Several herbs have genuine evidence behind them for healing and protecting the stomach lining, reducing inflammation, and easing digestive discomfort. The most studied options include licorice root, ginger, chamomile, aloe vera, slippery elm, and mastic gum. Each works through a different mechanism, so the best choice depends on what’s actually going on in your stomach.
Licorice Root for Stomach Lining Repair
Deglycyrrhizinated licorice, commonly sold as DGL, is one of the most well-supported herbal options for stomach healing. It works by increasing the production of prostaglandins, which are compounds your body uses to maintain the protective mucus layer inside your stomach. DGL also boosts blood flow to damaged tissue, increases the number of mucus-producing cells, ramps up how much mucus those cells generate, and extends the lifespan of intestinal cells. That combination makes it useful for both preventing and recovering from irritation.
In a clinical study comparing licorice extract to standard treatment in patients with peptic ulcers infected by H. pylori, 95% of the licorice group showed visible ulcer healing compared to 70% in the comparison group. Pain reduction was reported by 80% of the licorice group. The licorice also showed a measurable effect against H. pylori itself, with a 70% reduction in the bacteria versus 45% in the comparison group. DGL is the preferred form because regular licorice contains a compound called glycyrrhizin that can raise blood pressure and cause fluid retention with prolonged use. DGL has that compound removed.
Ginger for Sluggish Digestion
If your stomach problems involve bloating, fullness, or nausea, ginger targets a different piece of the puzzle: motility. Your stomach needs to contract rhythmically to move food through, and when that process slows down, you get that heavy, uncomfortable feeling after eating. A study published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology tested ginger in patients with functional dyspepsia (chronic indigestion without a clear structural cause) and found that gastric emptying was significantly faster after ginger compared to placebo. The half-emptying time dropped from about 16 minutes with placebo to about 12 minutes with ginger, and there was a trend toward more frequent stomach contractions.
The exact mechanism isn’t fully pinned down, but researchers believe ginger may interact with serotonin receptors in the gut that help regulate muscle contractions. Fresh ginger, dried ginger powder, and ginger tea all contain the relevant active compounds. Most studies use doses equivalent to about 1 to 1.5 grams of dried ginger.
Chamomile for Stomach Inflammation
Chamomile has been used for upset stomachs for centuries, and lab research supports the tradition. In animal studies, chamomile extract given before alcohol exposure significantly and dose-dependently protected the stomach lining from damage. The protective effect appears to come from its antioxidant properties and its ability to preserve certain protective molecules in the stomach lining, particularly compounds called sulfhydryls that help maintain cell integrity.
Chamomile also influences intracellular signals involved in inflammation, including free iron and hydrogen peroxide levels, both of which contribute to tissue damage when elevated. For everyday use, chamomile tea is the simplest delivery method. It’s mild enough to drink regularly and pairs well with other stomach-soothing herbs.
Aloe Vera for Ulcer Healing
Aloe vera gel works on the stomach through several overlapping pathways. It decreases gastric acid secretion, increases mucus production, and reduces inflammation at the cellular level. In research on gastric ulcers, aloe vera treatment reduced the adhesion of white blood cells to damaged tissue (a key driver of ongoing inflammation), lowered levels of a pro-inflammatory signaling molecule called TNF-alpha, and raised levels of the anti-inflammatory molecule IL-10. The result was enhanced cell growth in the stomach lining and elongation of gastric glands, both signs of active healing.
Most of the rigorous evidence comes from animal studies rather than large human trials, so results should be interpreted with some caution. If you try aloe vera juice internally, look for products specifically labeled for internal use, as some contain latex compounds from the outer leaf that act as harsh laxatives.
Slippery Elm as a Protective Coating
Slippery elm bark contains a high concentration of mucilage, a gel-like fiber that becomes slippery when mixed with water. When you drink it, this mucilage coats the stomach lining and creates a physical barrier between your tissue and stomach acid. It doesn’t address the underlying cause of stomach problems, but it can provide immediate relief from burning and irritation while other healing processes take place.
The typical dose is about 1 tablespoon of powdered bark mixed into tea or water, up to three times per day. Start with less powder and add gradually, because too much makes the mixture unpleasantly thick. Honey can improve the taste. A similar mucilage-based approach has been studied using okra, which contains a slimy substance that modulates acid secretion and replenishes the stomach’s antioxidant defenses while restoring mucin content in damaged tissue.
Mastic Gum and H. Pylori
Mastic gum, a resin from a tree native to the Greek island of Chios, has drawn interest for its antibacterial activity against H. pylori, the bacterium responsible for most stomach ulcers. In lab settings, mastic gum kills H. pylori at remarkably low concentrations, and 90% of tested strains were inhibited at higher doses. The results in living organisms are more complicated. One study found that mastic gum reduced H. pylori colonization in the stomach by about 30-fold, and a clinical study reported H. pylori elimination rates of 31% to 39% depending on dose.
Those numbers are lower than what standard antibiotic therapy achieves, and a small study of nine patients found that even high-dose mastic gum (1 gram four times daily for two weeks) failed to fully clear the infection. Mastic gum is better understood as a supportive option that may reduce bacterial load and ease symptoms rather than a standalone treatment for confirmed H. pylori infection.
Peppermint Oil for Abdominal Pain
Peppermint oil is best known for irritable bowel syndrome rather than stomach-specific conditions, but it’s worth mentioning because many people searching for stomach relief are actually dealing with IBS-related pain in the upper abdomen. In a randomized trial, 79% of patients taking enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules experienced reduced abdominal pain severity, and 29 of those patients became completely pain-free. In the placebo group, only 43% improved and just 4 became pain-free.
The enteric coating matters. It prevents the capsule from dissolving in the stomach, where peppermint oil can actually relax the valve between your esophagus and stomach and worsen acid reflux. The coating allows the oil to reach the intestines intact, where it relaxes smooth muscle and reduces spasms. If you have acid reflux or GERD, uncoated peppermint products can make things worse.
Combining Herbs Effectively
These herbs aren’t mutually exclusive, and many people benefit from using more than one. A practical approach is to match the herb to the symptom: DGL or slippery elm for burning and acid-related irritation, ginger for bloating and slow digestion, chamomile for general inflammation and stress-related stomach upset, and aloe vera for longer-term healing of damaged tissue. Taking a mucilage-based herb like slippery elm at the same time as other supplements or medications can slow their absorption, so spacing them apart by at least an hour is a good practice.