Nausea is the worst. Nothing feels right, sounds are off, your body's shaky, and the smell of food...well, never mind that. For nausea both mild and severe, there are many home remedies that will get you back to full strength, moving and working throughout the day.
Steps
Addressing the Cause of Your Nausea
- Check for food intolerances. If you start feeling nauseous, think about what you’ve eaten in the past 8 to 12 hours. If you have frequent bouts of nausea, keep a journal for a couple weeks to see if you can find a pattern that points to the culprit. If you suspect food intolerance or other reactions, avoid or limit the food and talk to your doctor.
- Lactose intolerance is a common cause of nausea.[1] You can either choose to avoid dairy products completely, or use over-the-counter medications like Lactaid or Dairy Ease to help you digest them.
- Make sure medication isn’t the cause of your nausea. Before introducing more drugs into your system to treat the nausea, you should first make sure that the source itself isn’t one of the medications you’re already on. Many drugs, like codeine or hydrocodone, can cause nausea and vomiting.[2] If you suffer from ongoing nausea, talk to your doctor about whether any of your medications list it as a side effect. He or she may be able to suggest an alternate medication or a lower dosage.
- Consider motion sickness.[3] Some people get sick riding on planes, boats, or in cars. This can be prevented by choosing the seat that will have the least motion — the front seat of a car or the window seat of a plane. Avoid smoking and spicy or greasy foods, and keep your head as still as possible to manage motion sickness. Antihistamines such as Dramamine or Antivert are great over-the-counter medications that can effectively treat motion sickness, as well. These should be taken about 30 minutes to one hour before travel, but can cause drowsiness. #*Scopolamine is a medication available by prescription for severe cases.
- Know that morning sickness from pregnancy will pass. Though it’s commonly called “morning sickness,” the nausea that comes with the early (and sometimes later) stages of pregnancy can come at any time in the day. In most cases, the nausea passes after the first trimester, so stay strong and wait it out![4] Eating crackers, especially plain saltines, will help you feel better, but avoid large meals. Instead, snack every 1-2 hours.
- Ginger products such as ginger tea have been proven to help with morning sickness nausea as well.[5]
- Hydrate your body if you have a hangover. If you had too much to drink the night before, you need to regain fluids before your body can start to feel better. There are also products available over the counter — like Alka-Seltzer Morning Relief — that are formulated to speed up the recovery process from a hangover.
- Hydrate to treat a gastroenteritis, as well.[6] A stomach flu or bug can cause mild to severe nausea and vomiting, and is often accompanied by stomach pain, diarrhea, and fever. vomiting and diarrhea can dehydrate the body, so make sure to replenish yourself with plenty of water and sports drinks. If you’re having trouble keeping liquids down, try taking frequent, small sips rather than chugging a drink.
- Signs of dehydration include dark urine, dizziness and dry mouth.
- Seek medical help if you cannot keep down liquids.
- Know when to turn to a doctor. There are many serious conditions which can also cause nausea including hepatitis, ketoacidosis, serious head injuries, food poisoning, pancreatitis, bowel obstruction, appendicitis or others. Contact your doctor if you:[7]
- Cannot keep any food or liquid down
- Vomit 3 or more times in 1 day
- Have nausea for more than 48 hours
- Feel weakness
- Have a fever
- Have stomach pain
- Have not urinated for 8 hours or more
- Seek emergency care if necessary. In most cases, it’s perfectly safe to wait out your symptoms before deciding to contact your doctor. However, if you observe any of the following symptoms, you need to get emergency attention:[8]
- Chest pain
- Severe abdominal pain or cramping
- Blurred vision or fainting
- Confusion
- High fever and stiff neck
- Severe headache
- Vomit contains blood or is like coffee grounds
Using Food and Drinks to Ease Nausea
- Have regular meals and snacks. If you feel nauseous, food may be the last thing you want to think about. However, it should be at the top of your list of cures! Hunger from skipping meals and snacks will only make you feel even sicker, so get over your temporary food aversion to get back on track.
- Eat small meals throughout the day, or snack on things to keep your stomach from being upset. Avoid overeating, though, and stop when you are full.
