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When nausea strikes, it’s hard to focus on anything other than treatment. Not only does nausea usually mean you’re on the verge of vomiting, but it can also be accompanied by unpleasant symptoms like dizziness and lightheadedness, making you feel even worse. There are several different reasons you might feel nauseous, from pregnancy to motion sickness, but thankfully there are just as many natural remedies — many of which you can try from the comfort of your own home. If you don’t have the time or energy to get to the doctor right away, here are a few natural remedies for nausea to try instead.
Although every person is different, natural nausea remedies can help you avoid the side effects of anti-nausea medication, which may include drowsiness, headache, and constipation. Plus, you can make natural nausea remedies using items you probably already have at home, such as fruits and spices. Ahead, experts explain how to get rid of nausea naturally, featuring six natural nausea remedies to help get you started.
Experts Featured in This Article:
Alexa Mieses Malchuk, MD, MPH, is a primary care physician and district medical director at One Medical.
Tamika Henry, MD, MBA, is a functional medicine practitioner and the founder of Unlimited Health Institute.
Natural Remedies For Nausea
It’s no secret that nausea can make you feel pretty awful. Thankfully, these natural remedies have the potential to get you back up and running without the use of anti-nausea medications (although those may also work best for some people). If you’re interested in going the natural route, here are some expert-approved strategies to try. As always, make sure to check with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatments. If your nausea persists, worsens, or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms, make sure to speak with a doctor for the best personalized medical advice.
- Smelling Lemon: Lemon can definitely improve nausea for some people, says Alexa Mieses Malchuk, MD, MPH. The theory is that inhaling aromatic substances (like lemon essential oils if you don’t have an actual lemon handy), sends signals to the region of the brain related to memory, emotions, hormones, and heart rate, Dr. Malchuk says. “These neurological messages get sent almost instantaneously and may contribute to [a] hormone release that causes a calm state.” From there, your brain basically gets distracted, explains Tamika Henry, MD, MBA. Ultimately, though, research is still limited. “There are a limited number of inhalation aromatherapy studies with the use of lemons for nausea and vomiting,” Dr. Henry says. “Because there are a limited number of studies in the field of aromatherapy as it relates to nausea and vomiting, more research in this field is required.” That said, there’s no harm in giving it a try. In fact, one 2014 study showed that lemon oil worked better than a placebo for nausea during pregnancy.
- Eating Ginger: Lemon is not the only scent that may relieve nausea. “Consuming ginger extract or ginger root has been found to reduce nausea and settle your stomach,” says Dr. Malchuk. For this reason, ginger may serve as a treatment for morning sickness, and can even help people undergoing chemotherapy, Dr. Malchuk says. “You can cook with ginger root, or consume it in a supplement, tea, or other beverages — even in candy/lozenge form (as long as it contains pure ginger extract),” she adds.
- Using Peppermint Oil: Smelling peppermint oil may also help you feel less nauseous. One study of 100 people found that peppermint essential oil significantly improved nausea. It has also been shown to reduce nausea in chemotherapy patients, as well as in pregnant people.
- Acupuncture and Acupressure: Acupuncture and acupressure are both forms of traditional Chinese medicine that may help with nausea. Acupuncture is done by inserting fine needles into the skin and “works in a complex way that likely impacts the stomach by decreasing stomach acid secretion, as well as releasing hormones that impact the part of the brain responsible for nausea,” says Dr. Malchuk. Acupressure, on the other hand, is a massage that uses acupoints (points of pressure), to help muscles relax, increase blood flow, and decrease feelings of nausea and vomiting, per the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
- Cold Compress or Cold Air: Sometimes less is more when it comes to addressing nausea. Applying a cold compress or getting some cool air may help reduce feelings of motion sickness or nausea. That’s because when you feel nauseous, it may be a sign that your body is trying to thermoregulate. Grabbing a cold compress or some air can help you do just that.
- Meditation and Deep Breathing: Mindfulness can help you work through nausea, especially if it’s triggered by anxiety. Meditation has been shown to decrease anxiety and some simple breathwork can also work wonders. “Some speculate that breathing more slowly leads to relatively higher levels of CO2 (carbon dioxide), which can calm the brain and decrease nausea (normally, we expel CO2 with exhalation),” explains Dr. Malchuk. All it takes is a comfortable space and a few minutes of your time.
— Additional reporting by Chandler Plante
Emily Shiffer is a freelance writer living in Pennsylvania. She is a former online staffer at Men’s Health who currently writes about the latest health and wellness trends for POPSUGAR.
Chandler Plante is an assistant editor for PS Health and Fitness. She has over four years of professional journalism experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributing to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group. In her free time, she enjoys finding new ways to rock her 18(!) different eye patches, and making videos about chronic illness, beauty, and disability.
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