Ginger Chews in Pregnancy

Clinical Context and Positioning

• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends vitamin B6 as first-line pharmacologic therapy, but ginger can be used concurrently or as an alternative, with no significant difference between ginger and vitamin B6 for improving nausea symptoms 1
• Ginger should be tried before advancing to prescription medications such as H1-receptor antagonists, metoclopramide, or ondansetron, according to the Praxis Medical Insights guidelines 1

Important Caveats

• Ginger may slow blood clotting and could interact with anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents, although this has not been demonstrated clinically in pregnancy studies, as noted in the Annals of Oncology 2
• Women with severe hyperemesis gravidarum symptoms require more aggressive management with IV fluids and prescription antiemetics, as recommended by the Praxis Medical Insights guidelines 1