11 NATURAL REMEDIES FOR NAUSEA

Nausea is something most people are familiar with. It is never pleasant and can arise in a variety of situations, including pregnancy and travel.

Anti-nausea medications are commonly used to help relieve it. Unfortunately, such medications can have negative side effects of their own, including drowsiness.

1. Eat Ginger

Ginger is a popular natural remedy commonly used to treat nausea.

The way it works is not yet fully understood. However, experts believe that compounds in ginger may work in a similar way to anti-nausea medications.

In fact, several studies agree that ginger is effective at reducing nausea in various situations.

For instance, consuming ginger may be an effective way to reduce nausea during pregnancy. 

Ginger may also be effective at reducing the nausea people commonly experience after chemotherapy treatment or an operation.

Some studies even report ginger to be as effective as some prescription medications, with fewer negative side effects.

There is no consensus regarding the most effective dosage, but most of the studies above provided participants with 0.5 to 1.5 grams of dried ginger root per day.

Ginger use is safe for most people. However, you may need to limit your ginger intake if you’re prone to low blood pressure or low blood sugar, or if you’re taking blood thinners.

While there are only a small number of studies on ginger, the ones performed on healthy pregnant women report a low risk of side effects. Thus, most experts consider ginger to be a safe, effective remedy during pregnancy.

2. Try Acupuncture or Acupressure

Acupuncture and acupressure are two techniques commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat nausea and vomiting.

During acupuncture, thin needles are inserted into specific points on the body. Acupressure aims to stimulate the same points of the body, but uses pressure instead of needles to do so.

Both techniques stimulate nerve fibers, which transmit signals to the brain and spinal cord. These signals are thought to have the ability to decrease nausea.

For instance, two recent reviews report that acupuncture and acupressure reduce the risk of developing nausea after an operation by 28–75%.

What’s more, studies show that both forms are as effective as anti-nausea medications at reducing symptoms, with virtually no negative side effects.

Similarly, two other reviews report that acupressure lowers the severity of nausea and the risk of developing it after chemotherapy.

There is also some evidence that acupuncture may reduce nausea during pregnancy, but more research is needed on this.

You can stimulate this nerve on your own simply by placing your thumb 2–3 finger widths down from your inner wrist, between the two prominent tendons.

Once you’ve located it, press down with your thumb for about one minute before repeating the same procedure on your other arm. Repeat if needed.

3. Slice a Lemon

Citrusy smells, such as those from a freshly sliced lemon may help reduce nausea.

Slicing a lemon or simply scratching its peel may work in a similar way because it helps release its essential oils into the air. A vial of lemon essential oil may be a practical alternative to use when you’re away from home.

4. Use Certain Spices

Several siceare popular home remedies often recommended to combat nausea.

Most of these spices are supported solely by anecdotal evidence. However, the nausea-fighting power of these three spices is backed by some scientific evidence:

• Fennel powder: May reduce menstrual symptoms, including nausea, and help women experience shorter periods.
• Cinnamon: May reduce the severity of nausea that women experience during menstruation.
• Cumin extract: May help improve symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, constipation and diarrhea in individuals suffering from irritable bowel syndrome 

Although these three spices may help relieve nausea in certain individuals.

6. Take a Vitamin B6 Supplement

Vitamin B6 is increasingly recommended as an alternative treatment for pregnant women preferring to avoid anti-nausea medications.

Several studies report that supplements of vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, successfully reduce nausea during pregnancy.

For this reason, several experts suggest taking vitamin B6 supplements during pregnancy as a first-line treatment against mild nausea.

Vitamin B6 doses up to 200 mg per day are generally considered safe during pregnancy and produce virtually no side effects. Therefore, this alternative therapy may be worth a try.

Nevertheless, there haven’t been very many studies on this topic, and some report no effects.

Additional tips to reduce Nausea

In addition to the tips above, a few other recommendations may decrease the likelihood of nausea or help relieve its symptoms. The most common include.

7. Avoid spicy or fatty foods: A blander diet made up of foods such as bananas,  rice, applesauce, crackers or baked potatoes may relieve nausea and decrease the likelihood of an upset stomach.

8. Stay hydrated: Dehydration can worsen nausea. If your nausea is accompanied by vomiting, replace your lost fluids with electrolyte-rich fluids such as flat mineral water, vegetable broth or a sports drink.

9. Avoid strong smells: These may worsen nausea, especially during pregnancy.
10. Avoid iron supplements: Pregnant women with normal iron levels should avoid taking iron supplements during the first trimester because they may worsen feelings of nausea.
11. Exercise: Aerobic exercise and yoga may be particularly helpful ways to reduce nausea in some individuals.