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How Do I Choose the Best Home Remedies for Vomiting?
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis
Vomiting is an unpleasant experience that can be caused by numerous factors. Often, vomiting is the result of a temporary condition or simple illness that will resolve within a few days and may not require a doctor's attention. Choosing the best home remedies for vomiting depends on the underlying cause leading to this symptom. If vomiting continues for several days, or does not respond to any remedies or anti-vomiting over-the-counter drugs, a trip to the doctor or the emergency room may be warranted.
One common occurrence is vomiting due to excess alcohol consumption. If vomiting occurs while drinking or shortly thereafter, it may be a sign of alcohol poisoning and should be treated as a serious health condition. In the throes of a hangover, however, vomiting may also occur, largely due to dehydration. One of the best home remedies for vomiting caused by too much alcohol is drinking fluids, preferably a clear soda or electrolyte-enhanced beverage. These will help get much-needed fluids to the body and may cause nausea and vomiting to subside.
Pregnant women often suffer from morning sickness, which may include vomiting caused by drops in blood sugar. Most women feel nauseous and vomit shortly after waking up, due to the long period of sleep in which blood sugar levels plummet. Some good home remedies for vomiting that is pregnancy related include keeping crackers or bread next to the bed, to be eaten immediately after waking. Eating at regular intervals throughout the day can also stave off nausea and additional episodes of vomiting.
When the source of nausea seems to be an illness or food poisoning, many home remedies for vomiting use ingredients commonly found in the pantry. Ginger is an age-old remedy for vomiting and nausea, and may be taken in the form of raw ginger, ginger tea, or ginger-ale beverages that have real ginger instead of artificial flavoring. Eating mint leaves or drinking mint tea can quickly calm nausea, while cinnamon, anise, and cloves are also popular home remedies for vomiting.
One of the keys to many home remedies for vomiting is to avoid overloading the stomach too soon after throwing up. It is natural for people to feel hungry and thirsty after vomiting, since they have just voided the contents of their stomach, but food and drink need to be introduced gradually to be sure that the stomach can handle intake. Having a small glass of soda or tea that is sipped over the course of a half hour or so can be a good way to start recovery. If liquids stay down, consider nibbling a piece of dry toast or salty crackers. Once a person has avoided vomiting for 24 hours, it is usually safe to re-introduce more foods, but keeping ingredients basic and bland can give the stomach more time to recover.
Jessica Ellis
With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a WiseGEEK writer.
Learn more...
Jessica Ellis
With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a WiseGEEK writer.
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![Determining the reason for vomiting can help determine the best remedy.]()
By: Lars ZahnerDetermining the reason for vomiting can help determine the best remedy. -
![Mint leaves may help relieve an upset stomach.]()
By: DionisveraMint leaves may help relieve an upset stomach. -
![Ginger tea or raw ginger helps soothe an upset stomach.]()
By: praisaengGinger tea or raw ginger helps soothe an upset stomach. -
![Vomiting is often the result of a temporary condition that will resolve itself in a few days.]()
By: pathdocVomiting is often the result of a temporary condition that will resolve itself in a few days.
Discussion Comments
@SarahGen-- Electrolyte water is also great because it replenishes the electrolytes lost through vomiting.
My favorite upset stomach food is boiled potatoes. They are so helpful. They settle the stomach like nothing else. I will mash them up with a little bit of butter and salt and eat it that way. After a bout of severe vomiting, I'll only have mashed potatoes and applesauce that day.
I don't eat or drink anything when I'm vomiting. I see vomiting as a natural reaction of the body when something harmful has been ingested. So it's not really a bad thing, it removes the harmful bacteria from the stomach. And trying to eat or drink at that time can make nausea and vomiting worse. So I avoid both when the vomiting is ongoing.
But afterward, maybe a half an hour later, I will have some ginger ale and a few, salty crackers to settle my stomach. Ginger ale, or anything with ginger really, is great for vomiting. But I make sure that it's not too cold because very cold and very hot drinks can irritate the stomach as well. And I don't drink too much at once, I take just a few sips.
Whenever I have nausea and vomiting, my mom makes mint tea for me. She uses organic mint, steeps it in hot water and puts a slice of lemon and some honey in it. It's so soothing and makes the nausea go away. I like this tea a lot.
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