Most people experience nausea from time to time. Sometimes nausea is part of an underlying illness, such as a virus, but it is typically short-lived. For people withinflammatory bowel disease (IBD), nausea may occur along with other signs and symptoms of the disease, such as a reduced appetite and pain or abdominal cramping.
Nausea that comes and goes can make life difficult, but there are some things that can be done at home to manage it.
Top 18 Ways to Get Rid of Nausea
GingerTetra Images / Getty ImagesIt’s fairly well-known that ginger can help with an upset stomach, and many people drink ginger ale for that reason.It’s important to note, however, that artificial ginger is not going to have the same results—check that ginger products contain actual ginger in them. In addition, if vomiting is a problem and food or drinks are not staying down, ginger might not be helpful insettling the stomach.Of course, any time you use a complementary therapy for your IBD, it should be discussed with your healthcare provider. Ginger shouldn’t be used after surgery, or at the same time as blood thinners or NSAIDs, because it might increase the potential for bleeding.Research is continuing in this area.Ginger also should not be used at the same time as cyclosporine, which is an immunosuppressive agent used in some severe forms of IBD that may be used to treat complications of IBD.
Ginger
Tetra Images / Getty Images
It’s fairly well-known that ginger can help with an upset stomach, and many people drink ginger ale for that reason.It’s important to note, however, that artificial ginger is not going to have the same results—check that ginger products contain actual ginger in them. In addition, if vomiting is a problem and food or drinks are not staying down, ginger might not be helpful insettling the stomach.
Of course, any time you use a complementary therapy for your IBD, it should be discussed with your healthcare provider. Ginger shouldn’t be used after surgery, or at the same time as blood thinners or NSAIDs, because it might increase the potential for bleeding.Research is continuing in this area.
Ginger also should not be used at the same time as cyclosporine, which is an immunosuppressive agent used in some severe forms of IBD that may be used to treat complications of IBD.
Cold Compress or Cold AirIf at all possible, move to a cool room, or even outside if there is cooler air or moving air. Taking some deep breaths of cool air can be helpful in keeping nausea at bay (use the breathing exercises below). Applied to the forehead or the back of the neck, a cold compress can make nausea feel less severe. A cold compress can be as simple as a washcloth rinsed in cold water and wrung out, or try a store-bought or homemade compress that can be kept in the freezer so that it’s ready at a moment’s notice.
Cold Compress or Cold Air
If at all possible, move to a cool room, or even outside if there is cooler air or moving air. Taking some deep breaths of cool air can be helpful in keeping nausea at bay (use the breathing exercises below). Applied to the forehead or the back of the neck, a cold compress can make nausea feel less severe. A cold compress can be as simple as a washcloth rinsed in cold water and wrung out, or try a store-bought or homemade compress that can be kept in the freezer so that it’s ready at a moment’s notice.
Conscious BreathingSlowing down and concentrating on just breathing in and out can help you to focus on getting nausea under control. Stopping any movement and just relaxing for a few minutes could help in avoiding a vomiting episode. There are many ways to practice deep breathing, and it could even be tied in with meditation.
Conscious Breathing
Slowing down and concentrating on just breathing in and out can help you to focus on getting nausea under control. Stopping any movement and just relaxing for a few minutes could help in avoiding a vomiting episode. There are many ways to practice deep breathing, and it could even be tied in with meditation.
MeditationMeditation can be helpful in a variety of situations, including nausea. It’s a good idea for people with IBD to work on having a meditation routine, even when feeling well.When meditation becomes second nature, it can be helpful to use various techniques for dealing with anxiety, pain, or stress. Meditation can take many forms, so if you don’t have success at first, try another method.
Meditation
Meditation can be helpful in a variety of situations, including nausea. It’s a good idea for people with IBD to work on having a meditation routine, even when feeling well.
When meditation becomes second nature, it can be helpful to use various techniques for dealing with anxiety, pain, or stress. Meditation can take many forms, so if you don’t have success at first, try another method.
Sodium Bicarbonate
Two caveats: Check with your healthcare provider to ensure that this remedy won’t interfere with your treatment regimen, and because baking soda is high in sodium, people on a low-sodium diet should probably not use it. It should not be used long-term to treat nausea or an upset stomach, but only as a temporary measure.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Intestinal obstruction.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Ginger.Colombo D, Lunardon L, Bellia G.Cyclosporine and herbal supplement interactions.J Toxicol. 2014;2014:145325. doi:10.1155/2014/145325Cleveland Clinic.Sodium bicarbonate tablets.Additional ReadingNatural Standard Research Collaboration.Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). Natural Standard.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Intestinal obstruction.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Ginger.Colombo D, Lunardon L, Bellia G.Cyclosporine and herbal supplement interactions.J Toxicol. 2014;2014:145325. doi:10.1155/2014/145325Cleveland Clinic.Sodium bicarbonate tablets.Additional ReadingNatural Standard Research Collaboration.Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). Natural Standard.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
U.S. National Library of Medicine.Intestinal obstruction.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Ginger.Colombo D, Lunardon L, Bellia G.Cyclosporine and herbal supplement interactions.J Toxicol. 2014;2014:145325. doi:10.1155/2014/145325Cleveland Clinic.Sodium bicarbonate tablets.
U.S. National Library of Medicine.Intestinal obstruction.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Ginger.
Colombo D, Lunardon L, Bellia G.Cyclosporine and herbal supplement interactions.J Toxicol. 2014;2014:145325. doi:10.1155/2014/145325
Cleveland Clinic.Sodium bicarbonate tablets.
Natural Standard Research Collaboration.Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe). Natural Standard.
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