Natural Home Remedies For Vomiting

Introduction

Vomiting (throwing up) is the forceful emission of substances from the upper digestive system and stomach through the mouth. It is a reflex of the body to remove substances that might be harmful to the body¹. Vomiting occurs when the stomach muscle walls contract and push a large volume of stomach substances upward that flows back into the throat and exits via the mouth or nose.

Vomiting is very common among babies and is not a huge issue to worry about; still, it can be severe if it causes too much loss of fluids, leading to dehydration in the baby. If the baby throws up immediately after eating, it is a severe issue².

What Causes Vomiting?

There are several causes of vomiting categorised as acute and chronic.

A few causes of sudden vomiting are severe, but the most common cause is viral gastroenteritis (infection of the digestive tract), which mostly goes away within 2 days without any specific treatment.

The conditions that can cause acute vomiting include⁵:

• Food poisoning
• Excessive alcohol
• Gastroenteritis
• Motion sickness
• Poisoning
• Gastrointestinal obstruction (obstruction in the digestive tract)
• Appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix)
• Meningitis (inflammation of the protective membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord)
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• Diabetic ketoacidosis (a diabetes complication where the body produces excess blood acid, mainly ketone)
• COVID-19
• Post-surgery (at least 1/3^rd of the adults experience vomiting and nausea after surgery¹
• Chronic (long-term or persistent) cause of vomiting: The conditions that can cause chronic vomiting include:
• High doses of vitamins
• Migraine
• Pregnancy
• Food allergies
• Medicines (side effects of some medicines, like cancer therapy medicines)
• Radiation treatments
• Kidney stones
• Gastroparesis (late clearing of the stomach due to nerve damage)
• Upper digestive tract disorders (vomiting can occur after meals due to gastroesophageal reflux disorder)

Functional vomiting and nausea (has no clear medical cause)

Symptoms Associated With Vomiting

Vomiting is associated with a forceful contraction of the stomach muscles. Other symptoms that you may feel along with vomiting or that are associated with vomiting include⁷:

• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Mouth-watering
• Diarrhoea
• Dizziness (faintness)
• Vertigo (a false feeling of spinning or movement when the body is still)¹

Suggested Home Remedies for Vomiting

1. Asafoetida (heeng)

Asafoetida is helpful for digestion and can reduce the symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea⁸. You can use a small amount of asafoetida powder, put it in a glass of warm water, and mix well. A small amount of asafoetida can be added to curry powder and daily foods to prevent vomiting and other digestive problems.

2. Cinnamon

Cinnamon has a pleasant aroma and is considered one of the best choices for dealing with vomiting and nausea. For better results, cinnamon tea can be made².

3. Ginger

The root of ginger is used to manage a few stomach-related disorders, including vomiting. It is considered one of the most effective natural herbal remedies for vomiting². Taking ginger tea or chewing ginger pieces can be beneficial for vomiting³.

4. Chamomile

Chamomile is widely used in various cultures to manage stomach-related conditions². It relaxes the digestive system and manages conditions like vomiting, nausea, indigestion, flatulence (gas), motion sickness, and anorexia (loss of appetite). Chamomile tea can be used to obtain its benefits⁴.

5. Cumin

The powder and seeds of cumin are used to relieve nausea and vomiting. You can prepare cumin tea to prevent vomiting. You can take a few cumin seeds in a glass of water, let them mix, and then strain it; the solution obtained is cumin tea².

6. Anise

Anise tea can be helpful in dealing with nausea⁹. You can rub the anise seeds or pour a few anise seeds into boiling water and drink the tea.

7. Clove

You can carry along a few clove flowers while travelling, and whenever you feel nauseous, you can eat a little clove to get rid of nausea10.

How To Manage Nausea and Vomiting

1. Peppermint

Peppermint soothes the stomach and is also one of the famous home remedies for vomiting¹¹. It quickly reduces vomiting and nausea. You can inhale peppermint aroma for better results.

2. Lemon

Lemon is known to manage vomiting and nausea. You can cut small pieces of lemon and keep them nearby so that their aroma can exhibit its beneficial effect².

3. Banana

Banana, both raw and ripe, can be used for managing vomiting and diarrhoea. It also contains magnesium and potassium, which are required for the proper functioning of the digestive tract¹².

4. Lavender

Lavender can reduce vomiting and nausea. It also controls fat digestion in the body. You can inhale lavender oil or put it in water and immerse yourself in it².

