Best Tea for Morning Sickness

Ginger tea is a commonly used choice for morning sickness; peppermint tea and decaffeinated black tea are alternatives, although the evidence reviewed here does not establish that any of them relieves it. The best choice is one you can tolerate and that your pregnancy-care clinician considers appropriate for you. For more hydration options, see the best drinks for morning sickness.

3 teas for morning sickness

These three options are not a ranking of proven treatments. The ai symptom analyzer can help you organize symptoms to discuss with a clinician, but it cannot replace a medical assessment or urgent care.

A tolerable drink can help you take in fluid, but a tea that smells or tastes unpleasant may make you feel worse. Start with small sips, and do not force yourself to finish a cup if it increases your nausea. Herbal products vary in strength and ingredients, so check the label even if you have used a similarly named tea before.

Ginger tea

Ginger tea is a traditional choice for nausea, and its flavor may be acceptable when other smells are not. Ginger contains compounds that are being studied for their effects on digestion, but research has not established how ginger tea affects morning sickness in people.

Evidence: A 2000 study in pregnant rats found increased early embryo loss after exposure to ginger tea. That animal finding does not establish that a culinary cup of ginger tea causes pregnancy loss in humans; it also cannot establish a safe or effective amount for pregnant people. The evidence reviewed here includes no human trial of ginger tea for morning sickness.

How to make a mild cup:

• 1 cup (240 mL) water
• 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) grated fresh ginger

1. Wash the ginger and grate it.
2. Pour the boiled water over the ginger and steep for 5 minutes.
3. Strain and let the tea cool to a temperature you can comfortably sip.

This is a culinary preparation, not a studied treatment dose. If ginger's smell or taste makes nausea worse, stop drinking it rather than trying to work up to a stronger cup.

Cautions: Ask your pregnancy-care clinician before using ginger tea regularly, especially if you have a bleeding condition or take blood-thinning medication. Avoid concentrated ginger extracts or supplements unless your clinician recommends them; a cup made from fresh ginger is not interchangeable with a concentrated product.

Peppermint tea

Peppermint tea is a caffeine-free option when made from peppermint alone. Its taste and aroma may make a warm or cool drink easier for some people to tolerate, but that does not establish that it treats morning sickness.

Evidence: The evidence reviewed here includes no human study of peppermint tea for morning sickness. A pleasant taste or a soothing sensation is not the same as evidence that the tea reduces pregnancy-related nausea or vomiting.

How to make a cup:

• 1 cup (240 mL) water
• 1 peppermint tea bag, labeled as containing peppermint only

1. Place the tea bag in a cup and pour the boiled water over it.
2. Steep for 5 minutes, then remove the tea bag.
3. Let the tea cool and try a small sip before drinking more.

Check the ingredient list rather than relying on the word “peppermint” on the front of the package. A blend can contain other herbs, and those ingredients may have different pregnancy-safety considerations. Do not add peppermint essential oil to the drink.

Cautions: Peppermint can worsen heartburn or reflux for some people. If you already have those symptoms, or the tea makes them worse, choose another option and ask your clinician for advice. Check with your pregnancy-care clinician before using herbal tea regularly, particularly if you take medication or have a medical condition.

Decaffeinated black tea

Decaffeinated black tea is an option if you prefer its flavor to herbal tea. It can provide fluid, but it is not known from the evidence reviewed here to relieve morning sickness. Some people find black tea unpleasant on an empty stomach, so a weak brew may be easier to try.

Evidence: The evidence reviewed here includes no study showing that decaffeinated black tea improves morning sickness. Its place on this list is as a potentially tolerable drink, not as a demonstrated nausea treatment.

How to make a weak cup:

• 1 cup (240 mL) water
• 1 decaffeinated black tea bag

1. Place the tea bag in a cup and pour the boiled water over it.
2. Steep for 2 minutes, then remove the tea bag.
3. Let the tea cool and sip slowly if the taste is tolerable.

Decaffeinated does not necessarily mean caffeine-free. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends keeping total caffeine intake below 200 mg per day during pregnancy. Count caffeine from all sources, not just tea, and remember that the amount in a cup can vary by product and preparation.

Cautions: If black tea aggravates nausea, reflux or stomach discomfort, stop drinking it. Choose a plain decaffeinated product rather than a blend with unfamiliar herbs, and ask your clinician if you need help assessing your caffeine intake.

Which teas should you avoid during pregnancy?

Avoid teas marketed for detox, cleansing or laxative effects unless your pregnancy-care clinician specifically recommends a product. These blends may contain multiple herbs or concentrated ingredients, and their pregnancy safety cannot be assumed from the label. They are not a treatment for morning sickness or dehydration.

Avoid licorice-root tea, senna tea and teas marketed to prepare the body for labor unless your clinician has specifically advised you to use them. If a clinician has prescribed or recommended an ingredient for a particular reason, follow that individualized advice rather than substituting an over-the-counter blend.

Also avoid teas with an unclear ingredient list or promises of a rapid nausea cure. “Natural,” “caffeine-free” and “herbal” do not mean that every ingredient or amount is safe in pregnancy. If you are unsure about a product, bring its package or ingredient list to your clinician or pharmacist before using it.

Keep caffeinated teas within the pregnancy caffeine limit, and do not assume that a decaffeinated product contains no caffeine. There is no need to drink a tea you dislike simply because it appears on a list of morning sickness remedies.

Who should be careful, and when should you seek medical help?

If you are pregnant and considering herbal tea as a regular remedy, discuss it with your pregnancy-care clinician. This is especially important if you have reflux, a bleeding condition or another medical condition; take blood thinners or other medicines; or are experiencing more than mild symptoms. Ask before using concentrated herbal products, and do not stop a prescribed medication without medical advice.

Contact your pregnancy-care clinician promptly if vomiting makes it difficult to drink or eat, you are urinating less than usual, your urine is dark, you are losing weight, or your symptoms are worsening. These can be signs that you need an assessment for dehydration or more severe pregnancy-related vomiting. If you cannot keep fluids down, do not wait for a tea to work before seeking advice.

Seek urgent medical care immediately for fainting, confusion, severe abdominal pain, blood in vomit or vaginal bleeding. These symptoms need assessment rather than home treatment. A clinician can assess your hydration and discuss appropriate care, which may include fluids or medication; tea should not replace that care.