The Best Home Remedies for Nausea
Feeling queasy? Whether it's motion sickness, the side effect of a medication or the dreaded flu, these kitchen cabinet cures may provide relief.
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Crackers
Crackers are among the tried-and-true home remedies for nausea. Eat a couple of plain, salted crackers or a rice cake (particularly if your stomach is empty) to relieve an upset stomach. Although the science is out on why crackers are so effective, it could be the fact that they’re bland, or that salt helps suppress nausea. Plus, they raise your blood sugar slightly—itself a solution.
Ginger
The next time you’re feeling nauseous, chew a piece of ginger candy. When it comes to motion sickness, numerous clinical studies find ginger even more effective in curing nausea than Dramamine. It appears to work by blocking receptors in the gut for 5-HT, a form of serotonin, which is responsible for smooth muscle contractions.
Did you know that ginger is also a an effective home remedy for indigestion?
Apply wrist pressure
Wear wrist-pressure bands like Sea-Band on each wrist. If you don’t have them when you need them, press the thumb of one hand against the inside of the wrist just below the crease of the wrist between the tendons there and hold firmly for 10 seconds. Release, then repeat on the other side. Continue until the nausea abates. The wristbands put pressure on the acupuncture point P6. A study of 301 patients found acupressure wristbands worked as well as prescription medication in relieving nausea after surgery. Even if you’re receiving acupuncture for your nausea, you might want to try these bands for relief between visits. The bands are also a better option for pregnant women than acupuncture.
Here are 30 more old-time home remedies that actually work.
Essential oils (or maybe just deep breathing!)
If you’re still nauseous, put several drops of peppermint, grapefruit or spearmint essential oil on a tissue, hold it close to your nose and breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth until your nausea abates. The scent of the natural oils is believed to relieve nausea and it’s likely the deep breathing helps too. One study had post-surgical patients sniff peppermint oil, rubbing alcohol or salt water to treat nausea. All improved, leading researchers to speculate that the act of deep breathing might have been what helped.
Here’s what can happen if you start meditating every day.
Switch seats
If you’re prone to motion sickness, sit in the front seat of a moving vehicle. If you’re on a boat, stand or sit (don’t lie down) and focus on the horizon, which allows your eyes to suppress signals from your inner ear that could lead to nausea.
Here’s what really causes motion sickness (and how to prevent it).
Herbal tea
Follow this recipe to make a tea that’s one of the most powerful home remedies for nausea: mix 1 teaspoon (5 milligrams) chamomile, ½ teaspoon peppermint (2.5 milligrams), 1 teaspoon (5 milligrams) catnip, 1 teaspoon basil (5 milligrams), 2 crushed fennel seeds, and ½ teaspoon (2.5 milligrams) marjoram. If you don’t have catnip or marjoram, substitute one of the others in the same amount. Steep in 6 to 8 ounces (200 millilitres) of boiling water for 10 minutes. Strain and drink. This mixture contains carminative herbs that aid digestion and antispasmodic herbs that decrease muscle spasms.
Here are eight healing plants you can grow at home.
Vitamin B6
If you’re experiencing nausea on account of morning sickness, vitamin B6 may help break down hormones believed to play a role in causing it. Consider a taking a B6 supplement, and for best results, combine with ginger. As always, discuss supplementation with your doctor in advance to avoid any potential interaction with previously-prescribed medication.
Now that you know these home remedies for nausea, find out eight science-backed ways to boost your immune system.
