Plain water is always a safe starting point, but certain drinks can actively ease stomach pain depending on what’s causing it. Ginger tea, peppermint tea, chamomile tea, clear broth, and electrolyte-rich fluids all target different types of discomfort, from nausea and cramping to inflammation and dehydration. What you avoid drinking matters just as much as what you reach for.
Ginger Tea for Nausea and Slow Digestion
Ginger is one of the most well-studied natural remedies for stomach trouble. Its active compounds reduce inflammation in the digestive tract by blocking the same pain and swelling pathways that ibuprofen targets, while also acting as antioxidants that protect the stomach lining. Beyond calming inflammation, ginger helps speed up gastric emptying, the process of moving food out of your stomach and into your small intestine. When your stomach feels heavy, full, or nauseated after eating, slow gastric emptying is often the culprit.
Research in clinical nutrition suggests that around 2,000 mg of ginger daily (roughly a one-inch piece of fresh ginger root steeped in hot water) is beneficial for reducing indigestion and other gastrointestinal symptoms. You can slice fresh ginger into thin coins, steep them in boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes, and sip it warm. Store-bought ginger tea bags work too, though fresh ginger tends to be more potent. If the taste is too sharp, a small squeeze of lemon or half a teaspoon of honey helps without adding anything that would irritate your stomach.
Peppermint Tea for Cramps and Bloating
If your stomach pain feels more like cramping, tightness, or pressure from gas, peppermint tea is a strong choice. The menthol in peppermint acts as a natural muscle relaxer. It loosens the smooth muscle that lines your digestive tract, which directly reduces the spasms that cause cramping and the trapped gas that causes bloating. This is why peppermint has long been used for indigestion.
Steep a peppermint tea bag or a handful of fresh mint leaves in hot water for five to seven minutes. One caution: if your stomach pain is related to acid reflux or heartburn, peppermint can make it worse. That same muscle-relaxing effect can loosen the valve between your esophagus and stomach, letting acid travel upward. For acid-related pain, skip the peppermint and try chamomile instead.
Chamomile Tea for Irritation and Inflammation
Chamomile contains over 120 active chemical compounds, including dozens of flavonoids and terpenoids that give it anti-inflammatory and calming properties. It works particularly well when your stomach lining itself feels raw or irritated, because it soothes the inflamed mucous membranes that line your digestive tract. This makes it a good option for pain that comes with a burning or gnawing sensation, or discomfort that worsens after eating spicy or acidic food.
Chamomile is also mildly sedating, which helps when stomach pain is tied to stress or anxiety. Stress activates your body’s fight-or-flight response, which makes your gut more sensitive and reactive. A warm cup of chamomile addresses both the physical irritation and the nervous system tension feeding into it.
Broth and Electrolyte Drinks for Dehydration
When stomach pain comes with vomiting or diarrhea, replacing lost fluids and electrolytes becomes the priority. Plain water alone isn’t ideal here because it lacks the sodium and potassium your body is losing. Electrolyte balance is what keeps your muscles functioning, your heart rhythm steady, and your energy levels stable.
Chicken broth is one of the easiest options. It delivers sodium naturally and is gentle on an irritated stomach. A recipe from UVA Health recommends mixing two cups of liquid broth (not low-sodium) with two cups of water and two tablespoons of sugar for an effective rehydration drink. If you don’t have broth on hand, you can make a simple oral rehydration solution at home: four cups of water, half a teaspoon of table salt, and two tablespoons of sugar. The sugar isn’t just for taste. It helps your intestines absorb the sodium and water more efficiently.
Coconut water is another solid option. A single cup provides about 17% of your daily potassium, 15% of your magnesium, and 10% of your sodium, all without the added sugars and artificial dyes found in most sports drinks. Studies show coconut water is comparable to sports drinks for rehydration after mild fluid loss.
What Not to Drink
Coffee is one of the worst choices when your stomach already hurts. It’s mildly acidic (pH around 4.85 to 5.10), it stimulates extra stomach acid production, and caffeine speeds up digestion in ways that can trigger cramping and discomfort. These effects hit harder on an empty stomach, where there’s no food to buffer the acidity. Being overtired or stressed amplifies the reaction even further, sometimes causing nausea or dizziness on top of the pain you already have.
Alcohol irritates the stomach lining directly and can increase inflammation, making virtually any type of stomach pain worse. Carbonated drinks, including sparkling water and soda, introduce gas into your digestive system. If bloating or pressure is part of your discomfort, carbonation will add to it. Sugary drinks and fruit juices can also be problematic. High sugar concentrations can draw water into the intestines and worsen diarrhea. If you want to use juice, dilute it heavily: a rehydration-friendly ratio is three-quarters of a cup of cranberry juice to over three cups of water, with half a teaspoon of salt.
One popular home remedy that lacks evidence is apple cider vinegar. Despite widespread recommendations online, Harvard Health Publishing notes there is no research published in medical journals supporting its use for heartburn or stomach pain. Its acidity could potentially irritate an already inflamed stomach lining.
Sipping Strategy Matters
How you drink is nearly as important as what you drink. Taking small, frequent sips rather than gulping down a full glass puts less strain on an irritated stomach. If you’re actively nauseous, try just a tablespoon or two every few minutes. Once that stays down, gradually increase the amount. Room temperature or slightly warm drinks are generally easier to tolerate than ice-cold ones, which can cause stomach muscles to tense up.
If you’ve been vomiting, wait 15 to 30 minutes after your last episode before trying to drink anything. Start with a few sips of an electrolyte solution or broth and see how your stomach responds. Ginger tea can be introduced once you’re keeping clear fluids down, since its anti-nausea properties can help break the cycle.
When Fluids Aren’t Enough
Most stomach pain responds to rest, the right fluids, and time. But certain symptoms signal something more serious. Inability to keep any fluids down, significant dizziness or fainting, rapid heartbeat over 100 beats per minute, blood in your urine or stool, confusion, or seizures all warrant immediate medical attention. These can indicate severe dehydration or a condition that home remedies won’t resolve. Sunken eyes, absence of tears, and noticeably decreased urine output are also warning signs that your body is losing fluids faster than you can replace them.