You may be able to relieve nausea by sitting up, getting fresh air, taking medications, or eating certain foods, such as ginger or lemon, among other home remedies.

Nausea is that uncomfortable, queasy feeling you get in your stomach that makes you feel like you’re going to vomit. Many times, it’s unclear why nausea strikes. Whatever the reason, when it hits, you’ll do almost anything to make it go away.

Nausea may be triggered by a virus, a digestive condition, pregnancy, or even an unpleasant odor. Many nausea remedies don’t necessarily cure the condition but may help you cope better.

Here are 18 tips to help you get rid of nausea.

If a parent ever told you not to lie down after eating, they were on to something. When you lie flat, gastric juices may rise and increase feelings of nausea and overall discomfort, especially if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Crunching your stomach may also worsen nausea since it compresses the area and makes you less comfortable overall. When you have nausea, try reclining with your upper body elevated and moving around as little as possible.

If you have motion sickness, you may notice you feel better if you open a window.

Fresh air may ease nausea symptoms in many people, although it’s unclear why. It may get rid of sickening odors, or it may simply help you focus on something other than the nausea.

If you’re overheated, try sitting in front of a fan or window at the first sign of nausea.

A soothing, cool compress placed on the back of the neck could help ease nausea. When nausea occurs, we sometimes seek remedies that cool our bodies down to provide relief.

Placing a cool compress on the back of your neck for several minutes can be soothing. It also helps decrease your body temperature, which, if high, may cause nausea.

Acupressure is an alternative therapy that involves applying pressure to specific areas of the body to ease different issues.

One older review of 23 studies suggested that acupressure may have been effective for managing nausea in 16 of those 23 studies, primarily in pregnant people and those undergoing chemotherapy.

However, more research into the management of nausea must be done before any conclusions can be made.

Sea bands work by applying pressure to the P6 pressure point on your wrist. But, rather than pressing on the point, you wear the band for as long as you need.

Some older research suggests these wristbands may be effective in managing nausea.

Meditation, the practice of focusing and calming the mind, may help relieve nausea.

One 2015 study looked at 86 pregnant females experiencing moderate nausea and vomiting. The researchers found that adding 3 weeks of meditation to their therapeutic plan significantly improved outcomes during and 1 month after treatment.

More studies are needed to confirm if meditation can help manage nausea. But, this approach does not appear to do any harm and could have other health benefits.

Deep breathing is a meditation technique. You can also do it on your own to quell stress-related nausea. Breathe in slowly through your nose, hold your breath for 3 seconds, and slowly breathe out. Repeat several times until your nausea subsides.

Sometimes, coping with nausea is simply mind over matter. The more you dwell on your nausea, the more nauseous you’re likely to feel.

The next time nausea comes on, distract yourself by reading a book or watching television. If motion doesn’t make you feel worse, do some light housework or go for a slow walk — anything to get your mind off how you feel.

While this remedy is often recommended, few scientific studies support it, so it should not be used in cases of extreme nausea.

If you can’t eat or drink due to nausea, dehydration may occur. Conversely, nausea is also a symptom of dehydration.

When you feel queasy, if possible, sip fluids throughout the day. If straight water turns your stomach, try drinking decaf tea or water with fresh fruit slices.

Chamomile tea is a popular home remedy for nausea. It has a sedative effect that may help you sleep when you’re nauseous. It may also help ease anxiety.

While some research has examined the role chamomile may play in easing nausea, much more research is needed to understand how it may provide relief.

Chamomile tea bags are available at most grocery stores, natural health stores, and online. Make your own chamomile tea by pouring one cup of boiling water over a tablespoon of dried or fresh chamomile flowers. Steep for at least 5 minutes, and strain.

Lemons contain citric acid, a naturally occurring compound thought to aid digestion and soothe the stomach. Try adding freshly squeezed lemon juice to water and sipping throughout the day.

If nausea is due to constipation, drinking warm water with lemon juice may stimulate your bowels. Go easy, though. Ingesting too much lemon juice in a brief period may make nausea worse.

The scent of lemons may also ease nausea, although more studies are needed to confirm this. According to a 2014 study, inhaling lemon essential oil helped reduce nausea and vomiting in pregnant participants.

A 2020 study even suggested that a lollipop with lemon aroma could significantly ease feelings of nausea during pregnancy.

If you don’t have lemon essential oil on hand, simply cut a fresh lemon in half and inhale the scent.

Ginger is arguably the most popular home remedy for nausea.

According to a 2020 scientific review, ginger may help manage mild to moderate nausea, although more research is still needed.

To help with nausea, eat a small piece of fresh or candied ginger. You can also drink ginger tea, which you’ll find in grocery stores, natural health stores, and online.

Make your own ginger tea by pouring 1 cup (237 milliliters) boiling water over a 1-inch (2.5-centimeter) piece of peeled, fresh ginger root. Steep for at least 5 minutes, strain if you want, and enjoy.

A recent 2021 study involving 103 hospitalized patients suggested that peppermint oil was an effective remedy for nausea relief. To experience these benefits, you can take peppermint capsules or drink peppermint tea.