5. Onion

Onion is one of the best home remedies for vomiting. The juice of an onion can be used to deal with vomiting².

6. Rice

After boiling rice for a long time, the liquid obtained can be concentrated. Dilute the concentrated liquid with a little water. This diluted liquid can be drunk hot or after cooling. It can surprisingly relieve vomiting or nausea².

7. Cardamom

Cardamom is an aromatic seed and is known as one of the best home remedies for vomiting². Cardamom oil can be inhaled to relieve nausea.

8. Fennel

Fennel contains several bioactive compounds that help the stomach muscles and are helpful for nausea, bloating, and flatulence (gas)². The powder of fennel can be used to get rid of vomiting⁶.

9. Basil

Basil has anti-spasmodic (relieves spasms of involuntary muscles) properties and is suitable for dealing with vomiting and diarrhoea². You can drink basil tea to get rid of vomiting.

When to Seek Medical Help?

Usually, vomiting and nausea are not severe and are common. However, you should seek medical help if you have:

• Vomited for more than 24 hours
• Severe headache and stiff neck
• Blood in vomit
• Severe abdominal pain
• A reason to think that the vomiting is caused due to poisoning
• Signs of dehydration include infrequent urination, dark urine, or dry mouth⁸

Also Read: Pneumonia Diet: What to Eat & Avoid During Recovery 

Conclusion

Vomiting is the strong release of substances from the upper digestive tract and stomach through the mouth. Several home remedies like ginger, cumin, lemon, and basil can help you get rid of vomiting. Usually, vomiting and nausea are not severe and are common, but if your vomiting does not stop or causes other severe health effects, you must seek medical help.

Also Read: Natural Home Remedies For Stomach Ulcers

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

References

1. Australia H. Vomiting [Internet]. Updated on: 2021 June. Available from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/vomiting
2. Mohsenzadeh A, Ahmadipour S, Rahmani P, Shakarami P. Concise Review: Herbal remedies for the treatment of nausea and vomiting. Biomed Res Ther [Internet]. 2018 May 11;5(5):2252–9. Available from: http://www.bmrat.org/index.php/BMRAT/article/view/437/870
3. Australia H. Morning sickness [Internet]. Healthdirect. Updated on: 2020 Sept. Available from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/morning-sickness
4. Srivastava JK, Shankar E, Gupta S. Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with a bright future (review). Mol Med Rep. 2010;3(6):895–901. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995283/
5. Maule WF. Nausea and Vomiting. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, editors. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 84. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK410/
6. Badgujar SB, Patel V V., Bandivdekar AH. Foeniculum vulgare Mill: A review of its botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, contemporary application, and toxicology. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25162032/
7. Singh P, Yoon SS, Kuo B. Nausea: a review of pathophysiology and therapeutics. Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2016 Jan;9(1):98–112. doi:10.1177/1756283X15618131. PMID: 26770271; PMCID: PMC4699282. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4699282/
8. Mosaffa-Jahromi M, Molavi Vardanjani H, Fuzimoto A, Hunter J, Lankarani KB, Pasalar M. Efficacy and safety of aniseed powder for treating gastrointestinal symptoms of COVID-19: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Front Pharmacol. 2024 Jan 16;15:1331177. doi:10.3389/fphar.2024.1331177. PMID: 38292939; PMCID: PMC10824915. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10824915/
9. Batiha GE, Alkazmi LM, Wasef LG, Beshbishy AM, Nadwa EH, Rashwan EK. Syzygium aromaticum L. (Myrtaceae): Traditional uses, bioactive chemical constituents, pharmacological and toxicological activities. Biomolecules. 2020 Jan 30;10(2):202. doi:10.3390/biom10020202. PMID: 32019140; PMCID: PMC7072209. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7072209/
10. Efe Ertürk N, Taşcı S. The effects of peppermint oil on nausea, vomiting and retching in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: An open label quasi-randomized controlled pilot study. Complement Ther Med. 2021 Jan;56:102587. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102587. Epub 2020 Oct 9. PMID: 33197662. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33197662/
11. Falcomer AL, Riquette RFR, de Lima BR, Ginani VC, Zandonadi RP. Health benefits of green banana consumption: A systematic review. Nutrients. 2019 May 29;11(6):1222. doi:10.3390/nu11061222. PMID: 31146437; PMCID: PMC6627159. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6627159/

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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