What to drink for extreme nausea? A complete guide to soothing your stomach.

September 28, 2025 •

4 min read

Feeling queasy is a common ailment, with up to 50% of adults experiencing it annually. When extreme nausea strikes, knowing what to drink is critical for both comfort and preventing dehydration. Fortunately, several simple beverages can help calm your stomach.

Quick Summary

Slowly sipping small, clear, and cold fluids like water, electrolyte solutions, or ginger tea is the most effective approach for extreme nausea. These options help rehydrate the body while minimizing gastric irritation, with natural compounds in ginger and peppermint also offering relief.

Key Points

Sip Slowly: Avoid gulping fluids, as this can worsen nausea. Sip small amounts, like a tablespoon, every 15–20 minutes.
Stay Hydrated: The most important goal is to prevent dehydration, especially after vomiting. Plain, cold water is the safest start.
Try Ginger Tea: Ginger has scientifically supported anti-nausea properties. Freshly made tea is best for a potent effect.
Replenish Electrolytes: If you are vomiting, replace lost minerals with an oral rehydration solution, sports drink, or clear broth.
Choose Clear Fluids: Stick to clear liquids and avoid fatty, acidic, or highly caffeinated beverages that can irritate the stomach.
Know When to See a Doctor: Persistent vomiting for over 24 hours, signs of severe dehydration, or dark-colored urine warrant medical attention.

Understanding Extreme Nausea and the Need for Fluids

Extreme nausea is an intensely unpleasant sensation often accompanied by the urge to vomit. It can be triggered by various factors, including motion sickness, viral infections, morning sickness, and food poisoning. Regardless of the cause, the primary risk is dehydration, especially if vomiting occurs. Staying properly hydrated is the most crucial step for recovery and can significantly reduce your discomfort.

Sipping fluids slowly is key. Downing large amounts of liquid can overwhelm an upset stomach and trigger more vomiting. Start with small, frequent sips, perhaps just a tablespoon every 15-20 minutes, gradually increasing the amount as you feel able.

Top Soothing Sips for Relief

Plain Cold Water and Ice Chips

Sometimes the simplest solution is the best. Plain, cold water is your safest and most accessible option. The cold temperature can be particularly soothing to an irritated stomach. If even small sips feel like too much, sucking on ice chips or frozen popsicles allows for slower, more controlled fluid intake while cooling and numbing the mouth and throat.

Ginger Tea

Ginger is a time-honored remedy for nausea, with compounds like gingerol and shogaol believed to interact with the central nervous system and stomach to alleviate symptoms.

For DIY Ginger Tea: Peel and thinly slice a 1-inch piece of fresh ginger root. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil, add the ginger, and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes. Strain and sip slowly. For a less spicy flavor, add a little honey or lemon.
For Store-bought Tea: Many grocery stores carry ginger tea bags. Look for brands that list ginger as a primary ingredient for the most potent effect.

Peppermint Tea

Peppermint's refreshing scent and flavor can have a calming effect on the nervous system and help relax the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract. This can help ease nausea, bloating, and indigestion. A cup of warm peppermint tea is a popular choice for calming the stomach.

DIY Peppermint Tea: Steep a handful of fresh peppermint leaves in a cup of boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Strain and sip slowly once it has cooled slightly.

Oral Rehydration or Electrolyte Solutions

If nausea leads to vomiting, your body loses essential electrolytes like sodium and potassium. Replenishing these is vital for proper hydration. Oral rehydration solutions (ORS) like Pedialyte are specifically formulated for this, containing the optimal balance of water, sugars, and electrolytes for effective absorption. You can also make your own ORS with the right measurements of salt, sugar, and water.

Clear Broth

For those who can tolerate slightly more substance, clear chicken or vegetable broth offers hydration and electrolytes, along with some nutrients. It's an excellent transitional fluid when you are ready to move on from just water. The warmth can also be comforting.

Clear, Flat Sodas

For some, clear, carbonated sodas like Sprite or ginger ale can offer quick relief. However, it's often recommended to let the soda go flat before drinking, as the fizz can be irritating for some sensitive stomachs. Ensure you are choosing a soda with real ginger, or stick to other alternatives, as many ginger ales have very little actual ginger.

