Every person has experienced nausea at one time or another in their life. Nausea is the general term used to refer an uneasy stomach. It may or may not be accompanied by the urge to vomit. In this article, we shall see different home remedies for nausea.
Causes of Nausea
Nausea in itself is not a disease. It is usually a symptom that indicates a bigger problem. Some common reasons you may be experiencing nausea are:
- Motion sickness
- Stomach flu or food poisoning.
- High or low blood pressure.
- Dehydration
- Acid Reflux
- Vertigo
- Hangover, due to excessive alcohol intake.
- Migraines or headaches.
In other cases, it can be triggered by morning sickness during pregnancy, or as a side effect of a concussion, a heart attack or some types of cancer and chemotherapy.
Symptoms of Nausea
The feeling of nausea can be difficult for people to describe in exact words. However, the most common signs associated with nausea are:
- An uncomfortable feeling in the back of the throat.
- Distaste for food
- A sudden urge to vomit.
- Dry retching
- Breaking out in a cold sweat.
Home Remedies for Nausea:
1. Ginger to Treat Nausea
This is a classic among home remedies for nausea. Using ginger can be considered amongst the oldest and surest ways to treat nausea. This rhizome promotes the secretion of various helpful enzymes that work to neutralize overactive stomach acid. Use fresh ginger root to combat nausea and obtain the best results. The easiest way to harness ginger is to brew it into a tea.
- You will need one 2 inch piece of ginger root, along with 2-3 cups of water. A peeler, a sharp knife, and a cutting board as well.
- Wash and peel the 2 inch piece of ginger root. Slice it into small pieces. Using the flat side of the knife, crush it to release more juices.
- While you do this, bring the water to a boil. Once it starts to boil, add the cut and crushed ginger. Let it simmer for 5-7 minutes.
- Now, remove from heat. If you are not comfortable with the pieces of ginger, you can strain it into a mug.
- Add a dash of honey to sweeten it to your taste. Sip on this hot brew slowly and feel the nausea slip away.
2. Peppermint to Calm Nausea
This herb contains natural anesthetic properties that work to calm and numb the stomach lining. This helps to cure nausea. Peppermint works by relaxing your stomach muscles so that the bile can do its job and break down fats and food faster.
- Make yourself some peppermint tea to get rid of nausea. Place one cup of water to boil. Once it starts to boil, add 1-1½ teaspoon of dried peppermint leaves.
- Bring it off the heat and let it infuse for 7-10 minutes. Strain and drink. Optionally, you can add honey for flavor.
Note: Keep in mind if the nausea is a side effect of acid reflux, peppermint could serve to irritate the bowels further.
3. Treat Nausea with Lemon & Honey
This treatment is one of the classic home remedies for nausea. The astringent properties in a lemon work to clear the toxin levels in the system. Honey acts as an excellent carrier for the lemon juice. In addition, the antibacterial properties of honey help to soothe irritation in the gastric system that may be causing nausea.
- Mix together 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of mint with a little honey. Eat this thrice a day, when you feel nauseous.
- Alternatively, mix together 1 teaspoon each of mint juice and lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of honey and ½ teaspoon of ginger juice. Prepare and eat this mixture twice or thrice in a day.
4. Cool Compress to Relieve Nausea
Sometimes, in the midst of a bout of nausea, you may break into a cold sweat. This is because your body is attempting to ward off the nauseous feeling by cooling your outer temperature. Applying a cool compress to the back of your neck can help to quell nausea.
- You will need a cool compress. This can be an ice-pack that’s been left out for a few minutes, or simply a washcloth dipped in cool water. The important thing to remember is that it should not be shockingly cold.
- Place the cool compress on the back of your neck. You may do this either while lying down or standing up.
- Leave the compress on till you feel the nausea ebb. All the while, relax your body by inhaling and exhaling deep breaths through your nose.
5. Aromatherapy to Cure Nausea
Using scents is among effective home remedies for nausea. Most nausea, especially if induced by motion sickness, can be relieved with specific scents. This aromatherapy will involve ridding scents that may be causing your nausea and replacing it with scents that provide relief instead.
- Peppermint oil has been proven to quell nausea. Simply inhaling the scent of peppermint has a calming effect on the body. Put a few drops of peppermint oil on a cotton swab and apply onto your gums. Another way is to add a few drops of this oil onto a clean cotton handkerchief and smell it whenever you feel nauseous.
- Often, just the smell of the citrus fruit can drive away nausea and calm your stomach. This is especially true for nausea induced by motion sickness. Simply cut a fresh lemon in half and position it so that you can smell it.
6. Milk and Toast to Soothe Nausea
Often when experiencing nausea, it becomes difficult to eat food. More than anything, bland foods can help to soothe your stomach and relieve nausea. Milk and toast are a classic combination in home remedies for nausea. The bread will absorb any excess stomach acid, while the milk will act as a base to neutralize the acid and coat the walls of the stomach.
- To make this remedy, you will need 1 cup of milk, a piece of toast, and some unsalted butter.
- Heat the milk well, but do not let it boil. Pour it into a bowl
- Toast a slice of bread and lightly butter it with the unsalted butter.
- Crumble the toast into the milk, and let it soak and soften. Eat this slowly.
7. Nutmeg to Ease Nausea
This is another one of the home remedies for nausea. Nutmeg is known for its potent antibacterial properties. It is an excellent natural muscle relaxant. Therefore, having a little nutmeg can help to put your stomach muscles at ease. This will allow the bile to do its job to break down the fats and food in your stomach, dispelling the nauseous feeling.
- For this, you will need 1/2 a teaspoon of organic nutmeg powder. This is easily available in any natural health store. Now add this to 1 tablespoon of honey and consume. This remedy should kick in the next 20 minutes, easing nausea.
- Alternatively, you can add the measure of nutmeg to 1-2 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt. Add a pinch of salt to taste.
- If you are still feeling nauseous, repeat this remedy after 6 hours.
Note: This method should be avoided for nausea caused by pregnancy.
8. Fennel Seeds to Cure Nausea
The use of this sweet and aromatic herb as a home remedy can be dated back to the Anglo-Saxons. This is another part of the home remedies for nausea. The anesthetic components present gives fast relief from morning sickness.
- Chew on 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds after meals. This helps in the digestion process.
- Alternatively, try some fennel tea. Add a teaspoon of crushed fennel seeds to a cup of boiling water. Let steep for 4-6 minutes. Now strain and drink. Optionally, add a few drops of fresh lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of honey for flavoring.
9. Non-Carbonated Syrup For Nausea
Often during nausea, there is an imbalance of salts and nutrients in the body. You may even feel dehydrated. This syrup is one of the good home remedies for nausea. It gives relief as its compounds help to heal your upset stomach.
- To prepare this solution, you will need ½ cup of sugar and ¼ cup of water. Mix this together in a saucepan and place over medium heat.
- Add a pinch of salt. Stir until it dissolves.
- Take it off the heat, and let it cool.
- When you are experiencing the nauseous feeling, consume 2 tablespoons of this solution.
10. B.R.A.T Diet to Relieve Nausea
This diet is helpful for people who suffer from nausea due to an upset stomach. B.R.A.T stands for Bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. The applesauce should preferably be sugarless. This set of bland foods are easy to digest and does not aggravate the digestive system. Keep in mind that this is not a long-term diet, but simply a means to reduce the possibility of vomiting. And while following this diet, stick to clear liquids like water for hydration.
Note: This particular one of the home remedies for nausea is only recommended if the nauseous person goes for 6 hours without vomiting.