6 Major Health Benefits of Drinking Ginger Tea

For thousands of years, ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been prized for its medicinal effects, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH).

Native to Asia, ginger is readily available as a candy, capsule or tea, per Johns Hopkins Medicine. Ginger tea has been well-studied and may offer benefits, according to the NIH. Take a look at some potential health benefits of ginger tea.

One of ginger's greatest claims to fame is its ability to relieve nausea. Researchers have long studied ginger's potential as a treatment for conditions such as pregnancy- or chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

And although larger and well-controlled studies are still needed, a March 2016 review in ​Integrative Medicine Insights​ suggests ginger could have some benefits when it comes to fighting nausea — but it may not be as effective as medication.

The same review suggests that ginger tea may also help relieve stomachaches caused by bloating and indigestion, although more research is needed to confirm.

Ginger is reputed to act as a carminative — a compound that helps to break apart pockets of gas in the digestive tract.

Ginger tea may ease the pain associated with digestive gas and help the body release it, according to an April 2015 review in ​European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Studies,​

One particular April 2015 study in the ​Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine​ found that a combination of ginger and artichoke extract stimulated gastric emptying in people with functional dyspepsia, a condition marked by chronic pain in the upper abdomen.

Although it could cause belching and heartburn, no scientific evidence suggests that ginger makes gas worse.

Ginger may help relieve pain, per a November 2020 review in ​Phytotherapy Research​. The review looked at 10 years of randomized clinical trials and found that ginger may lower inflammation due to delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) as well as potentially ease pain in people with knee arthritis.

That means drinking ginger tea after tough workouts may help you cope with exercise-related muscle pain.

The same ​Phytotherapy Research​ review noted that "six eligible studies suggest a promising effect of oral ginger" when it comes to dysmenorrhea (aka painful menstrual cramps).

Ginger also is used for nausea and an upset stomach — symptoms that sometimes accompany menstruation.

Ginger's anti-inflammation benefits may extend to your skin, the largest organ in your body. Ginger contains antioxidants called gingerols, which tame inflammation, per a July 2014 review in ​Natural Product Communications​. That matters because inflammation is one of the causes of acne, per the Mayo Clinic.

In one small September 2014 study in ​Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies​, 31 participants who took ginger supplements for six months saw "encouraging results" for acne. More research — with a larger number of participants and a placebo trial design — is needed, per the study authors.

Ginger tea is one of the most common and effective remedies for a cough, according to the Flushing Hospital Medical Center.

Apart from plenty of rest, any warm liquid, like tea or broth, can help soothe your throat, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Other sore throat remedies include gargling with warm salty water and sucking on throat lozenges.

Most cases of sore throat are caused by bacterial or viral infections and are usually resolved within a week, according to the Mayo Clinic. But a sore throat can sometimes be a sign of other health conditions, like HIV, oral cancer or throat cancer.

While drinking homemade tea for sore throat can help relieve some of your discomfort, it may not be able to address the underlying cause of your illness. You should see your doctor if your sore throat lasts longer than a week.