After surgery: Can ginger help prevent nausea and vomiting after an operation?
Low doses of ginger supplements before surgery cannot prevent nausea and vomiting afterwards. Doses of at least 1g might be able to help some people, but more research is needed to be sure. Ginger is not likely to cause major adverse effects. Nausea and vomiting are common after surgery, and this can sometimes make it more difficult to treat pain. The rate of what is called post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) depends on the type of surgery, anaesthetic and other factors. Nausea or vomiting can also be adverse effects of opioids (opium-based drugs). Opioids like morphine are used to relieve pain after surgery. One estimate is that an average of more than 30 percent of people are affected by nausea and vomiting after surgery, although, for about half of them, it does not continue for long. For some types of long operations, including gynaecological surgery, the rate of nausea and vomiting can be even higher. Some people are at a higher risk of feeling nauseous, for example people w
