Top 10 Natural Cures for Nausea: A Healthy Guide

Nausea is never pleasant, and it gives you a heaviness in your chest and throat that won’t go until you vomit it out. It can occur for several reasons: viral illness, food poisoning, migraines, motion sickness, pregnancy, anxiousness, etc. Its intensity and frequency will depend on the issue you have. 

Nausea and vomiting are not diseases. There are usually symptoms of underlying conditions or issues you have. It is considered the coping mechanism and protective measures found by your body to omit any harmful toxins. It is your body’s way of warning you about some underlying medical condition. Other than when one is ill, other circumstances can also cause for this condition. 

A change in your psychological state, an issue with the autonomic nervous system, central nervous system, gastric dysrhythmias, or the endocrine system that regulates hormones are usually responsible for giving you the unpleasant sensation of nausea. It can make you feel terrible and may get worse if you cannot vomit it out. Of course, all types of sickness may not lead to vomiting, but vomiting mostly succeeds this dreadful feeling. 

But these pills have side effects and might not be available at all times. These issues are why everyone should be familiar with some natural remedies to relieve nausea. You can prepare remedies with items readily available in most households.

The Causes of Nausea

It is a prevalent symptom of different kinds of diseases, so if you find yourself with this unpleasant sensation that isn’t getting cured, you may have to consult a doctor to find out what is causing the issue. As mentioned above, nausea is not a disease but a symptom that may indicate several problems.

The different possible causes of nausea are as follows.

• Motion sickness (can either be road trips or from rides like a roller coaster, etc.)
• Seasickness
• Food poisoning
• Milk and dairy allergy
• Viral fever or similar illnesses
• Pregnancy, usually during the first trimester
• Anxiety or stress
• Inhaling or similar exposure to chemical toxins
• Certain smells or tastes that you find unpleasant
• Indigestion
• Overeating
• Migraines
• Chemotherapy (Cancer Treatment)
• Automatic dysfunction (problems in the part of the nervous system responsible for controlling bodily functions like digestion, breathing, heartbeat, etc.)
• Gallbladder illness
• Orthostatic hypotension (a decrease in blood pressure on suddenly standing up after sitting or lying down)
• Infections
• Hangover as a result of having excessive alcohol
• Some pills and antibiotics like oral contraceptives, aspirin, etc.

10 Natural Remedies to Relieve Nausea

In most situations, the nausea you are experiencing may be minor and can get cured by vomiting without taking any medications. In addition, several natural remedies can fix it quickly. These remedies are a much healthier choice, too, rather than consuming anti-nausea pills and drugs as they all have potential side effects. However, sometimes you find your situation worsening. For example, suppose you feel that the unpleasant sensation is not going away even after trying the natural remedies or taking medications. In that case, you should consult a doctor and find the reason behind the same. 

Don’t shy away from trying one or more of these home remedies first!

1. Bring Changes in Your Diet

If you feel nauseous and have vomiting tendencies upon eating certain foods, you should consider changing your diet. Several studies have confirmed that bringing dietary changes is one of the best natural remedies to relieve nausea. When you are nauseous, you can consider having smaller meals as they can pass through the gastrointestinal tract faster than larger food portions of foods. You might also have to avoid sugary food products while nauseous and add more salty food items to your diet. 

You must also consider drinking more water and similar clear beverages at room temperature to stay hydrated. To get anti-nausea effects, you can also add liquid foods that are easier to keep down, like soups, broths, gelatin, flat ginger ale, electrolyte drinks, etc. However, it would help avoid drinking liquids during or right after eating solid foods. You must only drink fluids after 40- 60 minutes of having a meal. 

Ensure that you eat slowly to give time and space for your food to move down properly. This process provides time for your digestive system to function well. For example, plain toast, crackers, and other similar dry foods are good choices to eat when feeling nauseous. Similarly, bland and easy-to-digest food items can give you anti-nausea effects. Such food items include poached eggs, chicken, bread, or plain pasta.

2. Consume Ginger

Ginger is one of the best natural remedies to relieve nausea. While people have been using the food item for ages now as its cure, no one has not fully understood how ginger is capable of being a cure for this unpleasant issue. Studies found that the several compounds present in ginger have similar effects as any anti-nausea medications. 

Studies conducted by experts found that gingerol and other active compounds in ginger can directly affect the gastrointestinal system and the central nervous system. As a result, experts believe it to be one reason why ginger can cure nausea. 

Ginger’s roots can also reduce nausea and vomiting tendencies at the time of pregnancy or for those who underwent chemotherapy or an operation. Some studies claim ginger can be as effective as prescription medicines and pills for nausea with fewer adverse side effects. However, it is not sure what the most effective dosage of ginger is to cure nausea. Between 0.5 to 1.5 grams of dried ginger root per day is acceptable to cure or prevent nausea and vomiting. While ginger is suitable for most people, studies say that those prone to low blood sugar or blood pressure must limit their use of the root.