- Avoid spicy or greasy and processed foods such as chips, fried foods, doughnuts, pizza etc. These types of food can make the nausea worse.[9]
- Follow the BRAT diet.[10] BRAT stands for “Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast.” This bland diet is recommended for people suffering from upset stomachs or diarrhea because bland foods are easy to digest and keep down.[11] While it won’t cure the nausea, it will shorten the duration of your symptoms.
- Don't spend too long on this diet, because it lacks a lot of nutrition.
- You should be able to slowly switch to a more regular diet in 24-48 hours.
- You can add other easy to digest, bland foods (clear soup, crackers, etc.) to this diet.
- It is important to note that if you are actively vomiting, stick to drinking clear liquids only. Start the BRAT diet after you’ve gone six hours without vomiting.
- Use ginger. Studies show that about of ginger can effectively reduce nausea.[12] Take up to one gram of ginger at a time, up to 4 grams per day. If you are pregnant, ask your doctor before taking ginger — the dosage for pregnancy ranges from 650mg to 1 gram, but should never exceed 1 gram. There are many ways to work ginger into your snacks, though none of them provide a high dose.
- Nibble crystallized ginger.
- Make ginger tea by steeping grated fresh ginger in boiling water.
- Buy and drink ginger ale.
- Make use of peppermint.[13] Although there isn’t a scientific consensus on peppermint, there are some studies that show that it can effectively soothe nausea. Peppermint has been used for digestive problems such as heartburn and indigestion, and it may help stops spasms in the stomach that lead to vomiting. Peppermint-flavored candies such as Mentos or Tic-Tacs should be eaten in moderation, as sugary sweets can make nausea worse. Sugar-free peppermint gum is an option, but be careful; chewing brings a lot of air into the stomach and can cause bloating, worsening the nauseous sensations. If you’re still on a liquid diet, peppermint tea is a great option.
- Drink enough fluids. Drinking 8-10 glasses of clear liquids every day is important for overall health, but it’s especially important when you’re sick. If your nausea is accompanied by vomiting, take special care to keep yourself hydrated.
- Sports drinks are helpful for excessive vomiting or diarrhea. Your body needs a balance of electrolytes for normal function, and with continuous vomiting or diarrhea you can lose essential electrolytes such as potassium or sodium. Sports drinks contain both of these, and may help replenish the electrolytes you lost.[14]
- Flat soda may help ease your stomach, although it is high in sugar. If you try it and the sugar causes more nausea, stick with water.
- Stay away from harmful drinks. Although drinking liquids is important, there are some drinks that will make your nausea worse. Alcohol, caffeine, and carbonated beverages, for example, are not useful for nausea treatment, as they can further irritate the stomach.[15] If your nausea is accompanied by diarrhea, avoid milk and other dairy products until you’ve recovered. The lactose in dairy is hard to digest, and will worsen or prolong the diarrhea.[16]
Coping with Nausea Through Relaxation
- Give your body what it needs. If you're feeling dizzy from your nausea, try not to move around too much, even when your stomach is doing somersaults—unless it's about to do a triple somersault towards the nearest exit.
- The most important thing to do when fighting dizziness is to keep your head still.[17]
- Always get up slowly after resting to prevent head spins.
- Apply cool, wet cloth to your forehead.[18] Although it won’t treat the nausea or make it pass more quickly, many people find that a dampened rag can ease the suffering significantly. Lay back or tilt your head back so the cloth stays in place on your forehead, and re-wet it cloth as necessary. You can experiment with moving the cloth over different parts of your body to see if you can further alleviate your discomfort — try your neck and shoulders, your arms, or your stomach.
- Relax. Anxiety is known to make nausea worse, so try to stop obsessing about how your sickness is interfering with your plans.[19] Make sure you get enough sleep, and take naps to rest during the day. Whether you feel better or worse when you wake up, at least you won’t experience the nausea for the time you’re asleep! Try deep breathing to treat a light stomach upset. The deep breaths create a different rhythm pattern in the stomach.[20][21]
- Find a quiet place to sit.
- Breathe in slowly through your nose, allowing your chest and lower belly to rise as you fill your lungs.
- Let your abdomen expand fully. Then breathe out slowly through your mouth.
