6 home remedies to get rid of nausea

Nausea is the feelings of queasiness often with the urge to vomit. Nausea symptoms include sweating, a rush of saliva in the mouth, fatigue, and loss of appetite.

This article published in Insider's health reference which is medically reviewed by Jason R McKnight, MD, MS, a family medicine physician and clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M College of Medicine.

According to studies, nausea often associated with acid reflux and over-eating while it can also occur during pregnancy, with motion sickness, or as a side effect of other medical disorders or common illnesses.

There are many anti-nausea medications that can help with severe or persistent nausea while there are also a number of effective home remedies that can help relieve the symptoms naturally. 

Use ginger

Ginger is one of the best natural remedies for nausea, says Daniel Devine, MD, internal medicine doctor and geriatrician at Devine Concierge Medicine, a primary care practice in Philadelphia.

That's because ginger has anti-inflammatory properties, which can support digestion, and its compounds are also thought to speed up the process of stomach contents moving into the small intestine, which can reduce symptoms of nausea.

Ginger can be taken as a supplement, sold as capsules. You can also add pieces of whole, fresh ginger to tea, or include it as a spice or seasoning in your food.

Try peppermint

Peppermint has long been regarded as a traditional remedy for nausea, though the scientific evidence on its efficacy is not as robust as it is for ginger, Devine says.

The main ingredient in peppermint, menthol, is thought to relax the stomach, which can alleviate cramping and nausea. However, if someone experiences both nausea and vomiting, peppermint may not be very effective, since it is primarily used to treat nausea — and not episodes of vomiting.

Peppermint can be taken as a tea or diffuse peppermint essential oil for aromatherapy by adding two to three drops of peppermint oil to a diffuser filled with water.

Eat smaller, bland meals

Eating too much can also cause nausea, according to Devine. Because when someone eats too much, it stretches the stomach, resulting in bloating, heartburn, and excessive digestive movement — all of which can lead to nausea. 

Eating small, frequent meals and consuming a bland diet without strong flavors can be helpful in reducing episodes of nausea, Devine says. Bland foods are easy to digest and can help settle your stomach. Bland foods that can help with nausea include: White bread or toast, Plain chicken, Rice, Applesauce, Soup, Bananas, Saltine crackers.

If queasy feeling is there, people should avoid spicy food and acidic beverages like soda, juice, or alcohol — all of which can exacerbate nausea symptoms.

Stay hydrated

It is difficult to eat or drink anything when you have nausea including water but according to Devine, dehydration will only make your nausea worse.

This can be especially important if someone is experiencing nausea as a result of extreme heat or humidity. In fact, nausea and vomiting are some of the main symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Overheating can cause blood vessels to dilate as your body tries to cool itself down — and this change in blood pressure can manifest as nausea or dizziness. But drinking lots of water and stay hydrated will help to cool down and return to a normal body temperature.

Sit upright or lie down with your head propped

When someone feels queasy, he or she might be tempted to lay down, but this actually isn't the best idea. Lying flat while nauseous could lead to vomiting, Devine said.

"It is important to use gravity to your advantage and keep your head inclined above your stomach," Devine added.

By staying upright, gravity helps keep your stomach contents down. Sitting down in an upright position — or lying down with your head propped up on a couple pillows — is the best choice if someone hopes to relieve nausea.

Practice acupressure

Acupressure is an alternative medicine practice of applying pressure to certain points on the body, known as meridians. The idea is that by putting pressure on these places, you send a message to the body to turn on its self-healing mechanisms, which may alleviate pain or nausea.

A 2006 review of more than 40 trials published in the journal Autonomic Neuroscience found that acupressure can reduce some symptoms of nausea. Here's how to locate P6 and use this pressure point:

P6 nei guan pressure point acupressure: Locate P6 under the wrist.

Crystal Cox/Insider: To access the P6 point, extend the arm out with the palm facing you. Place three fingers (pointer, middle and ring) from the opposite hand right under the wrist.  Put the thumb in the spot just below the index finger. If you feel two large tendons, or bumps on your skin, then you have identified the P6 spot. Once you locate P6, slowly apply pressure to this point with the opposite thumb.  Press firmly on the point for two to three minutes, while moving your thumb in a small circle. Don't press so hard that feel severe pain, but there will be a dull ache. Repeat this on the other wrist.

When to visit a doctor:

If nausea is associated with frequent episodes of vomiting, chest pain, or comes with dark stools or dark vomit then a visit to the doctor is needed, Devine says.

And if nausea persists for more than a couple days, or if the symptoms are quickly worsening, that could also be a sign that something more serious is going on.

For example, conditions like pancreatitis, bowel obstructions, or even a heart attack can cause nausea and will require medical attention.

Some people are also more prone to nausea due to certain conditions. These include:

Pregnancy. This often occurs during the first trimester, due to a surge in the hormone progesterone, which can affect digestion and cause increased nausea and vomiting.

A long history of diabetes. This can lead to gastroparesis, which is a condition where the stomach has difficulty emptying out, and can cause persistent nausea.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). This occurs when acid from your stomach regularly comes back up into your esophagus. Common symptoms include heartburn, nausea, and vomiting. Learn more about the best home remedies for acid reflux.