3. Consume Peppermint

One of the most popular natural remedies to relieve nausea is peppermint. The food item can relax our digestive system by reducing spasms in our stomach and thus relieving us of the feeling of discomfort. Some studies even prove the effectiveness of peppermint as a cure for this health condition, including irritable bowel syndrome-induced nausea and vomiting. 

Peppermint has several benefits because of the presence of its main ingredient, menthol. Even a popular technique called ‘Peppermint Aromatherapy’ helped researchers prove that the scent of peppermint oil can help provide relief from nausea. Furthermore, studies found that the nausea was much lower amongst those exposed to the peppermint smell than those given anti-nausea pills and medications. 

A different study found that around 57% of people felt reduced nauseous feelings as an after-effect of the peppermint aromatherapy. And on a third study, researchers noted how about 44% of people had reduced nausea after using an inhaler with peppermint oil. According to the same study, peppermint tea can also offer anti-nausea effects. So, the scent of peppermint oil, having a cup of peppermint tea, or taking a peppermint pill are all some very effective, natural remedies to relieve nausea.

4. Consume Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a versatile spice that also happens to be an essential cooking component. People have effectively used cinnamon for ages to treat indigestion, acidity, heartburn, and nausea. Some studies have found that cinnamon is also an effective remedy for bloating, encouraging intestinal motility, and can also help in faster digestion. An appropriate dosage of cinnamon to reduce the effects of nausea comprises one cinnamon stick added to eight ounces of boiling water. 

However, people prone to low blood pressure and those consuming blood thinners shouldn’t take cinnamon or any supplements. Consuming the spice or its supplement may result in major bleeding issues. You should also not consume them if you are about to have surgery, including a dental procedure, as it will also increase the rate of blood loss. People with diabetes must also avoid taking cinnamon and its supplements, or should only take them after consulting a doctor, as it can lower blood sugar.

5. Drink Lots of Water and Stay Hydrated

Heatstroke and heat exhaustion can be reasons for nausea and vomiting. So, staying hydrated and drinking clear, ice-cold beverages. In such heat, it is best and the simplest to relieve and avoid nausea altogether, in such heat. If drinking or taking large mouthfuls is triggering nausea for you, try drinking water or peppermint tea in smaller sips. Lemon juice or similar lemon-based drinks can also provide anti-nausea effects. Lemons contain digestion-friendly citric acid in them, which can help soothe your stomach.

6. Smell Lemon Slices

It is common to find that citrusy odours like that of a freshly sliced lemon can bring about anti-nausea effects, especially to those experiencing motion sickness, pregnant women. The citrus is why lemon slices are one of the most popular natural remedies to relieve nausea. 

One study conducted with hundred pregnant women has successfully proved that smelling lemon slices can provide relief from nausea. This four-day study asked half of the women to smell almond oil placebo and the other half to smell lemon slices whenever they felt nauseous. After completing the four days of observation, they found that the group of pregnant women smelling lemons had 9% lower nausea than the other group. 

Simply scratching a lemon and smelling it may also be as effective as smelling a slice of lemon, as this will help release the essential oils into the air. Lemon essential oil vials are readily available in the market. Buying one can help you relieve nausea when you are away from your home and have no choice of getting a lemon immediately.

7. Take Controlled Breathes

Sometimes taking controlled breaths will help you get relief from the nauseous sensation. When other remedies are not available, this is one of the most beneficial natural remedies to relieve nausea. A study instructed participants to inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth thrice, very slowly, while exposed to different scents. These scents are supposed to provide anti-nausea effects too. All of the study participants reported decreased nausea no matter the scent. Finally, the researchers suspected that controlled breathing may have been a reason that provided the relief. 

A study conducted separately with aromatherapy, and controlled breathing found that both can act as natural remedies to relieve nausea. With controlled breathing, 62% of the patients had reduced nausea. In this experiment, they made the participants inhale through their nose to a count of three and then hold their breath for three seconds and then exhale through the nose to a count of three. This process is how participants practised controlled breathing. 

8. Use of Acupuncture or Acupressure

The methods of acupuncture and acupressure are one of the best natural remedies to relieve nausea. The Chinese traditionally used these two techniques to treat and cure nausea and vomiting, and the methods remain relevant today also.

In acupuncture, they insert thin needles into multiple precise points in our bodies, using pressure instead of needles. In acupressure, as the name suggests, they apply pressure to the points instead of using needles. These points are nerve fibres that transmit signals directly to our brain and spinal cord. Studies have proven that such simulation of the nerve fibres can decrease nausea. 

