Your brain, not your stomach, tells your body when to vomit. Vomiting is often your bodys way of purging a contaminated substance. It is also possible to feel queasy and not vomit. Although in some cases, nausea goes away after vomiting.

 

Whether it is a hangover, motion sickness, or a bug, most remedies for vomiting are universal. Read on for ways to stop vomiting and nausea.

 

Try deep breathing

Take deep breaths by breathing air through your nose and into your lungs. Your abdomen should expand as you breath in. Exhale slowly through your mouth or nose and relax your belly after each breath. Repeat this several times. You can use the image below to help pace yourself.

Research shows taking deep, controlled breaths from the diaphragm activates the parasympathetic nervous system. This helps keep the biological response that causes motion sickness in check. Deep breathing also helps calm anxiety that may occur when you are feeling sick.

 

Wrist acupressure

Acupressure is a popular traditional Chinese medicine remedy. It uses pressure to stimulate certain points on the body to relieve symptoms. Applying pressure to pressure point Neiguan (P-6), a spot on the palm side of the forearm near your wrist, may help relieve nausea and vomiting.

 

To massage this pressure point:

 

1. Place three fingers across the wrist.

 

2. Put your thumb under your index finger.

 

3. Rub this point in a firm, circular motion for two to three minutes.

 

4. Repeat on the other wrist.

 

Drink more fluids

If you are vomiting a lot, it is critical to drink plenty of fluids to help prevent dehydration, even if you vomit some of them back up. Sip the fluids slowly. Drinking too much when your stomach is upset may cause more vomiting.

 

Fluids that help keep you hydrated and may ease nausea are:

 

ginger ale

mint tea

lemonade

water

You can also suck on ice chips to stay hydrated.

 

Try ginger, fennel, or cloves

Ginger

Try sipping a cup of warm ginger tea when nausea strikes. Or slowly eat a small piece of fresh ginger root or candied ginger. According to a 2016 studyTrusted SourceTrusted Source, ginger is safe and effective for preventing and treating nausea and vomiting in pregnant women and people undergoing chemotherapy.

 

You can also make fresh ginger tea by adding a teaspoon of freshly-grated ginger root to one cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes, and strain before drinking.

 

Fennel

Fennel seeds are thought to help calm the digestive tract. But scientific studies on fennel for vomiting are lacking. Still, anecdotal evidence suggests it may be worth sipping a cup of fennel tea the next time nausea strikes.

 

To make fennel tea, add about a teaspoon of fennel seeds to one cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes and strain before drinking.

 

Cloves

Cloves are a folk remedy for nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness. They also contain eugenol, a compound thought to have antibacterial abilities. To make clove tea, add one cup of boiling water to a teaspoon or so of cloves. Steep for ten minutes, and strain before drinking.

 

6. Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy may help relieve nausea and vomiting, although studies are mixed on its effectiveness. According to a 2014 studyTrusted SourceTrusted Source, inhaling lemon oil helps reduce pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting.

 

To practice aromatherapy, try deep breathing with an open essential oil bottle or add a few drops to a cotton ball. You can also add the oil to a room diffuser. If you do not have lemon oil, try cutting open a fresh lemon and inhaling its scent.

 

Other scents that may ease nausea are:

 

clove

lavender

chamomile

rose

peppermint

7. Medications to stop vomiting

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications to stop vomiting (antiemetics) such as Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate contain bismuth subsalicylate. They may help protect the stomach lining and reduce vomiting caused by food poisoning. Buy Pepto-Bismol on Amazon today.

 

OTC antihistamines (H1 blockers) such as Dramamine help stop vomiting caused by motion sickness. They work by blocking H1 histamine receptors responsible for stimulating vomiting. Side effects of antihistamines may include dry mouth, blurred vision, and urinary retention.

 

How to stop vomiting in children

Keep your child lying on their side to minimize the chance of them inhaling vomit into their airways. It is important to watch for dehydration in children. Encourage them to drink water (or suck on ice chips). See a doctor if they can not keep fluids down for eight hours.

 

You can also use any of the remedies, such as crackers, massage, and fluid intake to help vomiting. Although you may want to avoid using remedies or medications without your doctors approval.

 

When to see a doctor

Call your doctor if:

 

You vomit for more than two days.

Your child vomits for more than one day.

Vomiting comes and goes for more than a month.

You are losing weight.

Get emergency medical help if vomiting is accompanied by:

 

chest pain

severe abdominal pain

blurred vision

dizziness or fainting

high fever

stiff neck

cold, clammy, pale skin

severe headache

unable to keep food or liquids down for 12 hours