Is Ginger Ale Good for Motion Sickness?

Partly, ginger ale may help you stay hydrated during motion sickness if you can tolerate small sips, but it has not been proven to relieve the sickness itself. For more options to consider while traveling, see the best foods for motion sickness.

Can ginger ale help with motion sickness?

Ginger ale can be a practical way to take in fluid when you feel queasy, especially if you find its taste acceptable. That may be useful if nausea makes it difficult to drink, but hydration is not the same as preventing or treating motion sickness.

Do not count on ginger ale to stop symptoms or replace a motion sickness medicine recommended by a clinician. For a broader comparison, see the best drinks for motion sickness.

How might ginger ale work?

Motion sickness can occur when the movement information your brain receives from your eyes and inner ears does not match. Ginger ale has not been shown to correct that mismatch.

Some ginger ale contains ginger or ginger extract, while other products may get their ginger taste from flavoring. Even when real ginger is listed, the label may not say how much it contains, so there is no reliable way to assume that a particular serving provides an amount relevant to nausea.

The experience of drinking ginger ale also varies. Some people may find its taste pleasant when they feel sick, while carbonation can cause belching or make others feel more uncomfortable. A personal preference for ginger ale does not establish that it treats motion sickness.

What does the evidence say about ginger ale?

We found no clinical studies of ginger ale for motion sickness. There is therefore no basis here for estimating how often it helps, how quickly it might work, or whether it works better than no treatment.

Ginger ale should not be assumed to have the same effects as ginger studied in another form. Ingredients and amounts can differ between a beverage and a capsule or extract, and the effects of an ingredient do not automatically apply to a finished drink.

The absence of evidence here does not prove that nobody feels better after drinking ginger ale. It does mean that any relief cannot reliably be attributed to the drink or its ginger content.

How can you use ginger ale during travel?

If you want to try ginger ale, treat it as a drink you may tolerate rather than a medicine:

1. Check the label. Look for ginger in the ingredient list if that matters to you, and check the sugar content if you need to manage your intake. Ginger flavor alone does not establish how much real ginger is present.
2. Start with small sips. Drink slowly rather than trying to finish a full serving while you feel nauseated. Stop if ginger ale seems to make you feel worse.
3. Adjust the carbonation if needed. If bubbles bother you, let ginger ale go flatter before sipping it. There is no evidence that flat ginger ale is a proven motion sickness treatment.
4. Use travel measures too. When practical and safe, face forward, look toward the horizon, get fresh air and take a break from reading or looking at a screen.
5. Plan ahead if symptoms are frequent. Ask a pharmacist or clinician about motion sickness medicines before a trip. Some work better when taken before travel, and the right choice depends on the person and their other medicines.

If you are vomiting repeatedly or cannot keep fluids down, do not rely on ginger ale alone. Seek medical advice, especially if symptoms are continuing.

Who should be careful, and when should you see a doctor?

If you have diabetes, check the label: regular ginger ale may contain sugar that affects blood glucose. If you have reflux or a sensitive stomach, carbonation may aggravate your symptoms. People who have been advised to limit fluids should follow their clinician’s instructions rather than drinking extra ginger ale.

If you take a blood thinner or have a bleeding disorder, ask your clinician before using ginger-containing products regularly, particularly concentrated ginger products. Ginger amounts in ginger ale vary, so a label alone may not tell you how much you are consuming.

During pregnancy, ask a clinician about persistent nausea and before using medicine or concentrated ginger products. For children, ask a pediatrician or pharmacist before giving motion sickness medicine; do not assume an adult product is suitable. Some motion sickness medicines cause drowsiness or interact with other medicines, so follow professional advice and the product label.

Seek medical advice if vomiting continues, you cannot keep fluids down, you are urinating much less than usual, or symptoms persist after travel. Get urgent help for confusion, fainting, blood in vomit or severe abdominal pain. These signs should not be assumed to be ordinary motion sickness.