Some researchers have found that acupuncture and acupressure can reduce people’s chances of developing nausea by 28- 75% after an operation. In addition, some other studies have confirmed that these two techniques are as effective as anti-nausea medications and pills. Similarly, some studies have found that these techniques can reduce the risk of nausea after chemotherapy. Finally, some others have successfully proved that acupuncture and acupressure can reduce nausea during pregnancy too.

9. Try Progressive Muscle Relaxation

A few research studies have found that progressive muscle relaxation has helped reduce nausea amongst cancer patients after chemotherapy. However, to perform the technique at home and use it as a natural remedy to relieve nausea, you must repeatedly tense and relax your muscles to achieve physical and mental relaxation.

Just relaxing your muscles using massages can also help relieve nausea. For example, a study found that chemotherapy patients’ continuous 20-minute massage on the lower arm or lower leg reduced their nausea. 

10. Try Cumin Extract

Like cinnamon, cumin seeds are another spice that can help reduce nausea. Cumin seed extracts help improve symptoms of constipation, nausea, and diarrhoea. Jeera water or cumin water is only one of the most effective natural remedies to relieve vomiting. It is also a popular digestive remedy used in our country for decades. Simmer cumin seeds in water for five minutes. All their nutrients and flavour will get extracted. Boil the water until these seeds swell. Once that is done, let it cool to room temperature, strain out the seeds, and sip.

After understanding the causes and remedies, we can safely say that nausea is nothing but the body’s protective mechanism against unnecessary ingestions. Before visiting a doctor, simple home remedies can help relieve the issue. Unless there are severe underlying medical concerns, you should avoid relying on medications.

Summary

Nausea can be an uncomfortable issue that may make you feel sick and disrupt your diet and even general life activities. The causes of nausea can either be simple or serious ones. It can occur due to motion or sea sickness, illness, food poisoning, effects of surgery or chemotherapy, etc. you can, however, find relief from nausea by adopting and using any of the above-mentioned natural remedies to relieve nausea. If you feel like it is severe or if you notice that your nausea is not going away, even after trying all the remedies for a prolonged time, you must consult a doctor and get it checked. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. What is nausea a common symptom of?

A. The two most common issues that show nausea as a symptom are stomach flu and food poisoning. Some medications can cause nausea too. Women can also feel nausea when pregnant, especially during the first trimester.  

Q. What relieves nausea quickly?

A. There are several natural and quick remedies to relieve nausea, like smelling lemon slices, consuming ginger, cinnamon, cumin seeds, etc. Some anti-nausea pills and prescribed medications can also help ease nausea fast.  

Q. What causes nausea without vomiting?

A. Several conditions like stress, anxiety, infections, allergies, etc., can cause nausea without vomiting. In addition, abdominal pain, dislike of some food items, headaches, etc., can sometimes cause nausea without vomiting.  

Q. Is nausea the same as vomiting?

A. No, nausea and vomiting are not the same things. Nausea is the urge to vomit, the feeling you get before vomiting. All nausea may not lead to vomiting. Sometimes even after purging, one can still experience nausea.  

Q. Does anxiety cause nausea?

A. Yes, anxiety is a common cause of nausea. When you are feeling very anxious, you might feel a bit queasy. You can control this feeling by taking deep, controlled breaths and sipping water slowly. Similarly, yoga practice for half an hour a day can reduce anxiety and improve sleep patterns.  

Q. Is ginger ale good for nausea?

A. While ginger root is good for nausea, the same is not the case with ginger ale. Ginger ale can even make your nausea worse. Also, it can make you dehydrated further. Therefore, you must stick to naturalised forms of ginger.  

Q. Does lemon help with nausea?

A. Yes, lemon is one of the best natural remedies to relieve nausea. Lemons have neutralising acids that can form bicarbonates which, in turn, can give you relief from nausea. In addition, it aids digestion and soothes the stomach. Try adding 1 tbsp of lemon juice and a pinch of Himalayan salt to the water and drink to get immediate relief from nausea.  

Q. How can I stop feeling dizzy and nauseous?

A. You will have to take necessary natural remedies or medications to stop feeling dizzy and nauseous. There are several medications and natural treatments to relieve nausea and dizziness. For example, eating smaller meals, keeping ginger or peppermint handy, and keeping yourself hydrated are simple tools to keep nausea in check.  

Q. What should you eat when you are feeling nauseous?

A. Some of the food items that you can consume to get some relief from nausea are ginger, cinnamon, cumin seeds, peppermint, etc. All of these are very effective cures to the issue. You can also sip water slowly and keep yourself hydrated with natural drinks.  

Q. What can I take for nausea with COVID-19?

A. Nausea is a common symptom of Covid-19. You should constantly sip lukewarm water or herbal tea to help get some relief from nausea with Covid-19. Also, if the condition persists, you may ask your physician to prescribe medication for the same. Some experience indigestion and gas after COVID- 19. Therefore, keeping your diet simple and wholesome and resting will help you get your digestion back on track post-recovery from the illness.