- Surround yourself with pleasant aromas.[22] Studies suggest that inhaling the vapor from essential oils like peppermint and ginger oil can help ease nausea, but thus far the conclusions have been inconclusive.[23] However, many people do feel better when surrounded by pleasant smells, whether from vaporized essential oils or a scented candle.
- Remove bad odors from your environment. Ask someone to take out the trash or clean the litter box, and avoid sitting in hot rooms.
- Get the air flowing by opening windows or directing a fan over your face or body.
- Distract yourself. Sometimes just taking a walk and getting some fresh air will help your body feel better. The sooner you do it after the onset of nausea, the easier it will be.[24] However, make sure not to distract yourself with activities that will worsen the nausea. If anything makes you feel worse, stop that activity immediately.
- Try to have some fun and forget about the nausea. Watch a movie or talk to a friend. Play a video game or listen to your favorite album!
Taking Medications to Treat Nausea
- Seek relief with non-prescription drugs. If you're sure that the nausea has a temporary cause and isn't a symptom underlying medical issue, you can take a variety of over-the-counter medications. Try to pinpoint the cause of your nausea — whether upset stomach or motion sickness — before purchasing an over-the-counter drug. They're often targeted toward specific types of nausea.
- For example, nausea from an upset stomach or gastroenteritis can be treated with Pepto-Bismol, Maalox, or Mylanta.
- Nausea from motion sickness, though, would be better treated with Dramamine.
- See a doctor for prescription medication if necessary. Some medical procedures, like surgery or cancer treatment, can cause severe nausea that requires prescription-strength drugs. Nausea can also be a symptom of various medical conditions, such as chronic kidney disease or peptic ulcers.[25] There are many different classes of drugs that can be used to treat nausea, and a doctor will be able to match your cause to an appropriate medication.[26]
- For example, Zofran (ondansetron) is commonly used to offset the nausea from chemotherapy and radiation treatment.[27]
- Phenergan (promethazine) is prescribed for use after surgeries and to treat motion sickness, and scopolamine is used to treat motion sickness alone.[28][29]
- Domperidone (sold as Motilium in the UK) is used to treat seriously upset stomachs, and is sometimes used as part of treatment for Parkinson’s disease.[30]
- Take all medications as directed. Read the labels on over-the-counter medications closely for dosage instructions, and follow them carefully. Prescription medication also carries instructions on the packaging, but defer to your doctor’s instructions. She may slightly alter your dosage based on her knowledge of your medical history.
- These powerful medications can have serious unwanted side effects if taken incorrectly. For example, a Zofran overdose might cause temporary blindness, hypotension and faintness, and severe constipation.[31]
Tips
- If you're going to throw up, don't fight it because you have something in your body that doesn't belong there. Chances are, you'll even feel better afterwards.
- If you're trying to sleep, but you can't because of the nausea, try lying on your left side with your knees bent, as in the fetal position.
- Avoid alcohol and cigarettes.
- Take dried ginger capsules (available at health-food stores) to prevent motion sickness and accompanying nausea. It really works, and there are no harmful side effects.
- If your nausea is a result of chemotherapy, or other medical condition, you may be able to use medical marijuana in some parts of the world. Pay a great deal of attention to the laws in your area.
- Put a hot water bottle on your stomach.
- Take a hot/warm shower.
- Try to cool down. Sometimes you feel nauseous when you are overheated. Try to drink cold water or use a fan.
- Chew spearmint or peppermint gum or mint.
Warnings
- Repeated or prolonged nausea can be a symptom of a wide range of conditions, from flu and food poisoning to intestinal disorder and tumors. If you're nauseated and there's not an obvious reason, you should see a doctor. And even if you do know the reason for it--such as car sickness or seasickness--you should see a doctor if the nausea doesn't go away after a day or two.
- You should also see a doctor if your nausea is accompanied by fever, especially if you are elderly.
- If it's possible your nausea comes from being pregnant, avoid any recipes that involve drugs or alcohol, or anything that might damage the fetus.
Related wikiHows
- How to Prevent Throwing up when Exercising
- How to Induce Vomiting
- How to Help a Sick Person Feel Better
- How to Pretend You Are Not Sick
- How to Vomit While Driving
- How to Cure Nausea Naturally Without Medication
Sources and Citations
- [1]
- Originally based on information taken from MotherNature.com.
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