Home remedies for nausea: ginger, mint and the P6 point

Nausea arrives from everywhere: a meal that was too rich, a car journey, stress, a migraine, early pregnancy. It is one of the few complaints where the position of your body matters as much as anything you swallow, which is the first thing French grandmothers dealt with.

Sit up, and stay up

Get into a semi-seated position, torso raised to about 45 degrees. Do not lie flat: lying down compresses the stomach and makes the sensation worse.

It is the simplest instruction on this page and the one people ignore because feeling sick makes you want to lie down.

Small sips, and nothing ambitious

MedlinePlus puts fluids first: “Get enough fluids, to avoid dehydration. If you are having trouble keeping liquids down, drink small amounts of clear liquids often.”

Then, when food is possible again: “eat bland foods; stay away from spicy, fatty, or salty foods”, and smaller meals more often. MedlinePlus also notes that strong smells can trigger nausea, which is why a kitchen is the worst room in the house to sit in.

Watch for dehydration, which the same page describes as dry mouth, infrequent urination or dark urine.

Ginger

The one on this page with the most behind it.

Grate ½ to ¾ inch (1 to 2 cm) of peeled fresh ginger into a mug, pour over 1 cup (250 ml) of hot water at about 176°F (80°C), cover, steep 10 minutes, strain. Sip it lukewarm.

What the science actually establishes. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health has looked at ginger specifically for nausea, alongside menstrual cramps and osteoarthritis. That is more than we can say for most plants on this site, and it is why ginger leads here and merely comforts on our other pages.

And the same page’s cautions: if you take any medicine, talk to your health care provider before using ginger. During pregnancy NCCIH says ginger supplements may be safe and to check with your provider; while breastfeeding, little is known. Traditional practice keeps pregnancy under 1 g a day.

Careful with anticoagulants, and with gallstones or an ulcer.

Peppermint

Pour 1 cup (250 ml) of boiling water over 1 teaspoon (2 g) of dried peppermint leaves. Cover, steep 5 minutes only, and drink in small sips. Two or three times a day.

Not if you have reflux. Peppermint relaxes the muscle at the top of the stomach, which is exactly the thing you need tight when acid is trying to come up. If heartburn is part of your picture, our heartburn and indigestion remedies are the right page and peppermint is not on it.

In pregnancy, an occasional cup rather than a habit. NCCIH notes that oral peppermint in food amounts is likely safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding, but that little is known about medicinal amounts.

And a rule that applies to the oil rather than the tea: peppermint oil should never be applied to the face of an infant or young child, because inhaling the menthol can cause serious side effects.

Roman chamomile

Pour ¾ cup (200 ml) of just-simmering water over 1 teaspoon (1 to 2 g) of dried Roman chamomile flowers. Cover, steep 10 minutes. Lukewarm, two or three times a day.

This is the gentlest option here, and the one to give a queasy child who can drink.

Not with an allergy to Asteraceae, the daisy family: ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, arnica, dandelion. NCCIH’s chamomile page carries anaphylaxis, that cross-allergy, and an interaction with warfarin, and says little is known about pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Lemon in warm water

Squeeze half an organic lemon into ¾ cup (200 ml) of lukewarm water, add a teaspoon of honey if you like, and sip slowly. The sharpness stimulates saliva and settles the sensation within a few minutes for many people.

Not with reflux, gastritis or an ulcer. It is acidic, and on an already irritated stomach it makes things worse rather than better.

Never honey under 1 year.

Baking soda, after a heavy meal

Dissolve ½ level teaspoon (2.5 g) of baking soda in ¾ cup (200 ml) of lukewarm water and drink it slowly.

This is the version for the queasiness that follows a large or fatty meal rather than for nausea in general.

Leave at least 2 hours between this and any medicine: it changes the stomach’s pH and can reduce absorption. And skip it on a low-sodium diet or with high blood pressure.

The P6 pressure point

The one to know, because it works in a car, on a plane and in a waiting room.

Find it on the inner wrist: lay three fingers across the wrist starting just below the crease, and the point sits under the third finger, between the two tendons.

Press with the thumb for 2 to 3 minutes, with a slight rotation, breathing calmly. Repeat hourly as needed.

This is the point the elasticated wristbands sold for travel sickness are aimed at, which is worth knowing before buying one: your thumb is free.

When to see a doctor

MedlinePlus gives a clear list. Contact a provider immediately if there is:

• a reason to think the vomiting is from poisoning;
• vomiting that has gone on longer than 24 hours;
• blood in the vomit;
• severe abdominal pain;
• severe headache and a stiff neck;
• signs of dehydration: dry mouth, infrequent urination, dark urine.

Source: MedlinePlus.

And a note on suspected poisoning, because the United States has a dedicated service for it: Poison Help is free, confidential and answers around the clock. The number is in the health notice at the top of this page.

If the nausea comes with diarrhea, you are probably dealing with a stomach bug rather than nausea alone, and our stomach flu remedies cover the rehydration that matters more than any infusion. If it comes with a one-sided headache and light sensitivity, it is likely a migraine, and our headache remedies start with the dark room for that reason.

FAQ

What can I take for nausea in pregnancy?

Talk to your provider first, which is not a formality here. MedlinePlus does mention one traditional measure for morning sickness: “eat crackers before you get out of bed in the morning”. The P6 point costs nothing and has no contraindication. Keep ginger occasional and cleared with your provider, and skip the herbal blends.

Ginger or peppermint?

Ginger if you have any doubt: it is the one with research specifically on nausea, and it does not have peppermint’s reflux problem. Peppermint if the nausea is bound up with a heavy, bloated feeling and your stomach is otherwise fine.

Why does sitting up help so much?

Because lying flat lets the stomach contents sit against the valve at the top and puts pressure where you least want it. Forty-five degrees is enough. It is the same reason our heartburn page tells you to raise the head of the bed rather than pile up pillows.