What to Avoid Drinking

Just as important as knowing what to drink is understanding what to avoid. Certain beverages can exacerbate nausea and delay recovery.

Caffeine: Drinks like coffee and black tea can irritate a sensitive stomach and worsen dehydration.
High-Acidity Juices: Citrus juices (orange, grapefruit) are acidic and can cause stomach irritation.
Alcohol: Alcohol is a diuretic and irritant that worsens dehydration and nausea.
Dairy Products: Milk and other dairy can be difficult to digest and may be poorly tolerated.
Strongly Flavored or Oily Beverages: These can overwhelm the senses and trigger gag reflexes.

Sip vs. Gulp: The Right Technique for an Upset Stomach

For extreme nausea, the technique of drinking is as important as the liquid itself. Here’s a simple strategy:

Start with Ice: Begin with ice chips or very small sips of cold water to test the waters. This is the gentlest way to start rehydrating.
Wait and See: If you can keep the small amount down for 15-30 minutes, it's a good sign your stomach can handle more. Increase the sips very gradually.
Use a Straw: Using a straw can help control the amount of liquid you take in, preventing accidental gulping.
Listen to Your Body: Don't force yourself to drink if it causes more discomfort. Rest and try again later.

Comparison of Nausea-Relieving Drinks


Drink	Benefit	Best For	Caution	Cost	Availability
Cold Water	Simple, hydrating, easy to tolerate	General hydration, when stomach is most sensitive	Doesn't replace electrolytes	Low	High
Ginger Tea	Powerful anti-nausea properties	Motion sickness, pregnancy nausea	Can be spicy, less effective if not made with real ginger	Low-Medium	High
Peppermint Tea	Calming, muscle-relaxing effects	Bloating, general indigestion, stress-related nausea	Some people report heartburn	Low-Medium	High
Electrolyte Solution	Fast, effective rehydration	Severe vomiting, prolonged illness	Higher sugar content than homemade versions	Medium	High
Clear Broth	Replaces electrolytes, provides some nutrients	Transitioning back to solid foods	Stronger flavor can sometimes be off-putting	Low	High

Conclusion

When experiencing extreme nausea, the primary goals are to soothe your stomach and stay hydrated. Beginning with small, slow sips of cold water, ice chips, or a mild herbal tea like ginger or peppermint is often the best course of action. If vomiting is a factor, moving to an electrolyte-rich solution or clear broth is wise to replenish lost minerals. Always listen to your body and avoid triggers like caffeine, alcohol, and acidic juices. For persistent symptoms or signs of severe dehydration, it's crucial to seek medical advice. By choosing the right fluids and drinking them mindfully, you can effectively manage extreme nausea and aid your body's recovery. For further information, consult reliable health resources such as the National Institutes of Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ginger ale's effectiveness depends on the brand. Many commercial ginger ales contain very little, if any, real ginger. If you find fizzy drinks helpful, choosing a flat, clear soda might be better. However, a homemade ginger tea will offer more potent anti-nausea benefits.

The best way is to drink water very slowly. Sucking on ice chips is often the easiest starting point for an extremely upset stomach. As you improve, you can progress to small sips of cold water, gradually increasing the quantity as tolerated.

Sports drinks can be helpful if you are vomiting and need to replace electrolytes. However, they are often high in sugar, which isn't ideal. It's often recommended to dilute them with water (50/50 mix) to lower the sugar content and make them gentler on the stomach.

Many people find that cold liquids, like water or ice chips, are more soothing for an upset stomach as they can have a numbing effect. However, warm herbal teas like ginger or peppermint are also effective and comforting for some individuals. The best temperature depends on personal preference and what your body can tolerate.

It is generally best to avoid milk and other dairy products when experiencing extreme nausea. Dairy can be difficult to digest and may be poorly tolerated by a sensitive stomach, potentially making your symptoms worse.

If you cannot keep any liquids down for more than 24 hours, it is crucial to seek medical attention to prevent severe dehydration. In the meantime, try sucking on ice chips, which can allow for very gradual hydration.

While some find the sour taste of lemonade distracting, the high acidity can irritate an upset stomach. Clear juices like apple or grape juice are often better tolerated, and a weak herbal tea with a squeeze of lemon is a milder alternative.