Best Tea for Nausea

Ginger tea, peppermint tea and chamomile tea are three options to consider for nausea, although evidence for the brewed teas is limited. The AI symptom analyzer can help you organize symptoms, but it cannot diagnose their cause. For more options, see the best drinks for nausea.

What are the 3 best teas for nausea?

Ginger tea is a reasonable first choice because ginger is commonly used for nausea. Peppermint tea and chamomile tea are alternatives if their flavors appeal to you, but neither should be considered a proven nausea treatment.

The available evidence does not establish which brewed tea works best. Research on concentrated herbal preparations cannot automatically tell you how a cup of tea will work: the amount of active plant compounds in a cup can vary with the ingredients and brewing method.

Start with a weak brew and take small sips. If the smell, flavor or warmth makes your nausea worse, stop rather than forcing yourself to finish the cup. Tea may help you take in fluid, but it does not address every possible cause of nausea.

1. Ginger tea

How it might work: Ginger contains plant compounds called gingerols that may influence digestive signaling. The amount in a homemade cup is unknown, so effects observed with a measured ginger preparation cannot be assumed to apply to ginger tea.

How to make it: Use fresh ginger and make a mild cup first. You need:

• 240 mL (1 cup) drinking water
• 15 mL (1 tablespoon) thinly sliced fresh ginger

1. Bring the water to a boil.
2. Add the ginger and steep for 5–10 minutes.
3. Strain the tea and let it cool to a comfortable temperature before sipping.

You can use less ginger if the flavor feels too strong. Drinking it slowly also gives you a chance to stop if the taste or smell increases your nausea.

Evidence and cautions: Ginger is widely used for nausea, but we found no trial of ginger tea. A homemade brew should not be treated as equivalent to a tested dose of ginger extract. Ginger may cause heartburn or stomach discomfort for some people; if it does, choose another option. If you take a blood thinner, ask your clinician before using ginger regularly, especially in concentrated forms.

2. Peppermint tea

How it might work: Peppermint compounds can relax smooth muscle in the digestive tract. Much of the discussion of this effect concerns peppermint oil, however, and it does not establish that a diluted cup of peppermint tea relieves nausea.

How to make it: Choose dried peppermint sold for making tea. You need:

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

1. Bring the water to a boil.
2. Pour it over the peppermint leaves and steep for 5–10 minutes.
3. Strain the leaves and let the tea cool before sipping.

A commercially packaged peppermint tea bag is another convenient option; follow its brewing directions. Check the label if you want a caffeine-free cup, since a blend may contain other ingredients.

Evidence and cautions: We found no clinical trial of peppermint tea for nausea, and peppermint oil is not the same preparation. Peppermint may worsen heartburn or acid reflux in some people, so ginger tea or another tolerated fluid may be a better choice if reflux is a problem for you. Do not add peppermint essential oil to your cup: concentrated oils are not interchangeable with tea leaves and can be harmful if swallowed.

3. Chamomile tea

How it might work: Chamomile is often used as a calming herbal tea. A mild-flavored cup may be comfortable to sip, but there is no established mechanism showing that chamomile tea treats the cause of nausea; any benefit from the fluid itself should not be confused with a proven herbal effect.

How to make it: Use dried chamomile flowers intended for tea. You need:

• 240 mL (1 cup) drinking water
• 5 mL (1 teaspoon) dried chamomile flowers

1. Bring the water to a boil.
2. Pour it over the chamomile flowers and steep for 5–10 minutes.
3. Strain the flowers and let the tea cool before sipping.

You can use a chamomile tea bag instead of loose flowers and follow the package directions. If the floral smell bothers you, let the cup cool or choose a different option.

Evidence and cautions: We found no clinical trial showing that chamomile tea relieves nausea. Avoid chamomile if you have had an allergic reaction to it, and use caution if you are allergic to ragweed or related plants. Ask a clinician or pharmacist about regular use if you take warfarin or sedating medicines, because interactions are possible and their significance for an individual cup is uncertain.

Which teas should you avoid when you have nausea?

Avoid poppy seed tea. Opioid content can vary, and the drink can be dangerous. In a case report of neonatal withdrawal, a mother had regularly consumed poppy seed tea during pregnancy for nausea; testing of a replicated preparation found morphine in it. A case report cannot predict the contents of every preparation, but it is a serious reason not to use poppy seed tea as a remedy.

Be cautious with caffeinated teas, including black and green tea, if caffeine or strong tea makes you feel worse. Herbal blends can also contain caffeinated tea, so read the ingredient list rather than assuming every blend is caffeine-free. A weaker brew may be easier to tolerate, but it is not necessarily a treatment for nausea.

Skip unfamiliar herbal blends marketed as cleanses or detoxes, particularly when their ingredients are not clearly listed. More ingredients make it harder to identify a substance that upsets your stomach or interacts with a medicine. Avoid concentrated herbal extracts and essential oils in place of ordinary tea leaves; they can have very different strengths and risks.

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

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your clinician before using herbal teas regularly for nausea. Herbal products vary, and safety information is not equally reliable for every ingredient. During pregnancy, get prompt medical advice if vomiting makes it difficult to keep food or fluids down.

For children, ask a pediatric clinician before using herbal remedies, especially for a baby or young child. Contact the child's clinician promptly if vomiting persists or there are signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet diapers. A child who is unusually hard to wake needs urgent care.

If you take blood thinners or sedating medicines, have acid reflux, or have a history of plant allergies, discuss regular herbal tea use with a clinician or pharmacist. This matters even more for concentrated supplements. Do not stop prescribed medicine or replace prescribed anti-nausea treatment with tea without medical advice.

Seek urgent medical care for nausea or vomiting with blood or green material in vomit, severe abdominal pain, chest pain, confusion, or a severe headache with a stiff neck. Also seek prompt help if you cannot keep fluids down or have signs of dehydration, such as marked dizziness or very little urine. People with ongoing vomiting or diarrhea may need oral rehydration solution or medical care rather than tea alone.

If nausea persists, keeps returning or has no clear explanation, arrange a medical review. A tea can be a comfort measure while you seek advice, but it should not delay evaluation of a concerning symptom.