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 body.¹ 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.²

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 issue.²

What Causes Vomiting?

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

Acute (sudden onset and severe) cause of vomiting: 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 include:

• 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 get vomiting and nausea after surgery)¹
• 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 be caused after meals due to gastro-esophageal reflux disorder)

Causes of vomiting range from simple gastritis to serious head injuries; vomiting with few episodes and low severity can be dealt with home remedies. However, severe vomiting along with other accompanying symptoms warrant physicians examination.

Dr. Nikhil Yadav, MD

Functional vomiting and nausea (has no clear medical cause)¹

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 include:

• 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:

To Prevent Vomiting:

1. Asafoetida (heeng):

Asafoetida is helpful for digestion and can reduce the symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea. 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

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 made.²

Also Read: Cinnamon: Uses, Side Effects, Precautions & More!

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 vomiting.² Taking ginger tea or chewing ginger pieces can be beneficial for vomiting.³

4. Chamomile:

Chamomile is widely used in various cultures to manage stomach-related conditions.² 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 benefits.⁴

Also Read: Chamomile-Uses, Benefits, Side Effects & More!

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 tea.²

6. Anise:

Anise tea can be helpful in dealing with nausea. You can rub the anise seeds or pour a few anises into boiling water and drink the tea.²

7. Clove:

You can carry along a few clove flowers during travelling, and whenever you feel nauseous, you can eat a little clove to get rid of nausea.²

To Manage Nausea and Vomiting:

1. Peppermint:

Peppermint soothes the stomach and is also one of the famous home remedies for vomiting. It quickly reduces vomiting and nausea. You can inhale peppermint aroma for better results.²

2. Lemon:

Lemon is known to manage vomiting and nausea. You can cut small pieces of lemon and keep them nearby so that its aroma can exhibit its beneficial effect.²

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 tract.²

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 it.²

Also Read: Lavender: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects, Precautions & More!

5. Onion:

Onion is one of the best home remedies for vomiting. The juice of onion can be used to deal with vomiting.²

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 nausea.²

7. Cardamom:

Cardamom is an aromatic seed and is known as one of the best home remedies for vomiting.² Cardamom oil can be inhaled to relieve nausea.⁵

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 vomiting.⁶

Also Read: How Long Does Food Poisoning Last? A Complete Guide To Recovery

9. Basil:

Basil has anti-spasmodic (relieves spasm of involuntary muscles) properties and is suitable for dealing with vomiting and diarrhoea.² You can drink basil tea to get rid of vomiting.⁷

Also Read: How to Make Yourself Throw Up: Necessary Techniques and Precautions

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

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: Home Remedies For Gas

Frequently Asked Questions:

Also Read: Hing: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects & More!

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. Ozgoli G, Saei Ghare Naz M. Effects of complementary medicine on nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: A systematic review. Int J Prev Med [Internet]. 2018;9(1):75. Available from: http://www.ijpvmjournal.net/text.asp?2018/9/1/75/240236
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. Cohen MM. Tulsi – Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2014;5(4):251–9. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4296439/
8. Nausea and Vomiting [Internet]. MedlinePlus National Library of Medicine. Updated on: 2022 Mar. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/nauseaandvomiting.html

Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.