Do you suffer from nausea? It's not fun, but it happens to everyone sometimes.
There are many reasons why you might feel nauseous. Some of these include pregnancy, motion sickness, food poisoning, morning sickness, and even anxiety. Whatever the cause, you should try to find out what is causing your symptoms and get rid of them as soon as possible.
In this article, I will go over how to get rid of nausea naturally using home remedies. I'll also tell you what foods and drinks to avoid and what to eat to help reduce your nausea.
What is Nausea and Vomiting?
Nausea and vomiting are both common symptoms that can be caused by a number of different things. Nausea and vomiting aren't an illness or disease themselves. You'll only experience them as a symptom.
They're often associated with pregnancy, motion sickness, or even eating too much at once. Serious conditions and illnesses such as cancer, liver disorders, and heart disease can also lead to nausea and vomiting.
What is the Difference Between Nausea and Vomiting?
Nausea is a feeling of discomfort in your stomach that can be caused by many different things. This includes physical causes such as pregnancy, motion sickness, emotional causes like stress or anxiety, and psychological factors like depression.
Nausea is a feeling that comes on suddenly and lasts for a short period of time. You may feel like vomiting or be in pain from an upset stomach.
Vomiting is when you actually throw up. You may have experienced some form of vomiting before, but if you haven't had any for some time then you could be experiencing an episode of acute vomiting.
Acute vomiting is usually brought on by something you ate, drank, or touched. If you've eaten something that disagrees with you, you may end up throwing up. Or maybe you were just stressed out or anxious about something and ended up having a bout of vomiting.
Most Common Causes for Nausea or Vomiting
The most common causes of nausea and vomiting include:
- Gastrointestinal Conditions - Gastrointestinal conditions can also cause nausea and vomiting. These include ulcers, gastritis, gastroparesis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among others.
- Motion Sickness - A common cause of nausea and vomiting, motion sickness occurs because the movement signals that the eye sees and the inner ear experiences are conflicting.
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Food Poisoning - Food poisoning is one of the most common causes of nausea and vomiting. The main culprits are bacteria and viruses.
- Head and Brain Injury - Head injuries can result in nausea and vomiting. In fact, it's not uncommon for someone who has been involved in a car accident or suffered a concussion to experience nausea and vomiting.
- Chemical Exposure - Chemical exposure can cause nausea and vomiting. For example, if you accidentally inhaled poisonous gas, you may quickly become sick.
With the many causes of nausea and vomiting, it's important to know what to do if you start experiencing these symptoms.
How to Get Rid of Nausea or Vomiting at Home Fast
There are several ways to treat nausea and vomiting. Some of these treatments will help reduce the intensity of the symptoms and help to prevent them as well.
1. Antiemetic Medication
Antiemetic medications are anti-nausea medicine designed to block the effects of certain chemicals that cause nausea and vomiting. These include antihistamines, antinauseants, and serotonin antagonists.
2. Acupressure or Acupuncture
Acupressure involves using pressure points along the body to stimulate areas that are believed to affect nausea and vomiting. Acupuncture works similarly to acupressure, but uses needles instead of fingers to stimulate specific acupuncture points.
The two pressure points that will help offer nausea relief are:
- Pericardium 6 (PC 6 or P 6, Neiguan) - These pressure points are located on the backside of your forearm three finger widths away from the wrist crease. Find the point between the two large tendons with your thumb.
- Large Intestine 4 (LI 4) - This pressure point is found on the back of your hand in the groove between your thumb and index finger.
The great thing about acupressure is there's no need for extra tools or equipment, just use your thumbs or fingers.
3. Ginger
Ginger is an herb used around the world to relieve nausea and vomiting, along with upset stomachs.
Drinking ginger tea, ginger ale, or eating ginger candy can be helpful. You can also chew some fresh ginger root or add it when you're cooking.
4. Peppermint
Peppermint is another natural remedy that helps ease nausea and vomiting in tea, oil or capsule form. It offers relief by stimulating the digestive system and relaxing the stomach muscles.
Peppermint tea is the most popular way to for quick relief. Peppermint oil is an option if you prefer to breathe it in using a diffuser for aromatherapy.
5. Lemon
Lemon products can be a good home remedy for nausea and vomiting because they contain neutralizing acids. Drinking lemon water, lemon juice, lemonade, or adding lemon slices to food can help relieve nausea.
6. Control Your Breathing
Meditation and controlled breathing techniques can help calm your nerves and relieve nausea. Taking deep breaths through your nose can relax your entire body and mind.
7. Sports Liquids
Sports drinks are full of electrolytes which can help to quickly restore lost fluids that will help reduce and prevent nausea and vomiting.
Does Gatorade Help with Nausea?
Gatorade has been helping athletes since the 1960s. It's a sports drink that would replace sweat and replenish electrolytes lost during exercise. Dehydration can lead to nausea and vomiting.
