18 home remedies to get rid of nausea

Feeling queasy is one of those universal human experiences. One minute you’re fine, the next you’re mentally mapping the quickest path to the nearest bathroom. The good news: for most people, nausea is temporary and can often be eased with simple, science-backed home remedies you can try in your kitchen, bedroom, or even your car (hopefully not while driving).

Before we dive in, remember: if your nausea is intense, lasts a long time, or comes with scary symptoms like chest pain, severe headache, confusion, or blood in your vomit, you need to call a healthcare professional or seek urgent care. Home remedies are for mild, short-term nausea, not for powering through something serious.

What is nausea, exactly?

Nausea is that unpleasant, churning sensation in your stomach that makes you feel like you might throw up. It isn’t a disease by itself; it’s a symptom. It can show up with motion sickness, stomach bugs, food poisoning, pregnancy, migraines, medications (like chemotherapy), anxiety, and countless other triggers.

Because the causes are so varied, there isn’t a single magic cure. Instead, there’s a toolkit of small, practical things that help calm your digestive system, steady your nervous system, and keep you hydrated while your body sorts itself out.

Quick safety check: when home remedies aren’t enough

Call a healthcare professional or seek urgent care if:

• Your nausea and vomiting last more than a day or two (or more than a few hours in a child).
• You can’t keep down fluids or you’re showing signs of dehydration (very dark urine, dizziness, dry mouth, confusion).
• You see blood in your vomit or vomit looks like coffee grounds.
• You have severe abdominal pain, a stiff neck and headache, chest pain, or trouble breathing.
• You recently had a head injury or you suspect poisoning or a medication reaction.
• You’re pregnant and your nausea is constant, severe, or getting worse.

If any of those apply, skip the ginger tea and go straight to professional help.

18 home remedies for nausea you can try today

1. Ginger in almost any form

Ginger is the MVP of natural nausea relief. Studies suggest it can help reduce nausea from pregnancy, motion sickness, and even chemotherapy in some people. You don’t need anything fancy: ginger tea, ginger candies, ginger chews, ginger ale made with real ginger, or a small piece of fresh ginger in hot water can all be worth trying.

Start with small amounts to see how your body responds. If you’re pregnant, on blood thinners, or have medical conditions, ask your provider before using large or regular amounts of ginger supplements.

2. Peppermint tea or lozenges

Peppermint relaxes smooth muscles in the digestive tract and can make your stomach feel less tight and crampy. A warm cup of peppermint tea or a simple peppermint lozenge can be surprisingly soothing when you feel queasy.

If you have reflux or heartburn, test carefullypeppermint can sometimes make those symptoms worse in some people.

3. Small sips of clear fluids

When you’re nauseated, guzzling a full glass of water is basically asking your stomach to revolt. Instead, think “sip, don’t chug.” Take tiny sips of:

• Cold water
• Weak tea (ginger or peppermint, for example)
• Clear broths
• Oral rehydration solutions or sports drinks (especially if you’ve been vomiting)

Sipping every few minutes keeps you hydrated without overwhelming your stomach.

4. Bland foods and simple carbs

When you can tolerate a little food, keep it gentle. Think dry toast, plain crackers, bananas, plain rice, applesauce, or boiled potatoes. These foods are low-odor, low-fat, and easy to digest.

You don’t have to follow an ultra-restrictive “BRAT” diet for days, but using some of those bland foods for a short time can give your digestive system a much-needed break.

5. Eat small, frequent meals instead of big ones

An empty stomach can make nausea worse. So can a huge, greasy meal. The sweet spot? Small, frequent snacks or mini-meals. Think half a sandwich now, a banana an hour later, a bit of yogurt later on.

This keeps your blood sugar more stable and reduces the pressure and stretching in your stomach that can trigger that “I might throw up” feeling.

6. Get some fresh air

Sometimes the simplest fix is opening a window. Stuffy, warm rooms and strong odors can make nausea spike. Gently walking outside, sitting by an open window, or even just turning on a fan to get air moving can help.

If you’re motion-sick in a car, looking at the horizon, cracking a window, and facing forward in the seat can also ease the mismatch between your inner ear and your eyes.

7. Try wrist acupressure (the P6 point)

Acupressure at the P6 (Neiguan) point on the inner wrist is a well-studied non-drug approach to nausea relief. You can:

• Measure roughly three finger-widths below the wrist crease on the inner forearm.
• Press between the two tendons there with your thumb for a few minutes.
• Switch sides and repeat.

You can also use motion-sickness or “sea-bands” designed to apply pressure to this spot. They’re commonly used for motion sickness and pregnancy-related nausea.

8. Deep, slow breathing

Anxiety and nausea love to hang out together. When we’re worried we’ll throw up, we tend to breathe fast and shallow, which can make the queasiness worse. Deep breathing can interrupt that spiral.

