There are a great many reasons for feelings of nausea, or actual vomiting. Often this is a temporary reaction, for example to over-eating or drinking, food poisoning, a gastric infection, violent coughing, travel sickness, or associated with a migraine; if nausea or vomiting is persistent, then professional help is essential. Children in particular can easily become dehydrated from repeatedly vomiting.
Home remedies for Nausea Vomitting
Aromatherapy - Warm compresses over the stomach may be of help. Choose from oils of Chamomile, Lavender or Peppermint, up to 5 drops in a small bowl of water. Taking 1 drop only of oil of Cloves or Peppermint, on a sugar lump, may help to directly settle the stomach. A useful oil to spray around the sick room is Lemon, this is not only helpful to allay feelings of nausea but also is much fresher smelling and less sickly than some oils, so will be generally appreciated by the household!
Herbalism - The remedy of first choice is probably Ginger (Zingiber officinalis); either takes frequent sips of a weak tea, or of 10 drops of tincture in a little water, or chew a small piece of fresh ginger. Another possibility - say, for travel sickness - is to chew a little crystallized ginger, or drink flat ginger ale. Other potentially useful herbs to settle the stomach are Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) and Peppermint (Mentha piperita); try weakish herb teas. All these herbs aid digestion generally, and ease flatulence, so can help to sort out the causes of nausea as well as the symptoms themselves.
Causes of Nausea or Vomiting
Nausea or vomiting can usually be linked to a specific situation - eating too much rich food, or drinking too much alcohol, anxiety or travel are common triggers. Continual feelings of nausea indicate a greater disturbance; again this may be obvious as in morning sickness of pregnancy. Where the cause is not obvious, and if symptoms are not quickly cleared up with self-help, get medical advice as soon as possible.
Homeopathy - As ever, try to establish the causes and the overall pattern. In the meantime, useful remedies include:
ARSENICUM ALBUM: for severe nausea, perhaps associated with diarrhoea, and a great thirst but unable to take more than a few sips at a time.
IPECACUANHA: for sudden and persistent nausea or vomiting, with much watery saliva and frequent belching, symptoms are made worse by cold drinks.
Naturopathy - Obviously keep off solids in the short term, but do keep up fluid intake, either warm depending on preference. When the sickness has subsided, re-introduce light, easily assimilates foods such as clear soup, then slightly more solid dishes like plain whole grain toast, boiled brown rice and cooked vegetables. Gradually return to your normal diet over a couple of days. Smaller meals will be helpful. If anxiety is producing the nausea, then relaxation exercises will help; see Anxiety and Stress.
Treatment for Nausea / Voming By Home Remedy
Mix these Chamomiles, elder and lime flower tea in equal proportion make an excellent, delicately flavoured floral tea which children love and which also induces a gentle perspiration. To give relief to a troublesome night-time tickle make the tea with an infusion of liquorice root and honey water which should be strained and brought to the boil again before pouring over the herbs. This Home remedy has been rated best in getting relief from Nausea or vomiting.