Look for peppermint tea at grocery and natural health stores or online. You can also make your own by pouring one cup of boiling water over a heaping teaspoon of fresh peppermint leaves. Steep for at least 5 minutes, and strain to preference.

According to a 2016 study on heart surgery patients and a 2020 study on abdominal surgery patients, inhaling peppermint essential oil may also ease nausea post-operation and after anesthesia.

There’s an old wives’ tale that drinking carbonated beverages such as ginger ale or cola helps tame tummy troubles. The opposite is often true.

Carbonated drinks may cause bloating and worsen acid reflux and GERD, all of which may cause nausea.

However, the relationship between carbonated beverages and worsening nausea has not been well established by research. In addition, most fizzy beverages may be very sweet, which could make your nausea worse.

If you must drink a fizzy drink, let it go flat or dilute it with water before drinking.

Following a bland diet may help prevent nausea from worsening or stop vomiting.

One commonly recommended diet for recovering from nausea is the BRAT diet — bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. However, many healthcare professionals consider the BRAT diet to be overly restrictive and insufficiently nutritious.

You can also eat small amounts of:

  • saltines
  • plain pasta or noodles
  • plain baked or mashed potatoes
  • scrambled eggs
  • hard-boiled eggs

Avoid fried foods, dairy products like cheese and milk, meat, and foods high in fiber until nausea subsides.

Nausea medications are called antiemetics. When nausea is severe, you may need an OTC medication to help calm and soothe the stomach.

Some options are:

If you’re pregnant, don’t take any OTC medications without consulting your doctor first. Be sure to talk with your child’s doctor before giving them OTC medications, and keep all meds out of reach of children.

In 2013, the Food and Drug Administration approved Diclegis, a combination of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and the antihistamine doxylamine, as a treatment for pregnancy-related nausea.

Vitamin B6 alone has had mixed results for treating nausea, according to a 2019 review comparing it against ginger or no treatment at all during pregnancy. The typical dose is 30–100 mg daily in 1 to 3 divided doses for up to 3 weeks.

Too much vitamin B6 may worsen nausea, however. It may also cause serious side effects, such as:

  • abnormal heart rhythm
  • tingling
  • decreased muscle tone

For this reason, only take Diclegis or vitamin B6 for nausea under your doctor’s supervision.

It’s always important to discuss all medications with your doctor while pregnant to avoid those that may interact negatively with you or your child.

Your doctor may recommend other approaches first, as most nausea in pregnancy subsides by the fourth month or second trimester.

Cannabidiol (CBD) oil comes from an active compound in cannabis. CBD oil doesn’t contain THC, the primary cannabinoid in cannabis that alters mental state.

While more research is needed, some studies have shown promising results.

CBD oil is available in many forms, including:

  • liquids
  • pastes
  • capsules
  • edibles
  • sprays

Dosing isn’t regulated, and recommendations vary, so read the instructions on the package carefully and check with a medical professional before use. Only use medical-grade CBD oil to treat nausea.

CBD oil isn’t legal in every state, so be sure to check your state’s laws before purchasing or using it, and buy from a reputable source. Some states may allow CBD only with a doctor’s prescription.

Nausea, along with other symptoms, can be a sign of a serious condition that needs medical attention.

For instance, nausea with chest pain is a classic sign of a heart attack. Nausea with a severe headache or severe dizziness may indicate a neurological issue.

See your doctor if episodes of nausea last more than a month or if you have nausea and unexplained weight loss.

Get emergency help if you have nausea and:

Dehydration and nausea often go together. Get prompt medical attention if you have nausea and other symptoms of dehydration, such as:

You may vomit when you have nausea, but this doesn’t always happen. But, you can also feel as if you’re going to vomit, but don’t.

There can be many causes for feeling nauseated without actually throwing up. These include things like a stomach ulcer or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

A key pressure point for nausea is called Nei Guan, or P6. It is on your inner wrist, about 2.5 inches (“) or 6.4 centimeters (cm) down, in between two large tendons. There’s general agreement that pressing on this pressure point for a few minutes may provide some nausea relief.

nei guan or p6

Illustration by Diego Sabogal

There’s no best sleeping position to stop nausea, but reclining with the upper body raised may help manage symptoms. Talk with your healthcare team if you start to feel like nausea is significantly impacting your sleep.

Many of the remedies listed above may help relieve nausea that occurs with COVID-19.

 

It’s not always possible to get rid of nausea quickly, although lying down with the upper body raised and staying still may help. Other options that may provide relief include taking ginger, drinking fluids, or taking over-the-counter medications.

The best option will depend on the individual and the cause, but ginger is a popular home remedy.

Most nausea is temporary and not serious. Home remedies and OTC medications may help, but sometimes, nausea may still lead to vomiting. Vomiting often reduces nausea or makes it go away. However, vomiting and nausea can lead to dehydration.

Children who have nausea and vomiting can get dehydrated much more quickly than adults. Take a child to see a doctor if they’re vomiting for more than 12 hours.

Many prescription medications can also cause nausea. If you regularly have nausea after taking a medication, talk with your doctor to see if another medication is available.