Ginger tea, peppermint tea, clear broths, and plain water are among the most effective drinks for easing nausea. The best choice depends on what’s causing your nausea and how severe it is, but sipping small amounts of the right liquid can calm your stomach and prevent dehydration at the same time.
Ginger Tea
Ginger is the most studied natural remedy for nausea, with the strongest evidence coming from pregnancy-related sickness. In a randomized controlled trial published in Obstetrics & Gynecology, about 1 gram of ginger per day (split into three doses) reduced nausea and vomiting as effectively as vitamin B6, the standard recommendation for morning sickness. That’s roughly equivalent to a teaspoon of freshly grated ginger steeped in boiling water for 10 minutes.
You don’t need to be pregnant for ginger to help. The same compounds that calm pregnancy nausea work on motion sickness, post-surgery nausea, and general stomach upset. If you don’t want to grate fresh ginger, store-bought ginger tea bags work too, though the concentration of active compounds varies by brand. Aim for two to three cups spread throughout the day rather than drinking a large amount at once.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint works through a different mechanism than ginger. The menthol in peppermint oil relaxes the smooth muscle of your stomach, reducing the pressure and contractions that trigger the urge to vomit. Research from the American Botanical Council confirms that peppermint oil lowers intragastric pressure and decreases the stomach’s phasic contractions. Peppermint tea delivers a milder version of this effect, making it a good option when nausea comes with bloating or cramping.
Some people find that even the smell of peppermint helps. If drinking anything feels impossible, holding a warm cup of peppermint tea near your face and breathing in the steam can offer some relief while you work up to taking small sips.
Clear Broths and Bouillon
When nausea has lasted several hours or you’ve been vomiting, your body needs more than just water. Chicken broth, bone broth, and bouillon provide sodium and small amounts of potassium, which help replace what you’ve lost. MedlinePlus lists soup broth as a recommended clear liquid during episodes of vomiting or stomach upset. The warmth can also be soothing, and broth is gentle enough that most people tolerate it even when solid food sounds impossible.
Sip slowly. Drinking too much liquid too fast, even something as mild as broth, can stretch the stomach and make nausea worse. A few tablespoons every 10 to 15 minutes is a reasonable pace to start.
Oral Rehydration Solutions
If nausea has led to repeated vomiting or diarrhea, an oral rehydration solution is the most efficient way to recover fluids. Products like Pedialyte are formulated with a specific balance of sodium and glucose that your gut absorbs far more efficiently than plain water. The WHO’s recommended formula uses a 1:1 ratio of sodium to glucose at a total concentration of 245 milliosmoles per kilogram, which optimizes absorption through the small intestine.
Sports drinks and sodas don’t meet this standard. They contain too little sodium and too much sugar, and the excess carbohydrate can actually pull more water into the gut through osmosis, potentially making diarrhea worse. If you don’t have a rehydration solution on hand, plain water is a better choice than a sports drink.
Lemon Water
Lemon water offers a mild option when stronger-flavored drinks feel like too much. Interestingly, the benefit may come partly from the scent rather than the liquid itself. In a study of 100 pregnant women, those who inhaled lemon essential oil rated their nausea 9% lower than those given a placebo over four days. Slicing a lemon into your water releases those same citrus oils into the air around the glass, giving you the aromatherapy effect alongside gentle hydration.
If plain water makes you gag (common during pregnancy or after chemotherapy), adding a squeeze of fresh lemon can make it easier to tolerate. Keep the water at whatever temperature feels best to you.
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile has a long history as a digestive aid. It’s traditionally used for gas, bloating, indigestion, and nausea, and many people drink a cup after meals to settle their stomachs. The evidence for chamomile is less robust than for ginger or peppermint, but its mild sedative quality can help when nausea is tied to anxiety or stress. It’s also caffeine-free, which matters because caffeine can make nausea worse.
Plain Water and Ice Chips
Sometimes the simplest option is the best one. The Cleveland Clinic recommends sipping ice water as a straightforward way to maintain fluid balance during nausea. Ice chips are especially useful when even small sips trigger dry heaving, since they melt slowly and deliver tiny amounts of fluid at a time. Cold water also tends to feel less “heavy” in the stomach, which can matter when you’re on the edge of vomiting.
Why Ginger Ale Doesn’t Work
Reaching for a can of ginger ale is one of the most common nausea remedies, and one of the least effective. Most commercial ginger ales contain artificial ginger flavoring rather than real ginger, so you’re not getting the active compounds that actually reduce nausea. Even brands that use real ginger typically include too little to have a meaningful effect.
The bigger problem is sugar. A typical can of ginger ale contains about 10 teaspoons of sugar, and that much sweetness can worsen bloating, gas, and indigestion. The carbonation adds to stomach distension, which can intensify the nausea you’re trying to treat. Diet versions aren’t much better, since artificial sweeteners can be hard to digest and cause their own GI discomfort. If you want ginger’s benefits, ginger tea or a ginger supplement is a far better route.
Drinks That Make Nausea Worse
Coffee is a common trigger. It stimulates gastric acid production and increases contractions in the GI tract, both of which can provoke or worsen nausea. This effect is strongest on an empty stomach, when there’s nothing in your digestive system to absorb the acid. If you’re already feeling queasy, skip the coffee until your stomach settles.
Dairy-based drinks like milkshakes or lattes are also poor choices. Fat slows gastric emptying, meaning food and liquid sit in your stomach longer, which can amplify that heavy, nauseated feeling. Fruit juices with pulp, sugary sodas, and alcohol all tend to make things worse for similar reasons: too much sugar, too much acidity, or too much volume hitting the stomach at once.
Temperature and Sipping Strategy
There’s no firm scientific consensus on whether warm or cold drinks are better for nausea. Some small studies suggest warm liquids may speed up gastric emptying, which could help move things along when your stomach feels stalled. Cold liquids, on the other hand, can feel more refreshing and are easier to tolerate for many people mid-nausea. The best temperature is whichever one you can actually drink.
What matters more than temperature is pace. Take small, frequent sips rather than gulping. If you’ve been vomiting, wait 15 to 30 minutes after the last episode before trying to drink, then start with just a tablespoon or two. Gradually increase the amount as your stomach settles. Drinking through a straw can also help you control the volume and reduce the amount of air you swallow, which minimizes the bloating that can retrigger nausea.