Clove and Ginger: Natural Support for Digestion and Immunity
Updated: Oct 19
Direct Answer: Ginger may help with certain types of nausea, particularly pregnancy-related nausea, and research suggests it may influence gastric emptying and digestive function. Clove contains eugenol, a compound studied for antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, but human evidence for many digestive and immune benefits remains limited. Research has not established that combining clove and ginger provides additional health benefits beyond the individual ingredients.
Why Are Clove and Ginger Used Together?
Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) are aromatic spices used worldwide in cooking, teas, and traditional wellness practices. Both contain bioactive plant compounds, but their levels of scientific evidence differ. Ginger has been studied in numerous human clinical trials, particularly for nausea and digestive function. Research on clove is more often laboratory, animal, or mechanistic, with fewer high-quality human trials.
Do Clove and Ginger Help With Digestion?
Ginger may support digestive function
Ginger has been studied for gastric motility, indigestion, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. A randomized study in people with functional dyspepsia found that 1.2 grams of ginger accelerated gastric emptying compared with placebo, although it did not significantly improve gastrointestinal symptoms in that small trial.
A 2025 randomized controlled trial involving 80 adults with mild-to-moderate functional dyspepsia found that a specific steamed ginger extract improved several gastrointestinal symptom scores compared with placebo. These findings suggest that ginger may support digestive function, but results can depend on the dose and formulation. Findings from standardized extracts should not automatically be applied to ginger tea, fresh ginger, or other preparations.
What about clove for digestion?
Clove has a long history of traditional use for digestive discomfort. Its major aromatic compound, eugenol, has been studied for several biological activities. However, strong human evidence showing that cloves reduce gas, stimulate digestive enzymes, or improve gastric emptying is currently lacking. For this reason, it is more accurate to describe clove as a traditionally used digestive spice rather than a clinically established treatment for digestive symptoms.
Are clove and ginger better together?
Clove and ginger are commonly combined in teas and foods because their warm, aromatic flavors complement each other. However, clinical research has not established that combining the two creates a unique or greater digestive effect. Benefits observed in studies of ginger or clove individually should not be attributed automatically to the combination.
Can Ginger and Clove Help With Nausea?
Ginger has the stronger evidence
Among the proposed benefits of ginger, nausea is one of the most extensively studied. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) states that ginger may be helpful for nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy.
A 2024 umbrella review examining existing meta-analyses also found that most analyses reported improvement in pregnancy-related nausea with ginger. However, the authors noted substantial variation between studies and rated the quality of the included meta-analyses from critically low to low. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) also lists ginger products among options that may help settle the stomach during pregnancy.
Evidence depends on the cause of nausea. For example, NCCIH notes that most studies have not found ginger helpful for motion sickness, while evidence for chemotherapy- and surgery-related nausea remains uncertain.
Does clove help with nausea?
Clove has traditionally been used for stomach discomfort, but there is not enough high-quality human evidence to conclude that clove itself relieves nausea. There is also no good clinical evidence showing that adding clove enhances ginger’s anti-nausea effects.
What About Immune Health?
Clove and ginger both contain compounds that have been investigated for antioxidant, antimicrobial, and other biological activities. Clove essential oil and its major component eugenol have demonstrated antimicrobial activity against a variety of microorganisms in laboratory studies. Ginger contains compounds such as gingerols and shogaols that have also been studied for antioxidant, antimicrobial, and inflammatory pathways.
These findings help researchers understand how the plants behave biologically, but laboratory activity does not demonstrate that consuming clove or ginger strengthens immunity or prevents infections in people. There is currently no strong clinical evidence that clove-and-ginger tea prevents colds, flu, or other infections. Both spices can still be part of a varied diet that supports overall nutrition and wellness.
How to Use Clove and Ginger
Clove and ginger tea
A simple culinary tea can be made with:
1 cup hot water
2–3 whole cloves
3–4 slices of fresh ginger
Optional lemon or honey
Steep for about 10 minutes. This is a culinary preparation rather than an evidence-based therapeutic dose.
In cooking
Clove and ginger pair naturally in:
Curries and stews
Soups and broths
Baked goods
Marinades
Herbal teas
Using them as spices is also different from consuming concentrated extracts or essential oils.
Supplements
Clove and ginger extracts are available in capsules. These may be convenient, but should be taken under medical guidance.
Safety Considerations
Ginger is generally well tolerated when consumed orally, but some people may experience abdominal discomfort, heartburn, diarrhea, or mouth and throat irritation. Clove essential oil is much more concentrated than whole cloves used in food. Large amounts of eugenol or clove oil can be toxic, and high-dose ingestion has been associated with serious liver and kidney injury. People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medications, or managing a medical condition should discuss concentrated herbal products with a qualified healthcare professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main benefits of clove and ginger?
Ginger may help with nausea and digestive function. Clove contains eugenol, which has been studied for antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.
Can clove and ginger cure colds?
No. There is no clinical evidence that clove or ginger can cure the common cold. They may be enjoyed in tea for comfort, but they should not replace appropriate medical care.
Can you use clove and ginger together?
Yes. They are commonly combined in foods and teas, although research has not shown that the combination provides greater health benefits than either ingredient alone.
Is fresh ginger better than ginger powder?
Both contain active compounds, but their composition can differ depending on processing, preparation, and dose. Research findings from one form should not automatically be applied to another.
Can pregnant women use ginger for nausea?
Ginger may help with pregnancy-related nausea, but pregnant individuals should discuss regular or concentrated herbal use with their healthcare professional.
Conclusion
Clove and ginger are a classic culinary pairing with a long history of traditional use, but the scientific evidence behind their proposed benefits is not equally strong. Ginger has the stronger human evidence, particularly for pregnancy-related nausea, and research suggests it may also influence gastric emptying and digestive function. Clove is rich in eugenol, a compound with well-documented biological activity in laboratory research, but human clinical evidence for digestive, anti-nausea, and immune effects remains limited. Research has not established that combining clove and ginger creates additional or enhanced health benefits. They can nevertheless be enjoyed together in foods and teas as part of a varied diet.
References
Hu ML, et al. Effect of ginger on gastric motility and symptoms of functional dyspepsia. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 2011;17(1):105–110.
Efficacy and safety of steamed ginger extract for gastric health: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multi-center clinical trial. Food & Function. 2025.
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4FO05245E (or search PubMed for steamed ginger extract functional dyspepsia 2025)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Eugenol (Clove Oil). LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Ginger: Usefulness and Safety. Updated February 2025.
Tiani KA, et al. The Use of Ginger Bioactive Compounds in Pregnancy: An Evidence Scan and Umbrella Review of Existing Meta-Analyses. Advances in Nutrition. 2024.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advnut.2024.100308 (or search for ginger pregnancy umbrella review 2024)
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Morning Sickness: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy.
https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/morning-sickness-nausea-and-vomiting-of-pregnancy
Marchese A, et al. Antimicrobial activity of eugenol and essential oils containing eugenol: A mechanistic viewpoint. Critical Reviews in Microbiology. 2017;43(6):668–689.
Batiha GE, et al. Syzygium aromaticum L. (Myrtaceae): Traditional Uses, Bioactive Chemical Constituents, Pharmacological and Toxicological Activities. Biomolecules. 2020;10(2):202.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Clove.
