Few feelings disrupt your day quite like a sudden wave of nausea. Whether it stems from stress, motion sickness, morning sickness, or a fleeting digestive upset, that uneasy, sour feeling in your stomach can bring everything to a halt.

While persistent nausea lasting more than 48 hours requires medical attention—especially if paired with fever or severe dehydration—mild, everyday stomach upset can often be tamed with simple, accessible remedies. Here is how to settle your stomach and get back on your feet quickly.

Natural Remedies That Settle Your Stomach

1. Harness the Power of Ginger

Ginger is one of the oldest and most scientifically supported remedies for an upset stomach. Compounds found in ginger root, such as gingerols and shogaols, help relax the smooth muscles of the digestive tract and neutralize excess gastric acid.

• Raw or Candied Ginger: Nibbling on a small piece of crystallized ginger or chewing a sliver of fresh root can provide rapid relief.
• Fresh Ginger Tea: Peel and slice about one ounce (30 grams) of fresh ginger root. Bring two to three cups of water to a boil, drop in the ginger, and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes. Strain the liquid into a mug, stir in a spoonful of raw honey if desired, and sip slowly.

2. Try Peppermint

Much like ginger, peppermint contains natural antispasmodic properties that relax the muscles of the stomach and bile ducts.

• Sip a warm cup of brewed peppermint tea slowly.
• Suck on a hard peppermint candy if you are on the move.
• Inhale peppermint essential oil. Dab a drop of skin-safe diluted peppermint oil onto your wrists or inhale the aroma from a tissue to curb queasiness.

3. Reach for Bland Foods: Milk and Toast

When your stomach feels tender, bland foods create a protective barrier against harsh digestive acids.

• Plain white toast acts like a sponge, soaking up excess stomach acid without overburdening your digestion.
• Warm milk helps coat and soothe the stomach lining. (Skip dairy if you suspect a viral stomach bug or are lactose intolerant, as it may aggravate diarrhea).
• How to prepare: Heat one cup of milk until comfortably warm (do not boil). Toast a slice of plain bread, lightly spread it with unsalted butter, crumble it into the warm milk, and eat slowly with a spoon.

4. Inhale or Suck on Frozen Lemon Slices

Citrus aromas stimulate the nervous system and clear unpleasant tastes and smells that trigger the gag reflex.

• Slice a fresh lemon in half and place it near you so you can inhale the bright, crisp scent.
• For a stronger effect, cut a lemon into small wedges and freeze them for 30 minutes. Sucking gently on a cold or frozen lemon wedge can quickly distract your taste buds and ease wave after wave of nausea.

Practical Steps and Medicine Cabinet Checks

1. Consider Over-the-Counter Options

If natural fixes are not cutting it, your local pharmacy has several fast-acting tools:

• Antacids: Popular chewable antacids work within minutes by neutralizing excess stomach acid.
• Anti-nausea syrups: Over-the-counter liquids formulated with glucose, fructose, and phosphoric acid calm the stomach by relaxing gastrointestinal contractions.
• Bismuth subsalicylate: Helps protect the stomach lining and reduce inflammation caused by minor stomach bugs.

2. Review Your Current Medications

Sometimes, the cause of nausea is already in your medicine cabinet. Many common pain relievers—including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, naproxen, or even high doses of acetaminophen taken without food—can irritate the gastric mucosa.

• Check the warning labels on any daily supplements or pain relievers you recently swallowed.
• If medication is the culprit, drink a glass of water, rest in an upright position, and speak to your doctor about gentler alternatives.