What Are the Benefits of Lemongrass and Ginger Tea?

What Are the Benefits of Lemongrass and Ginger Tea?

What Are the Benefits of Lemongrass and Ginger Tea?
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By
Lisa Maloney, CPT
Updated on August 7, 2025
by

Lemongrass and ginger tea is an aromatic, warming, citrus-flavored beverage. But these herbs aren’t just tasty, they also offer some proven health benefits as well as an intriguing array of possible benefits that are still under investigation.

Potential benefits of drinking lemongrass and ginger tea include helping with treating nausea, inflammation, pain, and possibly even some cancers.

 Both herbs also show antimicrobial activity. However, most of the research has been conducted on concentrated supplements or essential oils — so tea won’t necessarily have the same effect.

The Benefits of Ginger

Perhaps the best-known use of ginger is to reduce nausea and vomiting.

 It’s very popular as a remedy for motion sickness, but most studies on its efficacy relate to postoperative and pregnancy- or chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
A review and meta-analysis in Nutrients sums up this research.

 The report authors note that studies show conflicting results on ginger’s use for postoperative or chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. However, all 10 randomized control trials included in the review suggested ginger is effective at alleviating nausea and vomiting related to pregnancy. Additionally, the authors note that most studies suggest ginger may help soothe an upset stomach and slow gastric emptying.
Research also suggests ginger may help inhibit the growth of certain bacteria, fungi, and viruses and, perhaps most notably, certain types of cancer.

 In the Nutrients review, researchers reported that most studies suggest ginger may help decrease colorectal cancer risk factors, including inflammation and cell proliferation.

However, another systematic review in Food Science & Nutrition found that while some studies appear to confirm ginger’s effectiveness in cancer treatment and prevention, others suggest it has no effect.

Another potential benefit of ginger is its ability to help relieve pain. In a systematic review and meta-analysis in Cureus, researchers found ginger to be almost as effective as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and aspirin at alleviating menstrual pain.

Some research also suggests ginger may help prevent or treat several chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

 In the Nutrients review, authors note several studies appear to confirm these effects, though more research is needed.

The Benefits of Lemongrass

Lemongrass also has several potential benefits, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifungal, and antiviral effects, according to research.

 Additionally, a review in Biology suggests lemongrass may have antihypertensive effects, meaning the ability to lower blood pressure.

And some research suggests the herb may help relieve pain, according to a review in Pharmaceuticals.

It may be helpful in the fight against cancer as well. For example, the Pharmaceuticals review suggests that lemongrass essential oil and extracts show potential to help prevent or treat multiple cancer types, including lymphoma, leukemia, renal, prostate, and colon cancers.

Importantly, most studies to date have not involved human participants, so more robust clinical trials are needed. Also, many of the clinical trials of lemongrass on humans have involved lemongrass essential oil, not tea. Folk traditions around the world have used various parts of the herb for centuries to treat various issues, such as pain and inflammation.

 But more research is necessary to investigate the plant’s potential uses.

Side Effects of Lemongrass and Ginger Tea

Although there are several potential benefits of lemongrass and ginger tea, there are a few drawbacks to be aware of. Ginger can cause heartburn and bloating.

 Some medical experts also think it might alter the effects of blood thinners, anticoagulants, and medications to treat hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

This is a great example of why, if you take prescription medications, it’s always best to talk to your doctor before you add new herbs and supplements to your routine. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should also talk to a healthcare provider before taking new herbal medicines.

There’s less info on the side effects of drinking lemongrass tea. Most of the published research on adverse effects relates to lemongrass oil being applied to the skin. However, orally ingesting lemongrass could cause dizziness, dry mouth, drowsiness, excessive urination, and increased appetite.

Drinking too much lemongrass tea could also affect kidney function. Pregnant people should avoid lemongrass because it may be toxic to a developing fetus.

 Again, it’s important to talk to your doctor before trying any new herb or supplement.

The Takeaway

  • Lemongrass and ginger tea is popular for its aromatic flavor and potential health benefits, such as reducing nausea, inflammation, and pain.
  • While promising, much of the research supporting the benefits of ginger and lemongrass relies on concentrated supplements or essential oils, which may not directly translate to herb-infused teas.
  • Before adding lemongrass and ginger tea to your routine, it’s best to consult with a healthcare provider, especially if you’re pregnant or on any medications.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Edo GI et al. Phytochemical Profile, Therapeutic Potentials, Nutritional Composition, and Food Applications of Ginger: A Comprehensive Review. Discover Food. February 7, 2025.
  2. Kiełtyka-Dadasiewicz A et al. Antiviral, Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Anticancer Activity of Plant Materials Derived From Cymbopogon Citratus (DC.) Stapf Species. Pharmaceuticals. May 29, 2024.
  3. Anh NH et al. Ginger on Human Health: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of 109 Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. January 6, 2020.
  4. Nachvak SM et al. Ginger as an Anticolorectal Cancer Spice: A Systematic Review of In Vitro to Clinical Evidence. Food Science & Nutrition. February 2023.
  5. Negi R et al. Efficacy of Ginger in the Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cureus. March 6, 2021.
  6. Silva H et al. Exploring the Anti-Hypertensive Potential of Lemongrass — A Comprehensive Review. Biology. September 22, 2022.
  7. Sharma S et al. Chemical Properties and Therapeutic Potential of Citral, a Monoterpene Isolated From Lemongrass. Medicinal Chemistry. January 1, 2021.
  8. Ginger. University of Rochester Medical Center.
  9. Modi M et al. Ginger Root. StatPearls. August 11, 2024.
  10. Breastfeeding and Medications: What’s Safe? Mayo Clinic. July 25, 2025.
  11. Lemongrass. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. November 18, 2022.
  12. Dosoky NS et al. Maternal Reproductive Toxicity of Some Essential Oils and Their Constituents. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021.
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Kayli Anderson, RDN

Medical Reviewer
Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Kayli Anderson has over a decade of experience in nutrition, culinary education, and lifestyle medicine. She believes that eating well should be simple, pleasurable, and sustainable. Anderson has worked with clients from all walks of life, but she currently specializes in nutrition therapy and lifestyle medicine for women. She’s the founder of PlantBasedMavens.com, a hub for women to get evidence-based, practical, and woman-centered guidance on nutrition and cooking, hormone health, fertility, pregnancy, movement, mental well-being, nontoxic living, and more.

Anderson is board-certified in lifestyle medicine and serves as lead faculty of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s (ACLM) "Food as Medicine" course. She is past chair of the ACLM's registered dietitian member interest group, secretary of the women's health member interest group, and nutrition faculty for many of ACLM's other course offerings. She is the coauthor of the Plant-Based Nutrition Quick Start Guide and works with many of the leading organizations in nutrition and lifestyle medicine to develop nutrition content, recipes, and educational programs.

Anderson frequently speaks on the topics of women’s health and plant-based nutrition and has coauthored two lifestyle medicine textbooks, including the first one on women’s health, Improving Women's Health Across the Lifespan.

She received a master's degree in nutrition and physical performance and is certified as an exercise physiologist and intuitive eating counselor. She's a student of herbal medicine and women's integrative and functional medicine. She lives with her husband in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, where you’ll find her out on a trail or in her garden.

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Lisa Maloney, CPT

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