All of us are quite familiar with nausea as we must have experienced its symptoms at least once.
They mostly consist of discomfort and an uneasy feeling in the throat, which is paired with a sensation to vomit, which is a symptom of underlying ailments in the body.
This is a reaction which is a result of the prevailing illness of the body. This is not a pleasant feeling and could occur during travel and pregnancy.
Hence below are some of the best home and natural remedies and essential oils to cure nausea.
There are many ‘over the counter’ medications which might provide relief, but they have side effects like drowsiness, inflammation, irritation, and allergies. There are also many other remedies that do not have any side effects listed below, using which you can treat nausea sitting right at home.
Essential oils are extracted from herbal plants, distilled into potent oils. These oils help in curing nausea, relaxing muscles, kill bacteria and viruses, improve digestion, and relieve pain. They have become a prevalent home remedy for curing many kinds of ailments.
Essential oils should not be ingested as they might prove toxic. They can be infused into the air, blended with a carrier oil or can be added to a diffuser.
If you have nausea resulting from pregnancy, vertigo, gastrointestinal reflux, stomach irritation, or other common conditions, essential oils prove to be a boon.
Let’s see what the most common essential oils are and how to use them for treating nausea.
Does CBD help with nausea? Yes, it is an incredible remedy to reduce symptoms of nausea(1) without posing any side effects. Another significant advantage is that it can be taken in many ways.
Inhaling the vapors of CBD oil by adding it to boiling water or oil makes it quickly reach the nasal cavities, which is immediately absorbed by the blood vessels. This method is lung-friendly.
Hold drops of CBD Oil under the tongue so that the mucous membranes of the mouth can absorb its active compounds,
Just take a spoon full of CBD oil and place it on your tongue before swallowing. The oil passes through your digestive system, which is metabolized by the liver and sent to the bloodstream. The effect is almost immediate.
Having CBD Oil capsules is another effective way of using it. This is a good option for people who do not want to experience the strong taste of CBD.
This method starts showing the effect a little slowly but lasts longer as they are absorbed slowly into the bloodstream.
You can mix CBD to your food or drink. This is an effortless way of absorbing CBD into the bloodstream. The fatty acids in the food act as carriers and allow the active compounds to move faster in the body.
CBD oil not only provides relief from Nausea and Vomiting but also from other symptoms resulting from chemotherapy treatment. It is also a very effective remedy that treats many kinds of pains because it has a hypnotic effect on us.
Research has proven that Peppermint oil is very effective in cases of vomiting and postoperative nausea because of its antispasmodic and antiemetic properties. Peppermint is also an excellent remedy for diarrhea.
This oil alleviates the itching feeling in the digestive tract and helps in soothing the pain in the colon.
[Also Read: CBD Oil Health Benefits]
Sometimes, nausea can be a result of stress and anxiety. Lavender Essential Oil, which is well known to offer calming effect, is a perfect remedy for this kind of nausea.
Lavender Oil can be used either by oral ingestion, topical application, or inhaling the vapor.
When inhaled, the linalool and linalyl are quickly absorbed into the body, which calms down the central nervous system and stops nausea.
[Read: Herbs for Nausea]
Spearmint Essential oil is a known antiemetic and antispasmodic agent that helps soothe the muscles in the abdominal area and thereby preventing nausea and vomiting. It is also known to kill the pathogens that may be present in the stomach.
How Many Times: You can do this 1 to 2 times a day.
This oil helps in alleviating motion sickness and also speeds up the process of digestion. In several cases of nausea, the main reason is indigestion. Hence, this oil helps you alleviate nausea by increasing the metabolic rate of the body.
Pregnant women should not be using essential oils without prescription or recommendation from a doctor. Using them without doctors, consultation might have adverse effects not only on the women but also on the fetus.
If ingested orally in limited amounts, it can be safe, but more substantial amounts can lead to blisters, swellings, and sores that can cause itching and irritation inside the mouth.
Bad quality essential oils can cause anal burning or diarrhea and can be very, very difficult to deal with.
It is consulted for general purposes that children below ten years of age are not exposed to essential oils as they can cause heat and expulsive side-effects.
[Read: Essential Oils for Nausea]
Eating significant amounts of food is difficult when you are nauseous and sick. So, it is essential that whatever little you eat should be nutritious and should give you enough energy to recover from the ailment.
Bananas are one such food that is very nutritious and packed with energy. They are straightforward to be eaten when you are sick. Potassium loss due to vomiting or diarrhea can be replaced by consuming bananas(3). An average sized banana gives you 27 grams of carbs, 105 calories, 22% of B6 and 12% of Potassium needs of the body.
Avocado, Stewed fruits, porridge, Peanut butter, and mashed potatoes are other foods that are considered energy-dense foods.
