraghajani M.Does ginger supplementation lower blood pressure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.Phytother Res. 2019;33(6):1639-1647. doi:10.1002/ptr.6362Modi M, Modi K.Ginger Root. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Anh NH, Kim SJ, Long NP, et al.Ginger on Human Health: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of 109 Randomized Controlled Trials.Nutr. 2020;12(1):157. doi:10.3390/nu12010157U.S. Food And Drug Administration.Mixing Medications and Dietary Supplements Can Endanger Your Health.Nocerino R, Cecere G, Micillo M, et al.Efficacy of ginger as antiemetic in children with acute gastroenteritis: a randomised controlled trial.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2021;54(1):24-31. doi:10.1111/apt.16404
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
Kiyama R.Nutritional implications of ginger: chemistry, biological activities and signaling pathways.J Nutr Biochem. 2020;86:108486. doi:10.1016/j.jnutbio.2020.108486Abebe W.Review of herbal medications with the potential to cause bleeding: dental implications, and risk prediction and prevention avenues.EPMA J. 2019;10(1):51-64. doi:10.1007/s13167-018-0158-2Ebrahimzadeh A, Ebrahimzadeh A, Mirghazanfari SM, Hazrati E, Hadi S, Milajerdi A.The effect of ginger supplementation on metabolic profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Complement Ther Med. 2022;65:102802. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2022.102802Cooper D, Dimri M.Biochemistry, Calcium Channels. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.Hasani H, Arab A, Hadi A, Pourmasoumi M, Ghavami A, Miraghajani M.Does ginger supplementation lower blood pressure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.Phytother Res. 2019;33(6):1639-1647. doi:10.1002/ptr.6362Modi M, Modi K.Ginger Root. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Anh NH, Kim SJ, Long NP, et al.Ginger on Human Health: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of 109 Randomized Controlled Trials.Nutr. 2020;12(1):157. doi:10.3390/nu12010157U.S. Food And Drug Administration.Mixing Medications and Dietary Supplements Can Endanger Your Health.Nocerino R, Cecere G, Micillo M, et al.Efficacy of ginger as antiemetic in children with acute gastroenteritis: a randomised controlled trial.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2021;54(1):24-31. doi:10.1111/apt.16404
Kiyama R.Nutritional implications of ginger: chemistry, biological activities and signaling pathways.J Nutr Biochem. 2020;86:108486. doi:10.1016/j.jnutbio.2020.108486
Abebe W.Review of herbal medications with the potential to cause bleeding: dental implications, and risk prediction and prevention avenues.EPMA J. 2019;10(1):51-64. doi:10.1007/s13167-018-0158-2
Ebrahimzadeh A, Ebrahimzadeh A, Mirghazanfari SM, Hazrati E, Hadi S, Milajerdi A.The effect of ginger supplementation on metabolic profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Complement Ther Med. 2022;65:102802. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2022.102802
Cooper D, Dimri M.Biochemistry, Calcium Channels. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
Hasani H, Arab A, Hadi A, Pourmasoumi M, Ghavami A, Miraghajani M.Does ginger supplementation lower blood pressure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.Phytother Res. 2019;33(6):1639-1647. doi:10.1002/ptr.6362
Modi M, Modi K.Ginger Root. In:StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
Anh NH, Kim SJ, Long NP, et al.Ginger on Human Health: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of 109 Randomized Controlled Trials.Nutr. 2020;12(1):157. doi:10.3390/nu12010157
U.S. Food And Drug Administration.Mixing Medications and Dietary Supplements Can Endanger Your Health.
Nocerino R, Cecere G, Micillo M, et al.Efficacy of ginger as antiemetic in children with acute gastroenteritis: a randomised controlled trial.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2021;54(1):24-31. doi:10.1111/apt.16404
