I’ve learned throughout life just by observing how people react to physical symptoms in real life situations, that nausea really messes people up.
You see them at work meetings, on public transportation, just going about their normal lives, suddenly feeling like they can’t act “normal” because their stomach is bothering them.
It creates a vicious cycle where you get more anxious because you feel nauseous which makes you feel even MORE nauseous.
The truth is, nausea is curable, and most times it’s your body’s way of telling you something is off balance.
The problem is, most people dont know how to react appropriately when they start feeling nauseous which only increases the discomfort they’re feeling.
Nausea comes from a variety of sources. It could be from digestion problems, stress, motion, dehydration, or inconsistent eating habits. It’s important that we treat nausea as a symptom, and not as an illness.
When we figure out what our body is trying to tell us, we can take care of ourselves in a way that helps us eliminate that nauseous feeling much quicker.
How to Stop Feeling Nauseous Naturally
1. Sit Still & Control Your Breathing to Settle Your Stomach
Fast breathing and moving around too much can actually agitate your stomach. By sitting still and taking deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth, you help regulate your body’s “spin” feeling.
When you feel yourself starting to feel nauseous, sit up straight with one hand on your stomach and take deep, slow breaths in through your nose for 3 to 5 seconds and out through your mouth for 3 to 5 seconds.
Your brain is receiving messages from your stomach that you “may” feel sick, so why not take matters into your own hands and stop that sensation?
Slower breathing helps you calm down and target that nervous system, which aids in nausea.
Read also: 9 Key Reasons Why Quality Sleep is Important for Your Health
2. Take Small Sips of Water to Avoid Dehydration
Believe it or not, dehydration is one of the leading causes of nausea! When your body doesn’t have enough water to help with normal digestion, your stomach tends to feel more sensitive than usual.
Instead of chugging a large glass of water (which will most likely make you feel more nauseous), take small sips of water over a few minutes.
Water that is room temperature or warm typically helps more than cold water.
You can even try a mild electrolyte beverage if you’re having trouble gulping down water.
Hydration is key when it comes to our digestive tract staying balanced and healthy.
Read also: 11 Habits Killing Your Mental Health
3. Focus on Ginger or Other Natural Calming Ingredients
There have been many studies on how ginger helps relax your stomach and ease that nauseous feeling.
Not only does it help with digestion, but it can also help decrease the contraction strength in your stomach that sends signals to your brain that you feel sick.
Drink some ginger tea, chew on some ginger, or take a ginger supplement if that’s more your style.
This is a huge tip used in many healing practices. If you search plant based ways to help with digestion, you’ll find a ton of articles with studies.
Peppermint is another great tip that helps relax your stomach muscles and can make you feel less queasy.
4. Stay Away From Strong Smells & Lingering Environments
Your sense of smell tends to heighten when you’re feeling nauseous. What smells fine to other people can intensify that desire to vomit.
This goes for food smells, perfumes, cigarette smoke, or crowded places with a mix of smells.
If you can, remove yourself to a place with fresh air and no other smells.
Fresh air is one of the most important things you can do to help yourself feel better when you’re nauseous.
I’ve always heard this is great for motion sickness, but it works just as well if you’re feeling nauseous from stress or anxiety.
5. Eat Light, Bland Foods vs. Heavy, Fatty Foods
Spicy? Greasy? Heavy? NO.
When your stomach is upset, you don’t want to overload it with difficult to digest foods. Eat light and keep your meals simple and bland when you can.
Saltines, dry toast, bananas, and rice are great foods to munch on when you’re feeling under the weather.
Again, eat slowly, and don’t force yourself to eat a lot. If you just barely ate something and started feeling sick, take small bites of these foods.
We are prepping your stomach for gentle digestion recovery.
6. Get Fresh Air & Lightly Move Around If You Can
This typically helps if you’ve been sitting or lying in one position for too long.
Step outside for some fresh air, or just walk around the room or area that you’re in.
You don’t want to go running a marathon, you just want to slightly move your body.
Fresh air helps you take in more oxygen which can help your body feel less dizzy and woozy.
This method is great for motion sickness and has been proven to help.
7. Apply Pressure to Your Pressure Points
Have you ever heard of someone pressing their wrist when they’re carsick? There are pressure points on your body that can help alleviate that nauseous feeling.
Find the center of your wrist and apply steady pressure. You can use your other thumb and index finger and apply pressure at the same time.
Not everybody will get relief from this method, but it is definitely worth a shot if you’re out and about.
Pressure points force your body to react a certain way, and this pressure point technique can help your body calm down.
8. Don’t Lie Flat on Your Back After Eating or Vomiting
Lying flat on your back after eating can actually shift your stomach acids and put pressure on parts of your stomach that you don’t want to feel irritated.
Same goes for if you just threw up and want to rest your head.
Your body just went through that turmoil of heaving and now you want to lie down?
Your body needs time to digest that food, and when you lie down you’re just making things worse.
Rest, sure. But lift your upper body with some pillows.
This helps with your stomach acids and keeps your digestion in an upright position.
9. Reduce Stress & Anxiety if That’s What’s Triggering You
This is a big one for most people who feel nauseous from time to time. When your body feels stressed it releases hormones that can cause you to feel sick.
Take deep breaths, relax your mind, and try to listen to calm music if you can.
If you know you’re in a situation that may trigger you to feel nauseous, step away for a minute.
Stress and nausea are closely related, and reducing that stress can also reduce your nauseous symptoms.
Your mind and stomach are connected.
10. Seek Medical Attention if Necessary
I know I said that nausea is not an illness, but if you’re feeling nauseous for more than just a couple hours and it doesn’t go away, you may want to seek medical attention.
If you start to feel dehydrated from vomiting too much, that’s another reason to go.
There are a few sicknesses that have nausea as a symptom. Gastroenteritis is one of them.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so if you feel like something is seriously wrong, don’t wait it out.
Let a professional help you instead of trying to DIY all your problems.
Conclusion
Nausea isn’t the end of the world. In fact, the majority of the time it’s your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong.
By panicking and “forcing” yourself to feel better, you’re only prolonging the discomfort you’re feeling.
Take deep breaths, relax, and monitor what you’re eating and drinking.
Your body knows what it’s doing, so let it do its thing and follow these tips to help shorten the time that you feel nauseous.
FAQ
1. What is the fastest way to stop feeling nauseous?
Slow breathing, small sips of water, and fresh air are often the quickest ways to reduce symptoms.
2. Can nausea go away on its own?
Yes, many cases are temporary and resolve once the underlying trigger is removed.
3. What foods help reduce nausea?
Light foods like toast, bananas, rice, and crackers are usually easier on the stomach.
4. Is nausea always related to illness?
No, it can also be caused by stress, motion, dehydration, or eating habits.
5. When should I worry about nausea?
If it persists for several days or includes severe symptoms like vomiting or fever, medical attention is recommended.
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