8. Go for Protein instead of Carbs
Studies show that eating more protein instead of carbs will help reduce nausea.
Eating protein will cause less bloating than carbohydrates do and that may help reduce nausea. Proteins digest slowly and take longer to break down than carbohydrates do.
9. No Carbonated Drinks
Carbonation in beverages like soda and beer causes gas and bloating in the stomach. When these gases build up in the stomach, they can trigger nausea and vomiting.
10. Get Hydrated
When you're dehydrated, your blood volume decreases and that can make you feel lightheaded and nauseous. Vomiting will lead to losing liquids and dehydration. Drink many sips of water if you have nausea and are vomiting.
11. Try Some Spices (Fennel, Cinnamon, Cumin)
Certain spices can help reduce nausea:
- Cinnamon - Helps reduce nausea during menstruation.
- Cumin - Helps reduce abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and nausea symptoms that are often associated with IBS.
- Fennel - Helps reduce symptoms of menstruation, including nausea.
If trying these methods, you may need to experiment to find what dosage works best for you. If you want to try them out, start small and gradually increase the amount until you find the right level for your needs. Larger doses may be needed.
12. Avoid Spicy and Rich Foods
Spicy foods and fatty foods can make you feel sick. They can cause heartburn, indigestion, and other gastrointestinal issues that can cause nausea and vomiting. These foods can also cause headaches and migraines.
13. No Sudden Movements
If you're already feeling a little nausea or lightheadedness, sudden movements such as jumping or running can cause dizziness and nausea. When you're laying down, a sudden move up can also cause dizziness and lightheadedness.
You should avoid sudden changes in position when possible.
14. Sit Upright
The natural inclination is to lay down when feeling nausea, but sitting upright can support your digestive system and help reduce nausea.
15. Avoid Pressure on the Abdomen
Keeping your back and abdomen straight can reduce pressure on your abdomen, digestive system, and stomach. That can help reduce nausea symptoms.
16. Get Some Fresh Air
Being outside in fresh air can help reduce nausea. The fresh air will help clear your head and lungs. You'll feel better after getting some fresh air, so open a window if you're indoors.
17. Try PMR (Progressive Muscle Relaxation)
PMR has been shown to benefit cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy. Chemo can induce nausea and vomiting and PMR can reduce and prevent those symptoms.
18. Vitamin B6 Supplements
Vitamin B6 can reduce nausea and vomiting caused by pregnancy. It's important to get enough vitamin B6 because it helps support the breakdown of fats, proteins, and sugars. B6 deficiency can cause nausea and vomiting, especially during pregnancy.
How Can You Prevent Nausea?
Here are some good tips to help prevent nausea from occurring:
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
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Avoid alcohol consumption.
- Eat small meals more frequently instead of large meals.
- Chew and eat slowly.
- Don't mix hot and cold drinks and foods.
- Drink slowly and in small sips, instead of big gulps.
- Avoid physical activity immediately after eating.
- Avoid greasy and fried foods.
- Eat more bland foods. Avoid strong, pungent foods.
When to See a Doctor
If you've been experiencing nausea for more than a week or vomiting for longer than 24 hours, see your doctor. This could indicate an underlying medical condition.
If the nausea and vomiting have come after a head injury it's important to see a doctor to rule out concussion.
In addition to a head injury, these are other signs and symptoms for when you should see a doctor immediately:
- Known infection
- Migraines and neck pain
- Severe abdominal pain
- Fever over 101° Fahrenheit with vomiting
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Shortness of breath or rapid breathing
- Blood in the vomit
- Signs of dehydration
How to Get Rid of Nausea Final Thoughts
There are a number of steps to get rid of nausea and vomiting. Try these simple tips to try and start feeling better.
If the home remedies aren't working and your nausea and vomiting continues, be sure to seek medical care.
Nausea FAQs
Does ibuprofen help with nausea?
Ibuprofen does not generally work well for treating nausea. Ibuprofen works best for aches, pain, fever, headaches, and inflammation. If you're only experiencing nausea, it's best to try other relief options first, such as ginger tea.
How to stop nausea fast at night?
Drink some water, ginger tea, or peppermint tea to stop your nausea quickly at night. Don't lie down flat in bed. Keep yourself upright until you're feeling better.
Will making myself throw up get rid of nausea?
Vomiting will only help your nausea if it's caused by something you've ingested, such as alcohol or food poisoning. Otherwise, throwing up is a very unpleasant experience that will make your nausea worse. It's better to drink plenty of water, ginger tea, and eat some plain crackers.
How long does nausea usually last?
The most common duration for nausea is a few hours, up to 24 hours. The average length of time nausea lasts depends on how severe it is. Some people feel nauseous for just a few minutes, while others may feel it for up to 24 hours.
Sources:
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https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/8106-nausea--vomiting
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https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/nausea-remedies
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https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320877
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https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/understanding-nausea-vomiting-treatment