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Nausea, that rolling, boiling feeling deep in your stomach that forewarns of impending problems, namely vomiting. There are many reasons you could feel nauseated, from a simple upsetting episode in your life to serious illness and everything in between. For the great majority of people, discovering ways to combat the feeling and get on the way to recovery immediately it the utmost of importance. Below we go over reasons why someone might be nauseous and several great home remedies below for nausea to help get you on your way back to feeling good.
Causes of Nausea
There is a variety of reasons people suffer nausea and many times, the best home remedy is avoiding the trigger. For some people, nausea can come from under cooked foods, or just foods that didn’t sit right with their system. It can stem from a bug or illness, which is especially common in little kids.
A few other reasons could be from something originating from outside the stomach itself. Are you sensitive to smells? Do you suffer allergies? Could you be pregnant?
Overuse of alcohol can also lead to extended periods of nausea, though you should know this could be due to damage in the stomach or intestinal tract from prolonged exposure as well.
When you can, you should avoid the triggers and strive to change any bad habits that could lead to further problems.
15 Home Remedies for Nausea
Since there are so many reasons for nausea, we will divide the remedies up into two broad categories, namely physical and medicinal, the latter not referring to pharmaceuticals but homemade remedies that you take orally.
Physical solutions are things you can do or change in your environment to ease your stomach.
1. Relaxation
Stress is a big problem for people today. We live in a fast-paced world overrun with all types of things to worry about. Of course, many people do not even have time to be concerned about world affairs as they are to consumed with raising a family, advancing a career or finishing school.
All these pressures add up to stress and can equal some bouts with frequent nausea. Take time to meditate, soak in a warm tub and in serious cases, seek counseling to learn how to relax and release stress.
2. Controlled Breathing
Have you ever noticed when you are upset or not feeling well, you tend to breathe shallowly and sometimes quickly? This can prolong your nausea and lead to vomiting.
A very easy home remedy for nausea is just taking a few moments to slow and control your breathing. Deep breaths in through the mouth and out through the nose.
3. Fresh Air
Nausea can be triggered by your environment, specifically warm, stuffy or fragrant locations. In this situation, you may need to remove yourself from your home or office building to get some much-needed fresh air. Ideally, a cool breeze will be available.
Of course, you cannot always simply walk away from your job or children. In these cases, a small fan trained on your cheeks can do wonders.
4. Acupuncture Massage
Acupuncture is an ancient medicinal practice used for all kinds of ailments. However, you do not have to submit to needles or suction cups to get relief.
The correct term is acupressure, which utilizes pressure points on the body as a natural home remedy for nausea.
Gentle, yet firm, pressure will cause a release of endorphins and serotonin that will then combat the chemicals in your body triggering nausea.
5. Stretching
Did you know discomfort in your back or neck can result in bouts of nausea? Stretching your back and rolling your neck can alleviate this discomfort and by extension, deal with your nausea.
6. Aromatherapy
Scents are powerful. They can bring memories (good or bad) to the forefront of your mind. Thankfully, they can also be quite therapeutic when you are feeling ill or nauseated.
There are several essential oils that make for good nausea treatments including peppermint, lemon, ginger and spearmint. You can use them in a diffuser, on a cloth or as a massage medium. (Combining two home remedies for nausea)
7. Cool Compress
Are you feeling flushed or dizzy? Nausea can be brought on by dizziness and commonly causes a rise in body temperature as well. Alleviate the symptoms by applying a cool compress to your neck or forehead.
8. Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 plays a vital role in supporting many bodily process from blood cell production to brain function. It is also important for the metabolism and processing nutrients. It can help to reduce feelings of nausea by allowing the body to process amino acids. While experts are still not totally sure why it helps, it is widely accepted that the vitamin does help to reduce nausea, which is why it is commonly prescribed in pregnancy.
A study conducted by the American Academy of Obstetrics and Gynecology, shows that patients with nausea and vomiting who received Vitamin B6 had significant improvement after a 3-day therapy compared to those in the placebo group who experienced worsening of the condition.
8. Ginger
When it comes to home remedies for nausea, one of the oldest on the books has to be ginger. This natural remedy has been used for thousands of years in eastern medicine and remains a tried and true treatment for a variety of digestive ailments.
9. Peppermint
Peppermint leaves or oil have a calming effect on the stomach muscles, making it a perfect home remedy for nausea. In fact there are tons of health benefits of mint. This aids the stomach in processing food quickly, moving it out of the stomach and into the digestive tract. It is important to note that if you have GERD or acid reflux you should skip the peppermint.
10. Frozen Lemon
Combining the soothing feeling of cold with the crisp tart flavor of lemons can quickly cure nausea. Frozen lemon can cause your mouth to water quite a bit, but it is much more pleasant than the watering you experience during nausea.
11. Cool Water
What could be simpler than a cool drink of water? Sipping cool (not cold) water can instantly calm a churning stomach.
In fact, a 2004 study revealed that your body needs water to not only digest your food but also absorb the nutrients in your food efficiently.
According to the study, women should have at least 2.7 liters of water per day while men ought to have 3.7 liters.
Obviously, you don’t have to take all this water in its pure form, some of it can be taken in terms of food. As long as you stick to about 8 or more cups of water, you will have a healthy tummy with fewer aches.
12. Cinnamon
A nice warm brew of cinnamon and water can quickly sooth your stomach and relieve your nausea. Add a touch of sugar and it is a quite pleasant home remedy for nausea. There are a number of health benefits of cinnamon. Note, if you are pregnant, you should forgo this particular remedy.
13. Apple Cider Vinegar
If you happen to vomit but still experience a level of nausea, it could be a result of the remnants. Using a vinegar rinse will cleanse the palette and remove the scent, preventing further nausea and vomiting.
14. Let It Go
When all else fails and there is simply no way to stave off the nausea any longer, it may be time to just let go. Some cases of nausea are caused by ingesting something disagreeable or even harmful to your health.
As much as it may pain you to do so, the best home remedy for nausea is often to just let it take its natural course and rid yourself of the problem altogether.
Tips to Manage Nausea
While certain medications and natural remedies for nausea will help to provide relief from the condition, its always best to identify and treat the underlying cause itself. Especially if the problem persists, you will want to speak with a medical professional. You may also want to try a few of these tips to manage some of the nausea:
- Use the BRAT guideline to calm a sour stomach and limit foods to very bland items. Bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast are all very bland and can help provide you with some nutrition while you are not feeling your best.
- Be sure to avoid fried and greasy foods, sugar-rich foods, dairy products, caffeine, and alcohol.
- Limit your intake of veggies and raw foods.
- Get enough fluid intake- this could water, electrolyte solution, caffeine free tea- just lots of liquids!
- Do not go to bed or lay flat too soon after eating.
In most cases, nausea is or should not be a common occurrence and using these simple home remedies along with a few lifestyle changes can be extremely helpful.
Final Thoughts
These are but a few of the many home remedies for nausea, many of which may already be familiar to you. Most of the ingredients can be commonly found in your cupboards or are easily and cheaply obtained. Keep in mind remedies will work differently for different people, so if one does not work immediately, it does not mean another will not.
If you are dealing with nausea and have been for some time, it could be time to seek professional medical attention. Nausea that lasts more than 7 days, even if it abates with remedies but returns quickly, should be evaluated by your doctor.