What home remedies can help with an upset stomach and diarrhea?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Rice water, peppermint tea, and a simple sugar-salt solution are three effective home remedies for an upset stomach and diarrhea. Rice water helps firm stools, peppermint tea calms stomach cramps and nausea, and a sugar-salt solution rapidly replaces the fluids and electrolytes lost during diarrhea, helping prevent dehydration.

However, persistent or severe stomach issues can signal an underlying condition that needs attention. Before guessing what's wrong—or waiting it out—take a free, instant, online symptom check to better understand your symptoms, identify possible causes, and get clear guidance on the right next steps for your health.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Learn what may be causing upset stomach diarrhea Discover if your diarrhea needs care today Find out if stomach upset is something serious See OTC options for upset stomach diarrhea Find a doctor for digestive symptoms Understand medically proven home remedies for diarrhea Check likely causes of your stomach symptoms

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Explanation

When dealing with an upset stomach and diarrhea, some home remedies can be helpful.

Rice Water: Drinking rice water can be soothing for the stomach. It has been shown to help in cases of infantile gastroenteritis, which is a type of stomach upset. To make rice water, boil rice in water and then strain the liquid to drink.
Peppermint: Peppermint is another remedy that might help with stomach discomfort. It has been found to be effective for dyspepsia, which is a kind of stomach upset. You can try drinking peppermint tea to see if it helps.
Sugar-Salt Solution: A simple sugar-salt solution can help keep you hydrated. This is important because diarrhea can cause you to lose fluids and electrolytes. You can make this at home but need to follow careful medical guidance on how to make the drink as too much salt can be dangerous.

These remedies can be tried at home to help with symptoms, but if the upset stomach or diarrhea persists, you can use this free symptom checker to better understand what might be causing your symptoms and when you should seek medical care.

(References)

(2008). Herbal remedies for dyspepsia: peppermint seems effective. Prescrire international, 18630390.
Wong HB. (1981). Rice water in treatment of infantile gastroenteritis. Lancet (London, England), 6113434.
Lukmanji Z. (1988). Formulae of sugar-salt solutions recommended for .... Annals of tropical paediatrics, 2456720.

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