Let's Kick the Nauseous Feeling with Some Great Home Remedies

The origin of the word 'Nausea' can be found in ancient Greek texts which use the word 'nautia' or 'nausie' to mean seasickness, dislike, or repulsion. These words influenced the Latin word 'nausea' which was first coined to mean seasickness. Cool, eh?

Our ancestors were avid travelers, so it is no surprise that they needed a word for the motion sickness caused by the movement of the ship in tumultuous waters. This feeling however, was not only felt by our seafaring ancestors.

We now know that every person alive is bound to feel nauseous at some point in their lives. So, what exactly causes this uneasiness, and why do we feel it?

Some of the most common triggers of nausea are the stomach virus (also known as 'gastroenteritis'), or food poisoning. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that a staggering 48 million Americans (that is one in every six people), fall victim annually to food-borne illnesses that are caused by them consuming any contaminated food or beverage.  The nauseous feeling is then caused by the body trying to repulse any bacteria or toxins that enter it via the gastrointestinal tract.

This is usually felt in the initial stages of a pregnancy, and sometimes is what alerts a woman to the fact that she might be pregnant. The reason for nausea is thought to be the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) pregnancy hormone that is produced mostly during the first trimester. The symptoms of nausea usually lessen as the months go on, but for a few unlucky women out there, it remains until the baby is born. On the subject of hormonal nausea, it can also be felt when a woman is going through premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

A few people also get nauseous on moving vehicles. This can take many forms like seasickness, carsickness, and airsickness name a few. The reason people feel this motion sickness is because the signals being fed to your brain through your eyes and through your vestibular system (the balance and motion control sensors in your ear) don't correlate. Therefore, some infections of the inner ear like vertigo can also cause the patient to feel nauseated.

READ What Causes Vertigo And How To Live With It

Even though the list of reasons in this article has so far been only medical reasons, certain psychological triggers can cause nausea too. Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa are some eating disorders that automatically trigger nausea at some point because of frequent vomiting. Stress, depression, anxiety can also cause nausea. Who hasn't felt nauseous before giving a speech to a roomful of people?

Other reasons for nausea could be allergies, lack of sleep, a reaction to medication, viral infections etc... There are many innumerable causes, but we attempted to mention the primary and most common ones.

Nausea: A Few Natural Remedies 

As there are so many causes of nausea, there is no one-size-fits-all remedy. Most home remedies call for ingredients that are gentle on an upset tummy. Using them means that you save a lot of money and effort and still get great results. Try a few of these the next time you are feeling queasy.

Ginger

This is perhaps the oldest and most effective trick in the book. Housewives have been using ginger for many centuries to lessen crippling nausea. It helps neutralize various stomach acids that give you that nauseous feeling. Ginger comes in various forms. It comes as a root that can be ground up in a paste and combined with honey and cinnamon to make a soothing drink for your tummy. There are also ginger teas, ginger crackers and ales that can also be taken to alleviate the symptoms.

A Slice a Fresh Lime or Lemon

Pregnant women are often told to sniff a slice of fresh lemon to get rid of any unpleasant nausea. Sucking on them, sniffing them or even adding them to your food will help settle your stomach with a little citrus push. Water with honey and lemon is an age-old nausea remedy.

Dry Carbs

Taking in lots of dry carbohydrates like dry toast, dry crackers, cereals etc… means that your stomach is not empty (which often exacerbates symptoms), and you avoid the unnecessary intake of liquids. For years, galleys have made batches of 'seasick bread' available to sailors to prevent them from feeling seasick on rough voyages.

Peppermint

This is also a common home remedy for nausea as it calms the stomach, and reduces any uncomfortable symptoms. It works on the lining of the stomach, and much like ginger, calms nausea. Peppermint tea is sold almost everywhere, so it won't be hard to get your hands on a great natural remedy.

Boiled/Soft Fruits and Veggies

If you are struggling with nausea because of digestive problem, it is good to go for foods that build you up, but are also easy on your tummy.  Bananas, soft apples, boiled carrots, boiled potatoes are a few of them.

Pasta, Rice and Noodles

These need to be boiled as much as possible to make them easy to digest, but they too can help fill up a queasy stomach to help reduce symptoms.

READ How to Prevent Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy

Foods and Things to Avoid When Feeling Nauseous

Foods that have a high oil and fat content. These are difficult and slow to digest, so when your stomach is not functioning at full capacity, they should be avoided at all costs.

Overeating. Just as a lack of food can cause you to be nauseous, overeating can also cause a gag reflex as the body is not able to process so much food.

Soda and fizzy drinks. The gas content of carbonated drinks can upset an already sensitive stomach.