The 5 Best Teas to Help With Nausea

For thousands of years, people around the world have used tea as medicine. Some kinds of tea may support health in general. Other teas may ease specific symptoms, like an upset stomach. 

Nausea can arise from many health conditions — or even from medicines. Here we’ll spill the tea about what modern science says about this age-old remedy. 

What kind of tea can help with nausea?

Drinking tea is often a relaxing activity. Since worry and anxiety can make nausea worse, just the act of sipping tea might help an upset stomach. And, if you’re also vomiting or have diarrhea, tea can be a good way to start rehydrating.

But some teas also contain substances that might help with nausea specifically. These have been natural remedies for generations. Scientific studies have shown mixed results for their effectiveness, though. So, although these teas may not be right for everyone, here are some home brews that could help to settle your stomach.

1. Ginger

Potential benefits: Ginger has been a traditional stomach remedy for centuries. It has natural chemicals that work on receptors in the brain and the gut which can help reduce nausea. It may also help with digestion and inflammation. 

Studies suggest that ginger can help reduce nausea during pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends ginger-root tea as one way to ease nausea from morning sickness. 

Ginger may also help decrease nausea and vomiting in people who are receiving chemotherapy. This effect may be greater in the first 24 hours after treatment. It seems to be less effective for nausea or vomiting that occurs days later. 

In studies of nausea in chemotherapy, people found relief with around 1 g to 1.5 g of ginger a day. Many store-bought tea bags contain around 1 g of ginger. You can also get this amount by cutting up 1 inch of fresh ginger root and steeping it in 4 cups of hot water. 

The FDA considers up to 4 g a day of ginger to be safe for most people. 

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Why am I nauseous in the morning? It’s common to experience an upset stomach first thing in the morning. Here are some of the most common causes.

• The benefits of ginger shots: These can provide a more concentrated form of ginger, a common nausea remedy. Learn about some of the other benefits of ginger shots.

• Is your medication making you feel nauseous? Pharmacists list the most common medications that cause an upset stomach — and what you can do about it.

Risks: Talk to your healthcare team before using ginger if you: 

• Have a bleeding disorder

• Take medication to treat or prevent blood clots

• Take medication to lower your blood sugar 

2. Chamomile

Potential benefits: Chamomile tea can help to calm stomach spasms. It may also reduce inflammation. In some studies, chamomile tea helped with nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy. But, overall, the results have been mixed.

Risks: Some evidence suggests that chamomile may increase the risk of preterm labor in pregnancy. So, although chamomile tea might help with symptoms of morning sickness, it’s probably best to avoid it in pregnancy — especially in high doses.

3. Peppermint

Potential benefits: Like ginger, peppermint affects receptors in the gut that can lead to nausea. Peppermint tea may help with nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. A cup or two a day is generally considered to be safe. 

Many studies have looked at mint aromatherapy to treat nausea and vomiting. Some have shown it to be helpful. But one larger pooled study didn’t show much of an effect. Still, some people find the smell or taste of peppermint to be the thing that settles their stomach. 

Risks: Peppermint tea appears to be safe for most people. But peppermint can cause heartburn in some people. So, start with a small amount, especially if you have a condition like gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). 

4. Cinnamon

Potential benefits: Cinnamon helped with nausea and other menstrual symptoms in one small study. This may be because cinnamon interferes with prostaglandins, which are substances in the body that can lead to cramps and nausea. 

Cinnamon can also lower blood sugar and decrease inflammation. 

You can buy cinnamon tea. Or you can make it by mixing ground cinnamon or a cinnamon stick with hot water. 

Risks: Some kinds of cinnamon contain a chemical called coumarin. Over time, large amounts of coumarin could cause liver damage. So, it’s best to limit cinnamon to less than a teaspoon a day — unless you use Ceylon cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon is a variety that has only trace amounts of coumarin.

