Is Peppermint Tea Good for Stomach Aches?

Partly: peppermint tea may ease a mild, cramp-like stomach ache because compounds in peppermint oil can relax digestive muscles, although the tea itself has not been well studied.

A cup of peppermint tea may be comforting, but it is not a proven treatment for a stomach ache. Evidence for concentrated peppermint oil cannot tell us exactly how well a tea made from the leaves works.

Is peppermint tea a good choice for a stomach ache?

Peppermint tea is a reasonable option to try for a mild, temporary ache if peppermint does not worsen your symptoms. Some people find sipping a warm drink comforting, and the water can help with hydration. Neither effect establishes that peppermint treats the cause of the pain.

Stomach aches have many possible causes, and a drink will not address all of them. If you are comparing options, see the guide to the best drinks for stomach aches. Persistent, worsening or severe pain needs medical attention rather than repeated attempts to soothe it with tea.

How might peppermint tea work?

Peppermint leaves contain compounds including menthol. Research on peppermint oil suggests that its compounds can relax smooth muscles in parts of the digestive tract, an effect that might help with spasms or cramping. A 2023 review of peppermint oil in gastroenterology describes these effects, but it does not establish that peppermint tea relieves pain.

Tea and peppermint oil are different preparations. The amount of peppermint compounds in a cup can vary, and a tea is not equivalent to a measured dose of oil in a capsule. It is therefore uncertain whether the muscle-relaxing effects observed with oil translate into meaningful relief from tea.

The same relaxation may be a drawback for some people. Peppermint can relax the muscle between the stomach and esophagus, potentially making reflux or heartburn worse.

What does the evidence say?

Direct evidence for peppermint tea is limited. A 2006 review of peppermint tea and its potential health effects found that human studies of peppermint leaf were limited and that clinical trials of peppermint tea were absent at the time. That review alone cannot establish whether trials have been published since.

Peppermint oil has been studied more extensively, including in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a condition that can involve recurring abdominal pain. In a randomized trial of peppermint oil for IBS, neither of the two oil formulations significantly improved the primary abdominal-pain response compared with placebo. The trial tested capsules, not peppermint tea, and its results do not apply to every cause of stomach pain.

In short, peppermint has a plausible mechanism, but a reliable benefit from peppermint tea for stomach aches has not been established. If it feels soothing, treat that as personal comfort rather than proof that it is correcting an underlying problem.

How can you use peppermint tea?

For a warm cup, brew a plain peppermint tea bag according to the package directions, then let it cool to a comfortable temperature before sipping. Stop if it makes you feel worse, particularly if it triggers heartburn. You do not need to force yourself to drink it if the taste or temperature is unpleasant.

For a cold-infused version, use:

1 liter of drinking water (about 4¼ US cups)
8–12 peppermint leaves (about 5 grams), rinsed

Place the peppermint leaves in a clean container and add the water.
Refrigerate for 2–4 hours to infuse, then strain if you like.
Keep refrigerated and drink within 24 hours for best flavor. Discard it sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling.

Drink it slowly as a beverage, not as a substitute for medical care. Do not swallow undiluted peppermint essential oil or assume a tea recipe provides the same preparation used in oil studies.

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

Avoid peppermint tea if it triggers heartburn, and ask a clinician for advice if you have gastroesophageal reflux or a hiatal hernia. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or want to give peppermint tea to a child for recurring symptoms, check with a clinician first. Evidence for using it as a remedy in these groups is limited.

Peppermint oil is more concentrated than tea and has separate precautions. If you have reflux, a hiatal hernia or kidney stones, or take medicines, ask a clinician or pharmacist before using peppermint oil products. Do not stop prescribed medication because you are trying peppermint tea.

Seek urgent medical attention for sudden or severe abdominal pain, a hard or very tender belly, blood in vomit, black or tarry stools, fainting, or an inability to keep fluids down. Contact a clinician promptly if pain worsens, keeps returning or does not go away, or if it comes with fever or repeated vomiting.