[Also Read: Benefits of Banana]
Lemons possess properties that not only relieves from nausea but also morning sickness.
Lemons promote healthy pH of the blood that reduces the hydrogen gas, which is the main reason for excess gastric acid.
[Also Read: Best Foods to Consume for Nausea]
Plain and starchy foods like Potatoes, rice & noodles are good when you have nausea. They have high-calorie content and can be prepared quickly. They also settle very easily in the stomach. Strongly flavored foods trigger nausea. So, odorless, bland, and colorless foods are the right option as they are more easily tolerated.
Eat steamed or boiled rice with very light seasoning. If hot foods are putting you off, go for cold ones. You can add some butter or milk to boiled, steamed or mashed potatoes to add some more calories. Have boiled noodles. You can add a light broth to them if you feel like taking more fluids.
When you have nausea, fluids are better optional food as they are better tolerated. As they provide electrolytes and hydration, they can be considered as an excellent food to start when you have been affected with nausea or vomiting.
Chicken soup or chicken broth are usually used as a remedy against nausea. You can include some veggies if you are looking for some extra calories, vitamins, minerals and proteins which serve some extra body energy.
If you have nausea as a result of cold or congestion, a hot broth helps in clearing the nose, and thus you can feel better.
A balanced diet is necessary for robust health. Strong health is all the more critical during pregnancy(4). There is a lot of nutrient loss caused by nausea and vomiting during this phase. Vitamin B6 that helps in controlling the pH of the stomach is also lost. To fill this loss, including the following list of foods in your diet.
Pistachios, Sunflower seeds, Fish like salmon, Lean pork, chicken and turkey, Dried fruit Bananas and Lean beef
Chamomile and ginger improve circulation helping the body deal with the imbalances that lead to nausea. This remedy is a simple but effective one for motion sickness as well as for nausea associated with chemotherapy, morning sickness, or gastrointestinal distress.
[Also Read: Top 12 Home Remedies For Nausea]
Ginger consists of gingerols and shogaols, that help alleviating inflammation and flatulence that is present in the digestive tract. Additionally, it also provides a soothing sensation in the gastrointestinal tract.
Ginger contains gingerols and shogaols, which reduce inflammation, thus making it one of the perfect remedies to treat digestive discomforts and an upset stomach. You can use Ginger Tea or Ginger Ale for Nausea treatment.
[Read: Benefits of Chamomile Tea]
Though it sounds insane, Baking Soda is one such remedy that cures nausea.
Baking Soda changes the pH levels of the stomach acids and provides relief from nausea. It soothes an upset stomach providing instant relief.
Apple Cider Vinegar is an excellent remedy to cure nausea. Hypersecretion of stomach acids is the reason for nausea. Though being acidic, Apple Cider Vinegar turns alkaline when ingested into the stomach and neutralizes the stomach acids, thus providing you relief from nausea. It also improves the metabolism of starch in the intestines by promoting probiotic bacteria.
Just add 4 to 5 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar to half a glass of water and sip the solution slowly.
You can have this solution 2 to 3 times a day till you are relieved from nausea.
Acupressure is an ancient Chinese method of treatment which involves applying pressure on specific body parts to release muscle tension, promote blood circulation, and relieve other ailments.
Use your index and middle finger and press the groove between the two large tendons on the inside of your wrist. Applying pressure here would relieve you from nausea. Try doing this even on the other wrist too.
[Also Read: Benefits of Acupressure for Nausea]
This is one of the most effective yoga poses for treating nausea. When you practice this asana, the weight of the diaphragm is lifted off the liver and stomach. This gives both the organs enough space and time to recuperate. Your body is relaxed; tension & stress are relieved. When you combine the pose with deep breathing, you would feel even better.
Deep breathing can help you wonderfully when you have nausea. It flushes out toxins and calms you down instantly. Take deep breathes and fill your lungs and stomach fully with air. Breathe out slowly.
Deep breathing offers more oxygen to the blood and the body and promotes faster recovery.
The time of having nausea indicates the right reason for it. If you have nausea just after eating something, the reason might be either an ulcer, bulimia, gastritis or food poisoning.
If the body experiences more stress, you would feel worse. It is true that anxiety increases nausea.
One out of every two pregnant women suffers from both vomiting and nausea. Majority of women develop nausea during their 6th week of pregnancy. For some women, it can begin in the 4th week itself. It becomes worse as they are reaching the delivery phase.
Nausea can happen because of the following reasons.
Motion sickness: During pregnancy, almost 70% of women suffer from this problem; you can also face dizziness and nausea.
Emotional stress: Emotions like fear, threat, guilt, or any negative emotion be the reason for your nausea.
Food poisoning: This is one of the most common reasons and can lead to severe damages if left untreated at the early stages.