How to Take Ginger Pills for Motion Sickness

Ginger has a long history of medicinal use and has been prescribed to treat indigestion, nausea, diarrhea and other ailments for thousands of years. The University of Maryland Medical Center advises that fresh ginger and ginger capsules may also help to treat or prevent nausea and vomiting due to motion sickness. If you get motion sickness when you are in a moving car, train, boat, plane or even on an amusement park ride, taking ginger capsules may help to prevent or treat the nausea.

Ginger capsules and ginger root (Image: Toms93/iStock/Getty Images)

Step 1

Choose ginger capsules that contain only ginger and not other herbs. Your pharmacist or nutritionist can recommend the right brand for you. Read the label carefully to determine the amount of ginger preparation in each capsule. Also check for any ingredients you may be allergic to.

Step 2

Follow the dosage instructions on the bottle of the ginger capsules. Do not exceed this dose, unless advised to do so by your doctor or pharmacist. The University of Maryland Medical Center advises taking 250 milligrams of ginger three times a day, as needed for motion sickness.

Step 3

Divide the daily recommended dosage into three or more parts. Take the first dose when you feel nausea or right before you normally have nausea due to motion sickness, such as just before getting into a car or boat. Continue taking the ginger capsules as needed until you reach your daily dosage.

Tip

The University of Maryland Medical Center notes you can also take 1 gram of fresh ginger per day, instead of ginger capsules, for up to four days to reduce nausea and vomiting.

Warning

Do not take ginger to treat nausea or vomiting without talking to your doctor first. If your symptoms persist, stop taking the ginger capsules and tell your doctor right away.

Ginger can cause adverse side effects such as increased bleeding, especially if you are taking blood-thinning medications. If you are taking medications for any chronic condition or if you have a heart condition, consult your doctor before taking ginger capsules.