Best Tea for Diarrhea: 3 Gentle Options

Chamomile tea, ginger tea and peppermint tea are reasonable choices during diarrhea because they are usually caffeine-free, but none is proven to treat it.

The main priority is replacing lost fluid and salts. A commercial oral rehydration solution (ORS) is a better choice for rehydration: prepare it with safe water exactly as directed on the package. The electrolyte calculator provides general estimates, not a prescription for replacing losses during diarrhea.

Tea can be an additional source of fluid if you enjoy it and tolerate it. For more hydration options, see the best drinks for diarrhea.

Which 3 teas are best for diarrhea?

These choices are ranked for their lack of caffeine and their potential to be comfortable to drink—not because studies have established that one stops diarrhea better than another. Choose a plain tea you tolerate, sip it slowly, and stop if it makes you feel worse.

Check the label before brewing: a product named for an herb may also contain black or green tea, added sweeteners or other ingredients. Pure herbal teas are usually caffeine-free, but blends are not necessarily so.

1. Chamomile tea

Chamomile tea is a mild-tasting, usually caffeine-free option. It supplies fluid, and chamomile contains plant compounds that have been studied for their effects on inflammation and gut muscles. Those possible effects do not establish that drinking chamomile tea reduces loose stools.

To make it, place a chamomile tea bag in hot, safe drinking water. Steep it according to the package directions, let it cool to a comfortable temperature and drink it plain. If the taste seems too strong while you are unwell, follow the package directions for a lighter brew rather than adding a lot of sweetener.

Evidence and cautions: There is no good evidence that ordinary chamomile tea treats diarrhea or shortens its course. Avoid it if you have had an allergic reaction to chamomile; people allergic to ragweed or related plants should also be cautious. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before using it regularly if you take warfarin or another blood thinner, or if you are pregnant.

2. Ginger tea

Ginger tea is another usually caffeine-free choice, especially if you like its flavor when your stomach feels unsettled. Ginger contains compounds studied for effects on the digestive tract, but a possible effect on gut movement is not proof that ginger tea will stop diarrhea. Its dependable contribution here is fluid, not a demonstrated antidiarrheal effect.

To brew it, place a plain ginger tea bag in hot, safe drinking water and steep it according to the package directions. Let the tea cool before sipping. Check that a ginger blend does not also contain caffeinated tea or a laxative herb.

Evidence and cautions: There is no good evidence that brewed ginger tea treats diarrhea. Ginger can cause heartburn or stomach discomfort for some people, so stop drinking it if it aggravates symptoms. If you take a blood thinner, are pregnant or are considering concentrated ginger products, check with a clinician or pharmacist rather than assuming the product is safe for you.

3. Peppermint tea

Peppermint tea is usually caffeine-free and may be appealing if you prefer a mint flavor. Peppermint contains menthol, which can relax smooth muscle in the digestive tract. That mechanism does not show that a cup of peppermint tea prevents fluid loss, reduces stool frequency or treats the cause of diarrhea.

To prepare it, put a plain peppermint tea bag in hot, safe drinking water and steep according to the package directions. Allow it to cool to a comfortable temperature. Drink it without added sweeteners, and switch to another fluid if the mint flavor makes you feel worse.

Evidence and cautions: Peppermint tea has not been established as a treatment for diarrhea. Research on concentrated or coated peppermint oil products should not be treated as proof that brewed tea has the same effect. Peppermint can worsen reflux or heartburn, so choose another option if you notice those symptoms; ask a clinician before offering herbal tea to a child.

Which teas should you avoid with diarrhea?

Caffeinated teas: Black tea, green tea and other teas containing caffeine may make loose stools worse for some people. If you want a warm drink, a plain caffeine-free herbal tea is a more cautious choice. Check labels on blends and bottled teas, since flavor names do not always reveal whether they contain caffeine.

Research on green tea ingredients is not a reason to use green tea as a diarrhea treatment. In a study in rats given a chemotherapy drug, green tea extract reduced measures of diarrhea compared with the drug alone. That was an animal study using an extract, not a trial showing that brewed green tea helps people with diarrhea.

Laxative and “detox” teas: Avoid products containing senna or other stimulant laxatives, including some products marketed as slimming or cleansing teas. They are intended to promote bowel movements and can worsen diarrhea and fluid loss. A detox label does not make a tea useful for recovery.

Sweetened teas: Avoid heavily sweetened tea if it seems to worsen your symptoms. Sugar alcohols such as sorbitol and xylitol can draw water into the bowel and contribute to loose stools. Plain tea also makes it easier to identify whether the tea itself agrees with you.

Tea does not need to be hot to be useful. Let it cool enough to avoid burns, and use a temperature that is comfortable for you. If any tea increases cramping, reflux or nausea, stop and choose a better-tolerated fluid or ORS instead.

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

Get urgent medical help for severe dehydration symptoms, such as confusion, fainting or very little urine. Seek urgent care as well for blood in the stool, black or tarry stool, severe abdominal pain, or vomiting that prevents you from keeping fluids down. Do not wait for tea or another home remedy to work when these signs are present.

An adult should contact a clinician if diarrhea lasts more than 2 days, or sooner for fever, worsening symptoms or signs of dehydration such as marked thirst, a dry mouth, dizziness or reduced urination. A clinician can assess the cause and whether you need treatment or supervised fluid replacement. Tea cannot replace that assessment.

Contact a child's clinician promptly if an infant or young child has diarrhea, especially if there is fever, vomiting, blood in the stool or any sign of dehydration. Do not use tea in place of breast milk, formula or recommended rehydration fluids. Continue usual breastfeeding or formula feeding unless the child's clinician advises otherwise; do not dilute formula to replace fluids.

Pregnant people, older adults and people with weakened immune systems or serious medical conditions should contact a clinician early, because fluid loss or the underlying illness may need closer attention. People with kidney disease, heart failure or a prescribed fluid restriction should ask their care team how to replace losses safely rather than relying on a general calculator.

If you take prescription medicines, ask a clinician or pharmacist about persistent diarrhea and possible interactions with herbal products. Do not stop prescribed medication on your own. For anyone, worsening symptoms or difficulty drinking are reasons to seek help rather than continuing to experiment with teas.