10 Natural Teas for Stomach Ache

We’ve all been there. Lying on the couch with your stomach gurgling and your belly cramping—the victim of a stomach ache. Maybe you ate or drank too much, or maybe a certain food is causing you to become gassy and bloated. Regardless of what has upset your stomach, there might an easy way to settle it in the form of tea. So, what to drink for an upset stomach? We’ve done some research and found teas that can help relieve the symptoms and pain of an upset stomach (and aren’t too harsh on the taste buds either). Drinking tea for a stomach ache may be the solution for you.

10 Teas to Relieve an Upset Stomach

Tea has long been on the list of what to drink for an upset stomach. Tea also happens to be an incredibly easy beverage to make. There are so many varieties of tea and so many causes of stomach pain that it may be hard to know what tea is good for a stomach ache.

So, we’ve listed 10 teas (and recipes) that should be able to help with your gurgling belly. All of these contain ingredients that are known to help soothe the acid in your stomach or reduce indigestion, both of which are major causes of an upset stomach.

1. Ginger Tea

Ingredients:

1 1⁄2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger root
1 1⁄2 cups boiling water

Instructions:

Place the grated ginger into a pot or container. Pour boiling water into the container and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then strain the liquid into a mug and enjoy.

2. Green Tea

Ingredients:

Green tea leaves
Water
(1 teaspoon leaves per 1 cup water)

Instructions:

Place leaves into a container. Boil water. Pour water into a container and let the tea steep to your preference. Strain the liquid into a cup and enjoy. You can also use a loose leaf tea infuser and pour the water directly into the cup.

3. Peppermint Tea

Ingredients:

1⁄2 cup dry peppermint leaf
3 to 4 cups very hot water

Instructions:

Boil the water and then add the peppermint leaves. Quickly shut the heat off. Let the tea steep for about five minutes. Pour through a tea strainer. Add honey or sweetener of your choice to taste.

4. Chamomile Tea

Ingredients:

1 heaping teaspoon dried chamomile flowers
8 ounces water

Instructions:

Bring water to a near boil. Place dried chamomile flowers into a tea infuser and place into the hot water. Let the tea steep for five to 10 minutes, remove the flowers, and sip it to settle your stomach.

5. Turmeric Tea

Ingredients:

1 to 2 cups water
1 to 2 teaspoons ground turmeric

Instructions:

Boil water and then add turmeric. Turn down the heat slightly and allow the tea to simmer for 10 minutes. Strain tea into a cup and sip it to relieve your stomach ache.

6. Basil Tea

Ingredients:

1 cup of water
2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil leaves

Instructions:

Bring water to a boil and toss in the freshly chopped basil leaves. Let it steep for five to 10 minutes. Strain into a cup and drink. Add honey or natural sweetener of your choice if desired.

7. Licorice Tea

Ingredients:

8 ounces water
2 teaspoons of dried licorice root

Instructions:

Boil water. When the water has reached the boiling point, add the licorice root and remove the mixture from the heat. Let the tea steep for five minutes. Strain liquid into a cup and drink.

8. Spearmint Tea

Ingredients:

2 cups of water
12 fresh spearmint leaves

Instructions:

Boil water, and then add mint leaves. Remove tea from the heat source and let steep for three to five minutes. Strain liquid into a cup and drink it to soothe your stomach pain symptoms.

9. Golden Milk

Ingredients:

1 cup coconut milk or almond milk
1 cup water
1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
1 (1-inch) piece fresh turmeric, unpeeled, thinly sliced, or 1/2 teaspoon dried turmeric
1 (1/2-inch) piece ginger, unpeeled, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil
1/4 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

Instructions:

Place all ingredients into a small saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and whisk until everything is well mixed. Strain tea into a cup and drink it. You may also want to add a dash of cinnamon for presentation and flavor when serving to a guest.

10. Happy Belly Indigestion Tea

Ingredients:

4 cups water
½ teaspoon coriander seeds
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
½ teaspoon fennel seeds

Instructions:

Mix the water with all other ingredients. Bring mixture to a boil. Remove from the heat source and allow tea to steep for four or five minutes. Strain into a cup and drink.

Precautions to Take when Drinking Teas for Stomach Pain

The first thing to remember when drinking tea for an upset stomach is to make sure that it’s just an upset stomach and not something worse. All of the above tea recipes are made with ingredients that have been used for generations as stomach remedies.

If you feel that it’s more than an upset stomach, consult your doctor as tea might not help your stomach issues and in some cases, might make those issues worse. Ideally, the symptoms of an upset stomach should subside in a couple of days. You can consult your doctor to rule out the possibility of any other infection.

1. Allergies

Keep in mind any allergies you may have. As you can see, most of the tea recipes involve natural ingredients and an allergic reaction is always a possibility. Those allergic to caffeine should avoid green tea in particular. Again, if you are unsure, consult your doctor before drinking.

2. Anemia

Studies have shown that the tannins in some teas can interfere with the body’s absorption of iron. Therefore, those with iron-deficiency anemia, especially as a result of irritable bowel disease, are advised to avoid drinking green and black teas after iron-rich meals or while taking iron supplements.

3. What Settles Your Stomach

So, what’s the best tea for a stomach ache? That’s really up to the individual person. While peppermint tea for stomach aches may work for one person, it may not work as well for another.

Not to mention personal taste. Some of these teas may not be to your liking, but may be just what you need to settle your stomach. On the other hand, some teas could become an incredibly tasty beverage that’s easy to make.

Just keep in mind if it’s something worse than an upset tummy, these teas may not help at all; and it may be time to talk to your doctor before the issue gets worse.

Related:

Sources:
“6 Homemade Teas That Settle and Soothe Your Stomach,” World Lifestyle; http://www.worldlifestyle.com/health-fitness/6-homemade-teas-that-settle-and-soothe-your-stomach, last accessed February 22, 2017.
Anderson, C., “How to Brew Fresh Basil Tea,” Leaf; https://www.leaf.tv/articles/how-to-brew-fresh-basil-tea/, last accessed February 22, 2017.