5. Fennel

Potential benefits: Fennel capsules eased nausea and menstrual pain in one study. It was also found to reduce intestinal gas (which can lead to nausea) after surgery. Natural substances in fennel reduce intestinal spasms and inflammation. 

If you can’t find fennel tea, try steeping 1 tsp of fennel seeds in a cup of hot water.

Because fennel affects hormones, like estrogen, it may be unsafe in pregnancy, especially in higher amounts. 

Risks: Fennel may also interact with certain medications, including:

• Tamoxifen

• Contraceptives

• Ciprofloxacin

• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Don’t drink fennel tea if you’re allergic to carrots or celery, since these plants are closely related.

Is it OK to add flavoring or sweeteners to tea when you have nausea?

Plain brews aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. But when it comes to nausea, certain add-ins could worsen or improve your symptoms.

If possible, avoid adding dairy products, like milk, even if that’s how you usually take your tea. If your gastrointestinal (GI) tract is inflamed, you may not be able to digest lactose well. And that could make your symptoms worse.

Too much sugar can make GI symptoms, like nausea, worse, too. But honey may be helpful in small amounts. Lemon may also ease nausea, both from the taste and smell.

When should you use tea for nausea?

These teas may work well for some people and not for others. It depends on what’s causing the nausea and how your body responds.

Common causes of nausea include: 

• Pregnancy (morning sickness)

• Menstruation

• Infections

• Certain foods

• Certain medications (including chemotherapy)

• Motion sickness

• Stomach inflammation or reflux

• Stress and anxiety

• Migraines

• Vertigo and inner-ear conditions

• Having had surgery recently

• Liver or kidney disease

It may be most helpful to drink tea when you first feel signs of an upset stomach. It can also be helpful to drink tea during times you’ve felt sick to your stomach in the past. For example, if you have morning sickness or you’re receiving treatments like chemotherapy on a regular basis, drinking tea could help ease the symptoms.

Tea may not be enough to completely get rid of your nausea. Some people also need medications, especially for treating conditions like severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy or side effects from chemotherapy.

Even natural treatments, like tea, can have side effects or interact with certain medications. Talk to your healthcare team about whether a particular herbal remedy is right for you. 

Seek medical attention for nausea or vomiting if you:

• Can’t keep down any food or liquids

• Have nausea that’s constant or getting worse

• Have a severe headache along with nausea

• Have a high fever

• Have severe pain

• Can’t urinate

Are there any teas you should avoid with nausea?

Some teas are safer than others during pregnancy. Ginger tea has the best evidence for safety and effectiveness. If you’re pregnant, talk to your healthcare team before trying other kinds of tea or herbal remedies for nausea.

If you have a chronic health condition, make sure that any natural remedy you’re considering is safe for you before using it.

If you’re generally healthy, most teas will be safe for occasional nausea. You may already have a favorite go-to remedy when you’re not feeling well. Or maybe there’s a tea that you like to drink, and you’d like to try it for nausea.

There aren’t any teas to strictly avoid when you’re feeling nauseous. But some might contain ingredients that don’t sit well with your body when you’re feeling sick.

Here are some tea-drinking tips for when you’re feeling nauseous:

• Avoid teas with caffeine until you know how they’ll affect you. And, avoid drinking caffeinated teas on an empty stomach.

• If you want to try anything other than herbal tea for nausea, start slowly. Large amounts of green tea or black tea could make stomach symptoms worse. 

• Avoid tea with strong odors, especially those you find unpleasant.

• Sip slowly until your stomach starts to settle.

• Drink sitting up, if you can.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Anne Jacobson, MD, MPH

Anne Jacobson, MD, MPH has been a board-certified family physician since 1999. She worked as a full-scope family physician (inpatient, outpatient, obstetrics, and office procedures) in the Cook County Ambulatory Health Network for 15 years.

Edited by:

Katie E. Golden, MD

Katie E. Golden, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and a medical editor at GoodRx.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts