How to Fight Nausea

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Soothe nausea and settle your stomach with these helpful tips

Co-authored by Roy Nattiv, MD

Last Updated: December 20, 2024 Approved

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Changing Your Activities

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Eating Nausea-Fighting Foods

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Fighting Nausea with Various Liquids

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

Everyone hates nausea, right? That expectant feeling of being about to vomit coupled with an upset stomach is the absolute worst. Rather than suffering through the storm, try taking matters into your own hands and help to diminish your nausea with at-home remedies. Using the following methods will have you feeling fresh and healthy in no time.

Ways to Soothe Nausea

Step outside and get some fresh air.
Eat something ginger-flavored or drink ginger tea.
Eat starchy food like bread, crackers, or rice.
Stay hydrated, but drink liquids slowly.
Avoid strong smells.
Try over the counter anti-nausea medicines.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Changing Your Activities

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Your nausea may get worse if you try to do too much or if you are not getting adequate rest.^{[1]
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Mayo Clinic
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Go to source} Stay at home in bed as soon if you start to get nauseous. Lying down, avoiding exercise and sudden movements, and getting a bit more sleep may slow and stop your nausea and reduce your chances of vomiting. If necessary, take time off of work or school to do so.
Staying in a single sick room may be easy, but the air will go stale and make you feel worse. Open a few windows to allow a breeze of fresh air, and when possible, take a few minutes to step outside.

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Taking a bubble bath may sound great, but adding in overly-scented perfumes will likely upset your stomach more. In general, avoid anything (perfumes or otherwise) with a very strong scent.^{[2]
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Go to source} Smell and taste are connected, so a strong smell can make you feel equally as sick as a bad taste. Keep your window open to allow fresh air in, and to keep bad smells out.
The brightness, noise, and movement associated with your television, laptop, tablet, and phone can be overly stimulating and make an upset stomach worse.^{[3]
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Go to source} Instead, lie in bed with the lights dimmed and read a book or relax in a similar way. Taking time away from your electronics will ease your stomach and prevent an associated headache as well.
Nothing is worse than feeling sick and being too hot or too cold as well. Stay at a comfortable temperature to make resting easy; add or remove layers of clothing and blankets, or take a short shower or bath. You can change the temperatures of the liquids you are drinking to help as well.
If the natural remedies just aren’t cutting it for you, switch over to a medication from your local pharmacy or drugstore. Look for medicines that advertise treating nausea and vomiting, rather than taking a generic all-around medication. An antacid medication may also work. Make sure to check the dosage for your medication, and take the pills accordingly.
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Don’t avoid throwing up. If your stomachache simply won’t go away and the urge to vomit is growing stronger, don’t stop it. Your body is trying to expel the cause of your illness from your body, so let it. Vomiting is certainly not an enjoyable activity, but it does an important job of helping you to heal. You’ll probably feel better afterwards anyway.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Eating Nausea-Fighting Foods

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For years now, ginger has been giving the sick support with its nausea-fighting powers. Head for your pantry and grab some fresh or candied ginger. If you can handle the flavor of fresh ginger, eat it raw. Otherwise, try it candied or grate some into a cup of hot water to make tea.^{[4]
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Eat some crackers. When all else fails, plain saltine crackers tend to do the trick for nausea. They have a mild flavor and are easy to digest, making them the perfect sick food. If you can handle crackers, try upgrading to pretzels, which have a bit of a higher nutritional value.
- Keep in mind that some people may find the smell of pretzels nauseating.
Although it’s not everyone’s first ‘sick food’ to turn to, watermelon is actually great for helping out with a bout of nausea. The high water content and mild flavor help to settle your stomach and incorporate more fluids into your system. If you have a fever as well, try the fruit chilled for a soothing, cooling effect.
White rice sans toppings isn’t the most flavorful dish, but it is helpful for combating nausea. The easy-to-digest carbs will give you a short boost of energy, while the simple flavor won’t irritate your stomach further.
Eating a barely ripe banana (more towards the green side, with no spots) is great for several reasons. The soft texture and mild flavor make it easy to digest, plus the fruit is full of potassium, which aids your immune system in healing your body. You can try mashing your banana up with a cup of white rice.
Now, most dairy products are frowned upon during a period of nausea. However, yogurt with active cultures helps to supply your stomach with the good bacteria necessary for kicking out the bad bacteria. Therefore, find a simple yogurt flavor that advertises probiotics, and your stomach will be back on track in no time.
No butter, no jam, nothing. Plain (unburnt) toast has similar qualities to crackers. The bread is easy to digest and has a very mild taste, making it more likely that your stomach won’t fight against it. Try a single slice and see how you feel before taking another.
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Take some B-complex vitamins to settle your stomach. B-vitamins, especially vitamin B6, can help settle your stomach and relieve nausea.^{[5]
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Go to source} Talk to your doctor about trying a B-complex vitamin or a B6 supplement. Let them know if you’re taking any other medications or supplements so you can avoid any unwanted interactions.
- If you want you can try using B vitamins in combination with ginger for extra nausea relief.
Sticking to eating the aforementioned foods is best, but if you must eat other things, use your best judgment. Avoid eating any foods that are greasy, fried, spicy, or very sweet. These can all make an upset stomach much worse, and are more likely to trigger a spell of vomiting.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Fighting Nausea with Various Liquids

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1
Drink plenty of water. Water works to flush out toxins in your system and keep your body hydrated so that it can fight against the things that are ailing it. Although it is important to drink water on a regular basis, it is especially important to do so when you’re sick. Make sure you have a glass of water with you at all times, and that you are drinking it at least every hour.
- Take small sips of water or chew on ice chips if drinking a glass of water all at once is too much for you.^{[6]
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Try sports drinks to replace fluids. If you're nauseous and vomiting, you’ve probably lost a lot of fluids and are having a difficult time keeping fresh ones down. Sports drinks are enhanced with electrolytes, which your body needs for a speedy recovery. Grab your favorite flavor and take small sips after throwing up to help replenish your body’s electrolyte and fluid supplies.^{[7]
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- If you’re not a fan of sports drinks, you can also make a homemade electrolyte replacement drink. Combine 1 cup (240 mL) of coconut water, 2 cups (470 mL) of water, ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of pulp-free orange juice, ¹⁄₈ cup (30 mL) of freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon (1.4 g) of salt, and 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of maple syrup.
While many juices can be filled with sugar and flavors that are hard on an upset stomach, cranberry juice offers some nutrients without the sugary punch. Drink cranberry juice when suffering from nausea, especially when you haven’t been able to eat any food.
This sweet and sour combination works to settle your stomach quickly, without a ton of fluids. Mix 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of lemon juice with 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of warm honey. Slowly sip the juice-like liquid over several minutes. You can take this mixture multiple times a day if your nausea doesn’t subside.
Cinnamon has been used for decades as a natural remedy for nausea and vomiting. Mix ½ teaspoon (1.3 g) of cinnamon with 1 cup (240 mL) of hot water and allow the mixture to steep. Drink the tea slowly several times a day until your upset stomach goes away.
With a similarly autumnal flavor to cinnamon, cloves can also help to settle an upset stomach. Brew up a cup of clove tea by mixing 1 cup (240 mL) of hot water with 1 teaspoon (2 g) of powdered cloves. Allow the mixture to steep for several minutes before straining out any large clove chunks.
Ordinarily associated with cooking, cumin can actually work well in a nausea-fighting tea. Try a mug by mixing 1 cup (240 mL) of hot water with 1 teaspoon (2 g) of cumin seeds. Allow the tea to steep for 10-15 minutes before removing the seeds and drinking it slowly. A bit of honey can be added for sweetness if desired.
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Go to source} Peppermint is on par with ginger as being one of the best natural nausea-fighting remedies around. Use 1 teaspoon (1.5 g) of crushed and dried peppermint leaves or use a few fresh leaves with 1 cup (240 mL) of hot water to make the perfect tea. This can be drunk hot or cold, as many times throughout the day as you would like.
If eating ginger isn’t enough for you, grab a can of ginger ale soda. Check your soda ingredients first though to make sure it is made with real ginger and not artificial flavor. Sipping a can of ginger ale may settle your stomach and help to keep you from throwing up.^{[9]
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Slightly different than a regular cola soda, cola syrup is a thick liquid used for treating nausea. With the same classic flavor of your favorite cola, it might be nice to sip on it while you’re sick. Pour 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 mL) over some crushed ice and sip the liquid slowly over several minutes.
No matter what you choose to drink to stay hydrated, avoid chugging it down quickly or in big gulps. Your stomach is already irritated, so ease liquids into it with small, slow sips.^{[10]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

What causes nausea?

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Dr. Roy Nattiv is a Board-Certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist in Los Angeles, California. With over 20 years of experience he specializes in a broad range of pediatric gastrointestinal and nutritional illnesses such as constipation, diarrhea, reflux, food allergies, poor weight gain, SIBO, IBD, and IBS. He completed his pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and his fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). While at UCSF, he was a California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) fellowship trainee and was awarded the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Fellow to Faculty Award in Pediatric IBD Research. Dr. Nattiv received his undergrad degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his medical degree (MD) from the Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Roy Nattiv, MD

Board Certified Gastroenterologist

Expert Answer

Nausea is primarily a result of the stomach not functioning appropriately. Everyone has a pacemaker in their stomach, which controls how quickly or how slowly their stomach empties. When your stomach starts to empty very slowly, that can precipitate nausea or discomfort. The slowing of stomach emptying or changes in the pacemaker of your stomach can be caused by a number of different things. The number one cause is infection, like a cold or the flu. Also, medications can cause nausea. Constipation, motion sickness, and chronic illness can also result in nausea.

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Question

How do you treat cyclic vomiting syndrome naturally?

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Dr. Roy Nattiv is a Board-Certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist in Los Angeles, California. With over 20 years of experience he specializes in a broad range of pediatric gastrointestinal and nutritional illnesses such as constipation, diarrhea, reflux, food allergies, poor weight gain, SIBO, IBD, and IBS. He completed his pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and his fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). While at UCSF, he was a California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) fellowship trainee and was awarded the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Fellow to Faculty Award in Pediatric IBD Research. Dr. Nattiv received his undergrad degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his medical degree (MD) from the Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Roy Nattiv, MD

Board Certified Gastroenterologist

Expert Answer

Lifestyle changes are paramount with cyclic vomiting syndrome. The mainstay of therapy is to recognize triggers, because very often people with cyclic vomiting have triggers, and keeping a diary or what they call a vomiting diary to help you identify potential triggers, like activities that you may have engaged in or things that you may have eaten or drank prior to an episode. Keeping a diary of all those things may help you identify potential triggers and avoid them in the future. Beyond lifestyle changes, staying hydrated is very important to avoid cyclic vomiting syndrome.

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Question

Taking vitamins makes me nauseous. What should I do?

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Dr. Roy Nattiv is a Board-Certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist in Los Angeles, California. With over 20 years of experience he specializes in a broad range of pediatric gastrointestinal and nutritional illnesses such as constipation, diarrhea, reflux, food allergies, poor weight gain, SIBO, IBD, and IBS. He completed his pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and his fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). While at UCSF, he was a California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) fellowship trainee and was awarded the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Fellow to Faculty Award in Pediatric IBD Research. Dr. Nattiv received his undergrad degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his medical degree (MD) from the Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Roy Nattiv, MD

Board Certified Gastroenterologist

Expert Answer

It's always best to take vitamins with a meal, especially fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A, D, E, and K. That way, they will be absorbed better and cause less malabsorption or symptoms. Essentially, never take vitamins on an empty stomach. Avoid taking them just before bedtime.

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Tips

Don't brush your teeth immediately after eating, as the toothpaste may upset your stomach.

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Rinse your mouth with a mixture of ¹⁄₄ cup (59 mL) of vinegar with 1 cup (240 mL) of water after vomiting. Doing so will clear the taste and smell from your mouth and remove the harmful stomach acid, which could cause damage to your throat and teeth.

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Avoid exercising too much.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Place a cool, damp napkin in the openings of your nostrils. It's soothing and distracting. It's odd, but it helps.
Drinking a shot of apple cider vinegar is an old home remedy that might help soothe your stomach.
A typical Brazilian home remedy for nausea is cutting open a lime and smelling it.

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Warnings

If the nausea persists and you can find no cause, then consult a health professional.

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If the nausea is accompanied by dizziness, headaches, or blurred vision, then sit down and get someone to call a doctor. If these are normal symptoms from an underlying medical condition that you know you have, then take the steps you would normally take to treat it.

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If you are pregnant or have some underlying medical condition that might have triggered the nausea, then ignore the steps above and follow the advice of your health professional.

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