People have been drinking tea to help treat digestive problems and other diseases for thousands of years.

It has been shown that various herbal teas help with nausea, constipation, indigestion and more. Fortunately, most of them are widely available and easy to do.

Here are 9 teas that can improve your digestion.

1. Mint


Peppermint, a green herb from the Mentha piperita plant, is known for its refreshing taste and its ability to calm stomach upset.

Studies in animals and humans have shown that menthol, a compound in mint, improves digestive problems (1 reliable source, 2 reliable source, 3 reliable source, 4 reliable source).

Peppermint oil is sometimes used to improve irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), an inflammatory condition that affects the large intestine and can cause stomach pain, bloating, gas and other unpleasant symptoms (5Trusted Source).

A 4-week study in 57 people with IBS found that 75% of those who took peppermint oil capsules twice daily reported improvements in symptoms, compared with 38% of those in the placebo group (6Trusted Source).

Peppermint tea may provide benefits similar to peppermint oil, although the effects of tea on human digestion have not been studied (1 reliable source).

To prepare mint tea, soak 7–10 fresh mint leaves or 1 sachet of mint tea in 1 cup (250 ml) of boiled water for 10 minutes before straining and drinking.

Peppermint may help improve symptoms of IBS and other digestive problems, but studies on the effects of mint tea on digestion are lacking.

2. Ginger


Ginger, scientifically known as Zingiber officinale, is a flowering plant native to Asia. Its rhizome (underground part of the stem) is popularly used as a spice throughout the world.

The compounds in ginger, known as gingerols and shogaols, can help stimulate stomach contractions and emptying. Therefore, the spice can help with nausea, cramping, bloating, gas or indigestion (7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source. 9Trusted Source).

A large review found that taking 1.5 grams of ginger a day reduces nausea and vomiting caused by pregnancy, chemotherapy and dizziness (9Trusted Source).

Another study in 11 patients with indigestion found that taking supplements containing 1.2 grams of ginger significantly shortened the stomach emptying time by almost 4 minutes, compared to a placebo (10Trusted Source).

Research comparing the effects of ginger tea and ginger supplements is limited, but tea can provide similar benefits.

To make ginger tea, boil 2 tablespoons (28 grams) of sliced ​​ginger root in 2 cups (500 ml) of water for 10 to 20 minutes before straining and drinking it. You can also soak a bag of ginger tea in 1 cup (250 ml) of boiled water for a few minutes.


Ginger has been shown to improve nausea and vomiting and may help with other digestive problems. Ginger tea can be made with fresh ginger root or a dry tea bag.

3. Gentian root


Gentian root comes from the family of flowering plants Gentianaceae, which grows worldwide.

Different varieties of gentian root have been used to stimulate appetite and treat stomach ailments for centuries (11Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source).

The effects of gentian root are attributed to its bitter compounds, known as iridoids, which can increase the production of enzymes and digestive acids (13Trusted Source).

In addition, a study in 38 healthy adults found that drinking water mixed with gentian root increases blood flow to the digestive system, which can help improve digestion (14 Source Source).

Dried gentian root can be purchased at a health food store or online. To make gentian root tea, soak 1/2 teaspoon (2 grams) of dried gentian root in 1 cup (250 ml) of boiled water for 5 minutes before straining. Drink it before meals to help digestion.

Gentian root contains bitter compounds that can stimulate digestion when consumed before meals.

4. Fennel


Fennel is an herb that comes from a flowering plant scientifically known as Foeniculum vulgare. It has a licorice flavor and can be eaten raw or cooked.

Animal studies have shown that fennel helps prevent stomach ulcers. This ability is likely due to the antioxidant compounds in the herb, which can combat the damage associated with the development of ulcers