The Best Herbal Tea for Nausea

Nausea, the feeling that you are going to vomit, can occur for a variety of reasons, ranging from mild anxiety to a more severe illness. Drinking the appropriate herbal tea may help relieve your nausea in some cases. Herbal teas are generally safe, but you should consult a qualified health practitioner before consuming them as a medicinal, particularly if you are taking other medication.

A tea pot filled with a variety of fresh herbs on a sunny oudoor table. (Image: spetnitskaya nadya/iStock/Getty Images)

Ginger Root

Tea made from the ginger root is a common medicinal used to treat nausea throughout the world, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. It is often recommended for nausea stemming from mild stomach upset, motion sickness, chemotherapy and pregnancy. Taking 1 gram of ginger a day is the recommended dose for nausea, gas and indigestion, according to UMMC. Children under 2 years of age should not take ginger in any form, while pregnant women should take no more than 1 gram a day.

German Chamomile

Two types of chamomile are used for nausea, Roman and German, but German chamomile is more popular and more widely available in the U.S., according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The flowers of German chamomile have compounds with spasmolytic properties, which means tea made from the leaves can relax the smooth muscle of the intestines. Its relaxing properties may make it helpful in reducing nausea stemming form anxiety. Both types of chamomile are considered relatively safe, but if you have an allergy to any type of flower, particularly ragweed, it's best to avoid chamomile.

Peppermint Tea

Peppermint tea has a calming and numbing effect, and it has commonly been used to treat several digestive issues such as nausea, diarrhea and flatulence. According to the American Cancer Society, evidence indicates that peppermint can help control nausea after surgery. Peppermint is relatively safe for those with digestive problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome -- a common cause of nausea, but if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, you should avoid peppermint tea.

Red Raspberry Leaf

The red raspberry leaf is rich in iron and helps to decrease nausea, which makes it particularly suited for nausea caused by morning sickness, according to the American Pregnancy Association. In addition to treating nausea, red raspberry leaf tea helps tone the uterus, increase milk production and ease labor pains. Elena Shea, M.D., author of "Healing Is Here," recommends red raspberry leaf tea for women during mid to late pregnancy, as well as for children and adults in general. Women in their first trimester of pregnancy, however, should avoid drinking it, according to the American Pregnancy Association.