Best Tea for Motion Sickness

Ginger tea, peppermint tea, and chamomile tea are the best teas to consider for motion sickness, but none is proven to prevent or treat it. They are options for a comforting drink, not a replacement for established remedies. For a broader selection, see the best drinks for motion sickness.

3 teas to consider for motion sickness

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These three teas are choices based on traditional use and personal preference, not a proven ranking from head-to-head trials. There is no established clinical evidence that any tea prevents or treats motion sickness. Ginger is the most relevant option to consider first because ginger has been investigated in other forms for nausea, although that does not establish a benefit from ginger tea for motion sickness.

Motion sickness can occur when information from your eyes and your inner ear does not match. A tea may be pleasant to sip, but there is no evidence that it corrects that sensory mismatch. If you try one, choose a flavor you tolerate and take small sips rather than forcing yourself to finish a cup.

1. Ginger tea

Ginger contains compounds called gingerols, which have been studied for possible effects on digestive and nausea-related pathways. The amount that reaches a cup varies with the ginger and preparation. There is no established clinical evidence that ginger tea itself prevents or treats motion sickness, and findings about ginger in other forms cannot be assumed to apply to this drink.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (240 mL) water
• 1 tablespoon (15 mL) chopped fresh ginger

How to brew

1. Place the chopped ginger in a heat-safe cup or pot.
2. Pour the freshly boiled water over the ginger.
3. Steep for 5–10 minutes, then strain.
4. Let the tea cool to a comfortable temperature before sipping.

This is a food-style preparation, not a medically established dose. You can adjust the amount of ginger to suit the taste, but a stronger brew has not been shown to work better for motion sickness.

Ginger can cause heartburn or stomach discomfort in some people. If it makes you feel worse, stop drinking it. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before using ginger regularly if you take a blood thinner, have a bleeding disorder, or are pregnant or breastfeeding; concentrated ginger products may present different risks from a cup of tea.

2. Peppermint tea

Peppermint contains menthol, which can relax smooth muscle. That action is not evidence that peppermint tea prevents the sensory conflict associated with motion sickness. There is no established clinical evidence that peppermint tea prevents or treats motion sickness, and research on concentrated peppermint oil should not be treated as proof about brewed tea.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (240 mL) water
• 1 teaspoon (5 mL) dried peppermint leaves

How to brew

1. Put the dried peppermint leaves in a heat-safe cup or tea infuser.
2. Pour the freshly boiled water over the leaves.
3. Steep for 5–10 minutes, then strain or remove the infuser.
4. Let the tea cool enough to drink comfortably.

Peppermint tea may be appealing if you prefer a mild, minty taste, but it is not necessarily better than the other choices. Use plain food-grade peppermint leaves or a tea bag rather than adding concentrated essential oil to your cup. Essential oils are not interchangeable with brewed leaves and can be harmful if swallowed.

Be cautious if you have acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease: peppermint may make heartburn worse by relaxing the muscle between the stomach and esophagus. Skip it if you notice more burning, sour taste, or discomfort after drinking it. Check the label on a blend, since added black or green tea can contribute caffeine.

3. Chamomile tea

Chamomile tea is commonly chosen for its mild flavor and relaxing ritual. No established mechanism shows that drinking it prevents the sensory mismatch of motion sickness, and there is no established clinical evidence that chamomile tea prevents or treats motion sickness. Feeling calmer while holding or sipping a warm cup should not be confused with a demonstrated treatment effect.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (240 mL) water
• 1 teaspoon (5 mL) dried food-grade chamomile flowers

How to brew

1. Place the dried chamomile flowers in a heat-safe cup or tea infuser.
2. Pour the freshly boiled water over the flowers.
3. Steep for 5–10 minutes, then strain or remove the infuser.
4. Let the tea cool before taking small sips.

Choose a plain chamomile tea if you want to know exactly what you are drinking. Blends may include other herbs or caffeinated tea, so their effects and precautions can differ from those of chamomile alone. As with the other preparations, there is no proven amount or steeping time for motion sickness.

Avoid chamomile if you have had an allergic reaction to it. People allergic to ragweed or related plants should be cautious because reactions can occur. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before using chamomile if you take warfarin or sedating medicines, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Which teas should you avoid for motion sickness?

Avoid laxative or stimulant tea blends marketed for cleansing or detoxification, including blends containing senna. They do not address the sensory mismatch behind motion sickness and can cause cramping or diarrhea. A product labeled herbal is not automatically gentle or suitable for everyone.

You do not have to avoid black or green tea simply because you get motion sickness. However, consider skipping caffeinated tea if caffeine makes you feel jittery, worsens nausea, or disrupts sleep before travel. Check mixed-ingredient labels rather than assuming a mint or chamomile blend is caffeine-free.

Avoid any tea that triggers reflux or makes your nausea worse, even if someone else finds it soothing. Very hot drinks can burn your mouth, so let freshly brewed tea cool before sipping, particularly in a moving vehicle where spills are more likely.

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

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a bleeding disorder or reflux, or take blood thinners or sedating medication, ask a clinician or pharmacist which herbal teas are appropriate for you. Check before giving herbal teas to children, especially young children; products and tolerances vary. A tea's food use does not guarantee that concentrated extracts or supplements are safe.

For more reliable prevention, ask a clinician or pharmacist whether a motion-sickness medicine is suitable for you and when to take it. Some medicines can cause drowsiness and may not be appropriate for certain ages, medical conditions, or other medications. Follow the product directions and do not stop prescribed medication to try a tea.

Practical measures can also help: look toward a stable point on the horizon, face the direction of travel when possible, and avoid reading or looking at a screen if it worsens symptoms. Keep children properly restrained in their car seats even when trying to improve their view.

Get prompt medical help for vomiting blood, fainting, a severe headache, chest pain, or signs of significant dehydration, such as confusion or very little urination. Contact a clinician if you cannot keep fluids down, symptoms are severe or persistent, or they occur without travel. Nausea has many possible causes, and a clinician can help assess symptoms that do not fit your usual pattern.