Several simple remedies can ease nausea and stomach pain, from ginger and peppermint to over-the-counter medications and changes in what you eat. The right approach depends on what’s causing your symptoms, how long they’ve lasted, and how severe they are. Most cases of short-term nausea and stomach pain resolve on their own with basic self-care, but knowing which tools work best can help you feel better faster.
Ginger for Nausea Relief
Ginger is one of the most studied natural remedies for nausea. Its active compounds speed up stomach emptying and reduce inflammation in the digestive tract, both of which help settle that queasy feeling. It also supports the release of hormones that regulate blood pressure, which can calm the body’s overall nausea response.
Most research points to 1,000 to 1,500 mg of ginger per day, split into multiple doses, as the effective range for treating nausea. That’s roughly a half-inch piece of fresh ginger root, or two to three capsules of a standard supplement. You can also get meaningful amounts from ginger tea, ginger chews, or flat ginger ale made with real ginger (check the label). Fresh ginger contains more of the compounds that aid digestion, while dried ginger is richer in antioxidants, so both forms are useful.
Peppermint for Stomach Pain
Peppermint works differently from ginger. Rather than targeting nausea directly, it relaxes the smooth muscle in your digestive tract, which makes it especially good for cramping and abdominal pain. A 2022 review of 10 studies with over 1,000 participants found that peppermint oil reduced abdominal pain and improved overall symptoms better than a placebo in people with irritable bowel syndrome.
Peppermint tea is the gentlest option. Enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules are stronger and deliver the oil directly to your intestines, which helps if your pain is lower in the abdomen. One thing to watch: peppermint can relax the valve between your stomach and esophagus, so if your nausea comes with acid reflux or heartburn, it may make that part worse.
Over-the-Counter Medications
If natural remedies aren’t cutting it, a few pharmacy options can help. The best choice depends on whether your main problem is nausea, acid-related pain, or general stomach upset.
Bismuth subsalicylate (the active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol) coats the stomach lining and calms both nausea and loose stools. Adults can take two tablets or two tablespoons every 30 minutes to an hour as needed, up to 16 tablets or 16 tablespoons of regular-strength liquid in 24 hours. It’s a good first choice when you’re dealing with nausea and stomach pain together, especially from something like food poisoning or a stomach bug.
Antacids (like Tums or Rolaids) neutralize stomach acid and provide fast, short-term relief. They’re best when your pain feels like burning or sits high in your abdomen. The tradeoff is that they wear off quickly.
H2 blockers (like famotidine) take about an hour to kick in but last significantly longer than antacids. They reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces rather than just neutralizing what’s already there. If your symptoms keep coming back throughout the day, an H2 blocker gives more sustained relief than repeatedly popping antacids.
What to Eat (and What to Skip)
You may have heard of the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. It was the standard recommendation for decades, but it’s no longer advised as a strict protocol. Cleveland Clinic notes that this diet is too restrictive and lacks the nutrients your gut needs to actually recover. Following it for more than 24 hours can slow healing rather than speed it up, particularly in children.
The current guidance is simpler: eat as tolerated. Start with small amounts of soft, bland foods if that’s all you can manage, but broaden your choices as soon as you feel up to it. Plain crackers, broth, boiled potatoes, steamed chicken, and cooked vegetables are all reasonable starting points. Your body needs protein, some fat, and a range of nutrients to repair the digestive lining, so returning to a normal diet sooner is better than restricting yourself to four bland foods.
Avoid greasy, spicy, or heavily seasoned meals until your symptoms settle. Caffeine and alcohol both irritate the stomach lining and can make nausea worse. Small, frequent meals tend to be easier on a sensitive stomach than two or three large ones.
Acupressure at the P6 Point
Pressing a specific point on the inside of your wrist can reduce mild nausea. The spot, called P6 or Neiguan, sits in the groove between the two large tendons that run from your palm down your forearm. To find it, place three fingers flat across the inside of your opposite wrist, starting just below the wrist crease. The pressure point is right below your third finger, between those two tendons.
Press firmly with your thumb for one to two minutes, then switch wrists. This is the same principle behind anti-nausea wristbands sold at pharmacies. It won’t resolve severe nausea, but for mild queasiness from motion sickness, morning sickness, or a passing stomach bug, many people find it takes the edge off.
Common Causes Worth Knowing
Most nausea and stomach pain comes from short-term problems: gastroenteritis (a stomach virus), food poisoning, or gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining). These typically resolve within a few days with the remedies above, rest, and staying hydrated.
When symptoms keep returning, a few chronic conditions are worth considering. Acid reflux, peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, and celiac disease all cause recurring nausea and abdominal pain. If your symptoms follow a pattern (after eating dairy, after meals in general, during stressful periods), that pattern is the most useful clue for figuring out the underlying cause.
Signs That Need Urgent Attention
Most stomach pain and nausea don’t require emergency care, but certain combinations of symptoms do. Get urgent help if you experience:
- Sudden, severe pain that comes on rapidly, especially if it’s the worst abdominal pain you’ve ever felt or it wakes you from sleep
- Fever above 100.4°F (38°C) alongside abdominal pain, particularly with chills or a general sense of feeling very unwell
- Chest pain, shortness of breath, or sweating along with nausea, as these can indicate a heart attack or blood clot rather than a stomach problem
- Pain that steadily worsens over hours or days rather than staying the same or improving
- Signs of bleeding such as vomiting blood, or dark/tarry stools
Pain during pregnancy with any concerning symptoms also warrants immediate medical evaluation, as ectopic pregnancy and other complications can present as stomach pain with nausea.