Best Tea for Stomach Ulcers: 3 Options

Chamomile tea, rooibos tea and ginger tea are three caffeine-free options to consider with stomach ulcers, but none is proven to heal them. The ai symptom analyzer can help you organize symptoms to discuss with a clinician; it cannot diagnose an ulcer or assess an emergency. For more options, see the best drinks for stomach ulcers.

3 teas to consider for stomach ulcers

These teas are listed as possible drinks, not ranked treatments. Their main benefit is that they can provide fluid without caffeine if you choose plain, unblended products. A tea that feels comfortable for one person can aggravate symptoms in another.

None of the evidence supplied here establishes that these teas heal stomach ulcers in people. They should not replace an ulcer assessment or prescribed treatment. If a tea causes pain, heartburn or nausea, stop drinking it and choose another drink you tolerate.

1. Chamomile tea

How it might help: Plain chamomile tea is naturally caffeine-free and can contribute to fluid intake. Drinking it warm rather than very hot may feel more comfortable, but there is no established mechanism by which a cup of chamomile tea heals stomach ulcers.

How to brew a cup:

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

1. Boil the water and pour it over the chamomile.
2. Steep according to the product instructions, then strain.
3. Let the tea cool to a comfortably warm temperature before drinking.

A plain tea bag prepared according to its package is another option. Check the ingredients: a chamomile blend may also contain caffeinated tea or spices that you do not tolerate.

Evidence: No clinical study of chamomile tea for stomach ulcers is included in the evidence used here. Feeling less discomfort after drinking it would not demonstrate that an ulcer has healed.

Cautions: Chamomile can cause allergic reactions, particularly in people sensitive to ragweed or related plants. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before using it if you take warfarin or other medicines that affect bleeding. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or considering it for a child, check with a clinician first.

2. Rooibos tea

How it might help: Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free, so plain rooibos tea offers a way to drink something warm without the caffeine in black or green tea. Its role is hydration, not ulcer treatment. There is no established evidence here that rooibos tea protects or repairs an ulcerated stomach lining.

How to brew a cup:

• 1 cup (240 mL) water
• 1 teaspoon (5 mL) loose rooibos

1. Boil the water and pour it over the rooibos.
2. Steep according to the product instructions, then strain.
3. Cool the tea until it is comfortable to drink.

You can also use a plain rooibos tea bag and follow the package directions. Flavored blends may contain added spices, citrus or other ingredients; choose plain rooibos first if you are trying to identify what you tolerate.

Evidence: No clinical study of rooibos tea for stomach ulcers is included in the evidence used here. Caffeine-free does not mean guaranteed to relieve pain, and it does not mean the tea can address the cause of an ulcer.

Cautions: Stop drinking it if it seems to worsen symptoms. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, giving tea to a child or taking medicines, check with a clinician about herbal products rather than assuming every blend is suitable.

3. Ginger tea

How it might help: Ginger tea can provide fluid without caffeine when it is made from plain ginger rather than a blend containing tea leaves. Ginger has a pungent taste, however, and can cause heartburn or stomach discomfort in some people. We found no evidence that ginger tea heals stomach ulcers or eliminates H. pylori infection.

How to brew a mild cup:

• 1 cup (240 mL) water
• 1 teaspoon (5 mL) thinly sliced fresh ginger

1. Boil the water and pour it over the ginger.
2. Steep until lightly flavored, then remove the ginger.
3. Let the tea cool to a comfortably warm temperature.

Keep the preparation plain while you assess your tolerance. A strongly flavored tea or a blend with other spices may be uncomfortable; stop drinking it if it makes symptoms worse.

Evidence: No clinical study of ginger tea for stomach ulcers is included in the evidence used here. Its place on this list is as a caffeine-free drink to try if tolerated, not as a proven remedy.

Cautions: Check with a clinician or pharmacist before using ginger products if you take warfarin or another medicine that affects bleeding. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding and parents considering ginger tea for a child should also seek individual advice.

Which teas should you avoid or use cautiously with stomach ulcers?

Caffeinated black and green tea: Caffeine can increase stomach acid secretion, and some people find these drinks aggravate symptoms. You do not necessarily need to avoid every caffeinated tea forever, but avoid one that makes you feel worse. Decaffeinated tea may still be uncomfortable for some people; choose based on your response, not on a label alone.

Green tea compounds are sometimes promoted for stomach ulcers, but the evidence does not establish that brewed green tea heals them. In a study of a green tea compound in mice, researchers tested purified EGCG, not a cup of tea in people. The animal findings cannot establish an effective drink or treatment dose for humans.

“Ulcer-healing” herbal blends and concentrated extracts: Be cautious with products that promise to cure an ulcer. Ingredients and concentrations vary, and an animal result does not establish safety or benefit in people. For example, a study of a purified substance from Maytenus ilicifolia tea examined stomach injury in rats, not ulcer healing in people drinking the tea.

Licorice-containing blends: Regular licorice can affect blood pressure and potassium levels and can interact with medicines. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before using it, especially if you have high blood pressure, heart or kidney disease, or take medicines for these conditions. A product labeled deglycyrrhizinated licorice is different, but research has not established it as a treatment for stomach ulcers.

Also use caution with blends containing ingredients that trigger your symptoms. There is no need to add lemon, peppermint, hot spices or another flavoring to make tea effective: none is necessary for ulcer treatment.

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

Get emergency help now for vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds, black or tarry stools, sudden severe or worsening abdominal pain, fainting, or severe dizziness. These can be signs of bleeding or another serious complication. Do not wait to see whether tea helps.

If you suspect you have a stomach ulcer, arrange a medical assessment rather than treating yourself with tea. Also contact a clinician if you have persistent or recurring upper abdominal pain, vomiting, difficulty eating or unexplained weight loss. Symptoms alone cannot confirm an ulcer, and some ulcers cause few symptoms until a complication occurs.

A clinician may test for H. pylori, review your medicines and decide whether you need an endoscopy or follow-up to check healing. An H. pylori ulcer generally needs prescribed antibiotics along with acid-suppressing medicine. An ulcer associated with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, may require a supervised change in medication and acid-suppressing treatment.

Avoid taking over-the-counter ibuprofen or naproxen for pain unless a clinician advises you to. If you take prescribed aspirin, an NSAID or another medicine, do not stop it on your own; contact the prescriber for advice. Tell your clinician and pharmacist about herbal teas, supplements and medicines you use, particularly blood thinners.

Pregnant or breastfeeding people, children, and people with liver, kidney or heart disease should seek individualized advice before using herbal products regularly. With any of these teas, the safest choice is the one you tolerate alongside—not instead of—the care your clinician recommends.