Natural Remedies for Nausea: Effective Home Treatments

| Modified on Dec 16, 2024
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Nausea, the unpleasant feeling of unease in the stomach that often precedes vomiting, can usually be treated at home with natural remedies and alternative therapies. From herbal treatments like ginger to acupressure and breathing exercises, there are many options to help alleviate nausea safely and effectively.

What is Nausea?

Nausea is a sensation of stomach discomfort that may lead to vomiting. While it is usually harmless and temporary, persistent nausea could indicate a more serious condition such as a concussion, heart attack, or digestive disorder. Common causes of nausea include overeating, motion sickness, migraines, and stomach viruses.

Home Remedies for Nausea

1. P6 (Nei Kuan) Acupressure Point

The P6 acupressure point, located 1-2 inches below the wrist on the inner forearm, is an effective remedy for nausea. Massaging this point for 3-5 minutes can help reduce nausea. Studies have validated this technique, which has been used for centuries in traditional medicine.

2. Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal is beneficial for nausea caused by food poisoning. It absorbs toxins in the digestive tract and can be taken with water or mixed with apple cider vinegar. This remedy benefits both nausea and vomiting and is worth keeping on hand.

Herbal Remedies for Nausea

3. Ginger

Ginger is one of the most popular natural remedies for nausea and has been used for over 2,000 years. It contains active compounds like phenols and volatile oils that help soothe the stomach. Ginger can be consumed as tea, capsules, or by chewing on candied ginger.

4. Cloves

Cloves are another time-tested remedy for nausea. The herb can be consumed in different forms: clove oil mixed with chamomile tea or powdered clove sprinkled on food effectively reduces nausea.

5. Mint

Mint, whether as tea, fresh leaves, or even mints, is a natural treatment for nausea. It soothes the stomach and aids digestion, making it an excellent choice for nausea relief.

Additional Natural Remedies

6. Deep Breathing Exercises

Deep, controlled breathing has been shown to reduce nausea effectively. Slowly inhale through your nose, hold your breath briefly, and exhale through your mouth. Repeating this process three times can provide noticeable relief, particularly for post-surgical or anxiety-induced nausea.

7. NAC (N-Acetylcysteine)

NAC, a powerful antioxidant, can help reduce nausea caused by toxins or digestive issues. By supporting liver function and reducing inflammation, NAC is a supplement for naturally managing nausea.

When to See a Doctor

While nausea is often temporary and easily managed at home, a medical professional should evaluate persistent or severe nausea. Chronic nausea could signal an underlying health condition that requires treatment.


The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

Activated Charcoal

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%

Posted by Christine (Lancaster, CA) on 11/28/2005
★★★★★

I have been using charcoal for approx 14 yrs..In our home it has been used for nausea/vomiting; diarrhea; upset stomach; belching; heart burn; gas; indigestion; poultices over painful areas on diffent parts of the body; pasty poultice over insect bites..over the stomach in a poultice for fevers.. As a nurse, I highly recommend it to all

Replied by Margie
(Wheat Ridge, Co.)
06/21/2015
★★★★★

I have been using charcoal tablets for 26 years! I suffer from stomach problems although I am much better since using natural remedies. I have recently started using baking soda and have seen amazing results!


Alcohol Swabs

20 User Reviews
5 star (17) 
  85%
4 star (2) 
  10%
1 star (1) 
  5%

Posted by Cindy (Illinois, USA) on 05/04/2021 528 posts
★★★★☆

WARNING!

A heads up on the alcohol swabs for nausea:

I was out of swabs - which were 70% - so just took a whiff of bottled alcohol but it was 91%. That was not pleasant. It DID fix the nausea but YIKES! So, don't do that. I cut it half and half with filtered water since it was just the very last of the bottle. I only ever used it to clean nail clippers, pruning shears and things like that but I just plain drank WAY too much coffee and yuck! So I drank a glass of water, which helped somewhat, but jumped on here to see what "The Awesomeness" had to say about nausea and discovered the alcohol swab solution! Except, I was out of swabs so...I had no idea there was such a difference between 91% and 70%. Of course, I'd never actually sniffed it on purpose I checked the swabs and it's much milder so...if you use it out of the bottle and it's 91%, you're going to want to cut it with some water first.


Alcohol Swabs
Posted by Cie (Miami, Florida ) on 11/11/2017
★★★★★

Yes, rubbing alcohol for nausea works.


Alcohol Swabs
Posted by Toni (Oakley, Ca ) on 04/18/2017
★★★★★

Rubbing Alcohol to Help Nausea

My granddaughter used this remedy and it almost worked immediately. Her nausea disappeared, and it was an easy thing to do.


Alcohol Swabs
Posted by Jose G (California) on 03/28/2016
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I woke up this morning with a bloated stomach and a feeling of low energy, which quickly turned into nausea. My first thought was food poisoning, and my second thought was "Oh no, not today. It's a big day at work and would look bad if I missed it." Also, I knew I had to be there in just a couple of hours.

Desperate, I checked here at Earthclinic and thank God I did! This trick with rubbing alcohol worked like a charm!

Here's what I did:

At home I grabbed the bottle of rubbing alcohol (that's 70% isopropyl alcohol & 30% water - standard ratio), and took a sniff. I repeated a few times over the next hour and a half, and the nausea disappeared!

Before I left for work I made myself a "just in case" dose of alcohol. I took a paper towel, folded it into thirds, and placed it into a sandwich bag. Then I added a splash of rubbing alcohol so that the paper towel was fully saturated. That went in my pocket, should I feel nauseous at work. I did end up going to the restroom and using once there. Worked fine.

Thank you so much to those who shared this gem of a remedy. You have been a life saver!


Alcohol Swabs
Posted by Haleyamazing (Concord, Ca.) on 02/28/2014
★★★★★

I suffer from Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome and during the day I am constantly feeling sick. No matter how mild or severe the nausea is, alcohol swabs works 99% of the time for me.


Alcohol Swabs
Posted by Dee (Houston, Tx) on 10/24/2013
★☆☆☆☆

Alcohol Swabs for Nausea - Nay.

I have nausea due to pregnancy. I soaked a cotton ball in alcohol and sniffed it a few times. I didn't notice much difference, if any. This is my 4th pregnancy, and I never vomit. I just have a sick feeling all day long. I was taking turmeric pills 2-3 times per day at first. They helped for a few days, but then I started getting reflux so bad that I would spit them up about 10 minutes later. When they would stay down, I would notice I had an offensive body odor the next day. I am waiting for acupressure bands to arrive in the mail. I hope those help. Otherwise, I will just have to deal with the nausea for 6 more weeks.

Replied by Mmsg
(Somewhere, Europe)
10/24/2013

Dee, have you tried a bit of ginger as in ginger candy?


Alcohol Swabs
Posted by Elaine (Chicago, Illinois) on 04/13/2013
★★★★★

I wanted to let people know about the success I had with rubbing alcohol for naseau. I read about this idea here on earthclinic. I don't get naseau very often. However, tonight I was sitting in the bathroom with a bowl and I had naseau and the dry heaves. It was awful. I remembered about the alcohol, but I really didn't think it would work. I had nausea at it's finest. I grabbed the bottle and sniffed. I had to sniff a couple times and then it stopped. In it's tracks. It was amazing. I will never be without alcohol. There isn't anything much worse than being nauseous. Thank you to whoever posted this tidbit. I give it 10 points and a huge thumbs up!

Elaine


Alcohol Swabs
Posted by Alan (Freehold, New Jersey) on 08/03/2012
★★★★★

Yesterday my wife had outpatient surgery for a torn Meniscus. Prior to the surgery, she was given general anesthesia and morphine. The surgery went well but soon after returning home she became extremely nauseous and vomited.

Eager to help I decided to google cures for nausea and came upon your website. After reading all the posts about the use of alcohol packets to cure this condition, I decided to give it a try. I poured a small amount of rubbing alcohol on a gauze pad in a bowl for her to sniff. It was amazing, the nausea stopped almost immediately.

This was a simple folk remedy that really works and should be given more exposure to help the thousands of people who suffer from nausea every day.

Replied by Misty
(Indiana)
07/23/2014

This is a very dangerous habit. When one inhales alcohol, the fumes enter the lungs, which causes some of the alcohol to get absorbed into the bloodstream. Side effects include headaches, trouble breathing, gastric issues, and even death. Look up isopropyl alcohol huffing, and read about the host of side effects people suffer from doing this.

Replied by Danamarie
(Ca)
12/12/2018

Taking a sniff of an alcohol pad or cotton is not the same as "huffing" alcohol. Alcohol huffing is soaking a cloth with rubbing alcohol and holding it up to the mouth for a prolonged period of time and continuously inhaling the fumes into the lungs.

Using rubbing alcohol for nausea is taking a sniff from an alcohol soaked pad or cotton ball and smelling it once or twice. There is no contact with the nose or mouth and it's not for any length of time.

Replied by Kristi
(Pittsburgh)
08/05/2024
★★★★★

I wish I could LIKE this a thousand times. Nothing worse than MISINFORMATION when it comes to health, especially when you feel stuck and it's making your life HELLISH. I understand that some people don't know stuff, but I have a golden rule; I do not speak on stuff I do not know. It keeps me out of a lot of trouble.

I am also ADDICTED to research so if I do not know something, I make sure I know enough to be involved in the conversation.

There is a ton of ACTUAL reports, studies, and scientific data on alcohol swabs. And it is often used in doctors offices and emergency rooms to help with not only nausea but to keep people from vomiting.

My mom had stage 4 cancer and while in the hospital for surgery she got insanely nauseous. It could have been because of the nerves or the anesthesia, but the nurse took some alcohol, put it on a cotton pad and had my mom inhale it.

Voila. Nausea gone. It does work for MOST people. It is NOT huffing. And it gives people hope when there might not be any.

I have been nauseous all week (thanks perimenopause!! ) and the alcohol pads have been working so well for me.

Tanya
(Atlanta)
08/06/2024

Doctors give Ondansetron for nausea left and right until their first case of fatal arrhythmia or bradycardia. Even then, they won't admit the role this medicine had played in the patient's death.
It should never be given without knowing a patient's medical history and EKG. It is a double edged sword.

So thank you for the advice.


Alcohol Swabs
Posted by Matt (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) on 05/21/2012
★★★★★

Awesome trick, I was using pop which works good you would still feel a little bit nauseous but this alcohol trick- holy cow my nausea is completely gone and I have the onset of a tummy flu where you are supposed to throw up lol. thank you so much I hate throwing up so much lol.


Alcohol Swabs
Posted by Angelajd (Baton Rouge, La) on 01/24/2012
★★★★★

OMG Thank you all for recomending the AS I take meds that makes me nausea sometimes and could not figure out what to take to elimante the feeling but one sniff on the alcohol pad really was amazing!! My little sis is preggo now and I will def pass this news to her Im sure AS shouldnt be harmful to her huh? just a whiff and its gone!


Alcohol Swabs
Posted by Kristina (Franklin, Tn) on 08/02/2011
★★★★★

I don't know why, but for the past couple of days my stomach has just been so queazy. So this morning I decided to look up remedies. I read all the comments on this one and tried it. At first I didn't think it was going to work and then out of the blue I realized I felt fine. It really does work and I'm gonna carry these in my purse today:)


Alcohol Swabs
Posted by Kristie (Peoria, Illinois) on 01/16/2011
★★★★☆

I've been suffering from nausea and vomitting all day from a hangover and was desperate for help. I tried the alcohol swabs and while it didn't entirelly cure my nausea, it helped immensely. Thank you.

Replied by Hunter
(Nashville, Tn)
05/29/2011

When you take a sniff of the alcohol, it numbs the nerve that controls the stomach. Remember that this is only temporary. If you have to use these more than once, you should probably go to a doctor.


Alcohol Swabs
Posted by Philestewart (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) on 09/04/2010
★★★★★

I am currently sitting in my bathroom feeling very nauseated, I came across this post and grabbed the rubbing alcohol out of my medicine cabinet. I just took a big sniff of it and felt immediate relief. I still feel a little sick but I definitely feel much better.


Alcohol Swabs
Posted by Sammy (Studio City, Ca, Usa) on 07/13/2010
★★★★★

This really works! I recently had surgery and was prescribed painkillers to help ease the discomfort. I've been able to get by without taking them for a week now, but last night my pain was unbearable so I decided to take half of the pill. Well, about an hour after I took it, I became incredibly nauseous. I ended up vomiting a couple times which I thought would help make me feel better because it usually does, but I still felt nauseous. So when I could finally get myself to the computer, I went to this website for a remedy. When I saw alcohol packets help, I grabbed one from my medicine cabinet, opened it up and began sniffing it. You would think that sniffing alcohol would make the nausea worse, which is to say that it didn't exactly feel good to inhale that first sniff, but after a minute or two, my queasiness subsided. I couldn't believe it. This will definitely be my go to nausea remedy from now on!



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