How to Get Rid of Nausea: Top 18 Ways to Find Relief (2024)

Nausea is a queasy feeling in your stomach that makes you feel like vomiting. Many things can cause nausea, and the solution may depend on the cause.

Over-the-counter (OTC), prescription-strength medicines, and other treatments andhome remediesmay help. Quite a few self-care methods may also provide relief from nausea.

Sit Up Straight and Take Pressure Off Your Tummy

Sit upright for at least an hour after eating. Sitting scrunched up puts pressure on your stomach, and lying down too soon makes it harder to digest. If you must go to bed after eating, lying on your left side can reduce the chances of heartburn and indigestion.

Open a Window or Use a Fan

Sometimes, being in a stuffy room can increase nausea. Use a fan, open a window, or go outside for fresh air.

Apply a Cold Compress

Research suggests that applying an ice pack to the back of the upper neck for 5 minutes can help relieve nausea.

Use Acupressure

Acupressure involves putting manual pressure on certain places in the body (acupoints) to relax muscles and improve blood flow. The pressure point for nausea is on the inner arm near the wrist. Place the first three fingers of one hand across the other just below the bend of your wrist and your thumb below the index finger. Press down until you feel two tendons. The spot between them is pressure point 6 (P-6). Press firmly, move your thumb in a circle for 2-3 minutes and repeat.

Try Sea Bands

Sea bands are acupressure bands you wear around your wrists. There's a hard plastic stud that you position on P-6. Acupressure bands can reduce chemotherapy- and radiation-related nausea. They're low-cost, non-intrusive, and safe to try.

Explore Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation techniques such as meditation (getting to a focused, relaxed mental state), guided imagery (creating positive images in the mind), and progressive muscle relaxation (tensing and relaxing the muscles) can help ease nausea and vomiting.

Utilize Deep Breathing Techniques

Deep breathing techniques can help decrease nausea and vomiting. When nausea hits, try to relax and take slow, deep breaths. Here's how to practice diaphragmatic breathing:

1. Sit in a comfortable position with eyes closed
2. Place one hand on your chest and one on your abdomen
3. Inhalethrough your nosefor about 4 seconds, feeling your abdomen expand
4. Hold your breath for 2 seconds
5. Exhale very slowly and steadilythrough your mouthfor about 6 seconds
6. Do this for 5-15 minutes
   

Shift Your Focus

Try to distract yourself from the nausea by watching TV, reading a book, listening to music, playing a game, or chatting with a friend—whatever it takes to shift your focus.

Maintain Hydration

Drink 8-10 cups of clear liquids a day. Water is the best way to stay hydrated, but other good choices are:

• Fruit juices
• Flat soft drinks
• Sports drinks (especially if you're throwing up)
• Ice chips

You can also get liquids from clear soups, popsicles, and gelatin. Avoid drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine.

Avoid Carbonated Beverages

Carbonated drinks contain carbon dioxide gas, which studies show can contribute to a feeling of fullness, bloating, and nausea. They are also often high in sugar and caffeine, which can make nausea worse.

Eat Small, Bland Meals

Instead of three large meals, try eating smaller amounts more often. If your nausea worsens with strong smells, avoid hot foods that produce a stronger scent. Choose cold or room-temperature foods. Avoid fatty, greasy, fried, spicy, and sugary foods.

Examples of bland foods are:

• Crackers, English muffins, toast
• Dry cereal, oatmeal
• Backed chicken and fish
• Potatoes, noodles, and rice

Drink Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is a digestive relaxant that can help treat gastrointestinal disturbances such as:

• Indigestion
• Diarrhea
• Motion sickness
• Flatulence (farting)
• Nausea
• Vomiting

A cup of chamomile tea may help soothe, relax, and ease that sick feeling.

Add Lemon

Some research suggests the scent of lemon can help reduce pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting. Adding a little lemon to a cup of tea might help settle your stomach.

Take Advantage of Ginger

Research suggests that ginger is an effective and safe treatment for nausea. You can have fresh, dried, pickled, preserved, crystallized, candied, powdered, or ground. It comes in candies, teas, capsules, tablets, tinctures, and liquid extracts. Don't take more than 4 grams of ginger daily or 1 gram if pregnant. Ginger is generally safe for children over age 2.

Try Peppermint

Active compounds in peppermint, such as menthol and menthone, help relax digestive muscles, which can ease nausea. Research suggests that peppermint oil aromatherapy may help reduce post-operative nausea. You can inhale peppermint oil, rub it on your skin, or put it in a cold cloth on your head.

A study on cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy found that one drop of peppermint oil applied between the upper lip and nose (philtrum) three times a day for five days helps reduce the frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting.

Peppermint oil appears safe orally, though nausea is a possible side effect. You can also take peppermint capsules or drink peppermint tea.

Take Vitamin B6 Supplements

Vitamin B6 has anti-nausea properties and is more effective than ginger when taken for 60 days or more. Experts recommend taking 10–25 milligrams three or four times daily to treat nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. It's best to check with a healthcare provider first.

Explore CBD Oil

CBD (cannabidiol) has been found to ease the side effects of chemotherapy, including nausea and vomiting. Prescription products to treat nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy include Marinol, Syndros (dronabinol), and Cesamet (nabilone).

The amount of CBD oil in OTC products may not be clear on the label. Some CBD products may also contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the compound that can produce a "high." These products can have unintended side effects or interact with medications. There are no clear dosing guidelines. Speak to a pharmacist or a healthcare provider about the best CBD products.

Take OTC Medications

The treatments for nausea and vomiting are anti-nausea and vomiting medicines (anti-emetics). OTC anti-nausea medicines include:

• Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate (bismuth subsalicylate): For ages 12 and older
• Dramamine (dimenhydrinate): For ages 2 and older to prevent motion sickness
• Antivert, Bonine, Dramamine-Less Drowsy, Verticalm, Zentrip (meclizine): For ages 2 and older to prevent motion sickness
• Benadryl, Aler-Dryl, Diphenhist, Nytol, PediaCare Children's Allergy (diphenhydramine): To prevent and treat motion sickness
• Emetrol (sodium citrate dihydrate): For adults to relieve nausea associated with upset/sour stomach

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

A little nausea now and then isn't usually cause for concern. Consult with a healthcare provider if you or your child have unexplained nausea for more than 48 hours and:

• Can't keep food or liquid down
• Vomiting three or more times in one day
• Feeling weak
• Fever
• Stomach pain
• Not urinating

Summary

Nausea is that sick feeling in your stomach that makes you feel like throwing up. There are many approaches to getting rid of nausea. It's worth trying simple things like sitting up straight, getting fresh air, or enjoying ginger tea with lemon. Some OTC medicines might do the trick if these and other self-care methods don't work. If you often have unexplained nausea, see a healthcare provider. Once you understand the cause, you can take steps to treat and prevent nausea.