How to Treat Nausea — Naturally

Nobody likes being nauseous. It’s one of the most uncomfortable feelings that one can experience, and its causes and solutions are not always easy to determine. In fact, we’re willing to bet that even thinking of that queasy feeling is making you feel a bit nauseous. That is if you weren’t already feeling it, to begin with. Luckily, we have come up with a list of some natural remedies to help relieve that queasiness and prevent its return in the future. 

Nausea is often associated with acid reflux and overeating; nausea can also occur during pregnancy, with motion sickness, or as a side effect of other medical disorders, common illnesses, or medication.

Before we continue, note that there are many anti-nausea medications on the market. And most of them work quite well. Some are even designed to help with severe or persistent nausea. Nevertheless, if you only experience nausea occasionally, or if your nausea is mild, the home remedies below have been proven to help relieve your symptoms naturally. 

Some of the easiest ways to treat nausea involve small lifestyle changes. Nausea can be caused by eating too much, thereby stretching the stomach and giving yourself bloating, heartburn, or other such maladies. You can avoid this by eating smaller, less frequent meals and avoiding strong flavors or spicy foods. Bland foods like white bread, rice, applesauce, and bananas can help stave off that queasy feeling as well. 

Remaining hydrated is also a good way to keep a number of ailments at bay, including nausea. And while it may be hard to eat or drink anything when you’re nauseous, dehydration only makes things worse. This is particularly important if your nausea is the result of overheating. That little bit of cool water can help lower blood pressure, calm your stomach, and provide much needed hydration; just remember to drink it slowly. 

Many of the home remedies mentioned here have been used for centuries to treat a number of ailments. They are organic and readily available. Most of them can be found at your local supermarket, pharmacy, or health food store. 

Ginger is one of the most effective anti-inflammatory home remedies and it’s been used to treat everything from nausea to osteoarthritis. It can help ease morning sickness, enhance brain function, reduce menstrual pain, and may even lower cholesterol. It’s a rhizome of a 1,001 uses. 

According to Daniel Devine, MD, an internal medicine doctor and geriatrician at Devine Concierge Medicine, ginger works to treat nausea because of its many anti-inflammatory properties, which can support digestion and supposedly speed up the process of stomach contents moving into the small intestine, thus reducing the symptoms of nausea. 

Ginger can be taken whole, pickled, or as a supplement.  You can use powdered ginger in your tea or include it as a spice to season meals. Stores even sell candied ginger that can be eaten on-the-go to decrease motion or morning sickness.

Peppermint is another traditional remedy for nausea, though the scientific evidence regarding its effectiveness isn’t as clear-cut as it is for ginger. Nevertheless, many people swear by it. This is because menthol, the main ingredient in peppermint, is believed to relax the stomach, thereby alleviating nausea, cramping, excess gas, and other such discomforts. 

There have even been studies that explored the mere scent of peppermint oil. These studies found that just the smell of the peppermint was enough to calm queasiness. Peppermint tea, essential oils, and even some peppermint mints can help quell nausea quite well. Note, however, that if the nausea is accompanied by vomiting, the peppermint is likely to be ineffective against it. 

If you’re starting to feel nauseous, fight the urge to lay down. Lying flat while nauseous can lead to vomiting. Sitting upright works much better at calming the stomach because gravity helps keep the stomach contents down. Lying flat will only give them a chance to regurgitate. If you have to lie down, try to keep your head propped up. That way your stomach is still well below your esophagus, not in line with it. 

If your nausea is associated with frequent episodes of vomiting or if you have chest pain, you should see a doctor. The same holds true if your nausea comes in tandem with dark stools or vomit, or if it persists for more than a couple of days. This could be the result of something serious or a chronic condition, and it should definitely be seen by a medical professional.  

If you’re pregnant and suffering from nausea, hang in there. This is a common occurrence for some pregnant people, and many of the remedies described above will be effective in quelling it. If it comes along with other symptoms or you feel concerned about the length of the nauseous feeling, don’t be afraid to give your doctor a call.