Try this: inhale slowly through your nose for a count of four, hold for four, then exhale through your mouth for a count of six. Repeat for a few minutes while sitting upright. Pair it with a cool cloth on your forehead for extra comfort.

9. Adjust your position

Lying flat after eating is a classic way to feel worse. Instead, try:

• Sitting upright with your back supported.
• Propping yourself up on pillows at about a 30- to 45-degree angle.
• Lying on your left side if reflux is part of the problem.

Avoid crunching your abdomen (like bending sharply at the waist), which can increase pressure on your stomach.

10. Avoid strong smells and heat

Strong cooking smells, perfume, candles, smoke, or even certain cleaning products can be instant nausea triggers. If possible:

• Ask someone else to cook.
• Keep rooms cool and well ventilated.
• Skip heavy fragrances or aerosols until you’re feeling better.

Many pregnant people, in particular, notice smell becomes a superpower (and not in a fun way), so minimizing odors can be crucial.

11. Try cold foods instead of hot

Hot foods release more odor, which can turn your stomach fast. Cold or room-temperature foodslike chilled fruit, yogurt, smoothies, or cold pastaoften feel easier to handle because they smell less and can be soothing.

Just keep the portion small at first and eat slowly.

12. Gentle aromatherapy with lemon or peppermint

For some people, sniffing a fresh lemon slice, lemon essential oil on a cotton ball, or a bit of peppermint oil (kept at a distance from skin and eyes) can calm nausea signals in the brain. This is especially helpful when you can’t tolerate drinking anything yet.

If you’re pregnant, have asthma, or are sensitive to scents, talk with your provider before using essential oils and always dilute them appropriately.

13. Chamomile or other mild herbal teas

A small cup of warm chamomile tea can be soothing to both your stomach and your nervous system. Some people also find fennel or lemon balm teas helpful.

Keep it weak, avoid adding heavy cream or lots of sugar, and check with your doctor if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or on medications, since not all herbs are safe for everyone.

14. Rehydration with broths or oral rehydration solutions

If you’ve already been vomiting, your biggest job is preventing dehydration. Clear broths (chicken or vegetable), electrolyte solutions, and diluted sports drinks can help restore fluids and minerals lost in the process.

Again, sip slowly. If you can’t keep even tiny sips down, it’s time to call a healthcare professional.

15. A light snack before getting out of bed (for morning nausea)

If your nausea strikes first thing in the morningespecially in pregnancytry keeping plain crackers or dry cereal on your nightstand. Eat a few pieces before you sit up or stand.

This can help stabilize your blood sugar and keep your stomach from going from “empty” to “everything at once” the moment you move.

16. Vitamin B6 (with medical guidance)

Vitamin B6 is sometimes recommended by healthcare providers, particularly for pregnancy-related nausea. It’s available over the counter, but that doesn’t mean you should self-dose freely.

Dosage and safety depend on your overall health, pregnancy status, and other medications. Always ask your provider before starting B6 or any supplement for nausea.

17. Gentle movement once you can tolerate it

When you’re really nauseated, you probably only want to move from the bed to the bathroomand that’s okay. But once the worst has passed, gentle movement can help digestion and improve how you feel overall.

Short, slow walks around your home or a few easy stretches can help circulation and mood, which in turn may reduce lingering queasiness.

18. Mindful distraction: engage your brain

Sometimes the more you focus on feeling sick, the worse you feel. Light distraction can pull your brain away from the nausea loop. Try:

• Listening to calming music or a favorite podcast.
• Watching a low-stress show (nothing with intense motion or gore).
• Guided meditation or visualizing a calm, cool place.

Distraction doesn’t “cure” the cause, but it can dial down the perceived intensity enough for other remedieslike sipping fluids and restingto work better.

When to talk to a doctor about nausea

It’s perfectly reasonable to try a few home remedies for mild, short-term nausea caused by things like motion sickness, a brief stomach bug, or eating a little too much greasy food. But ongoing or severe nausea is your body’s way of waving a giant red flag.

Reach out to a healthcare professional if:

• Your nausea lasts more than a few days or keeps coming back.
• You’re losing weight without trying.
• You’re frequently vomiting or can’t keep fluids down.
• Nausea is accompanied by severe pain, fever, confusion, vision changes, or new neurological symptoms.
• You’re pregnant and vomiting so much that daily life and hydration are a struggle.

A doctor can evaluate underlying causeslike infections, medication side effects, digestive disorders, migraines, or hormonal changesand recommend appropriate tests and treatments.

Real-world experiences: how people actually use these remedies

Reading a list of remedies is one thing. Figuring out how to use them when you’re curled up feeling like a human washing machine is another. Here’s how these strategies tend to play out in real life, based on common experiences and patterns people report.

For many, nausea hits in waves. The first instinct is often to do nothing except lie very still and mutter, “Please don’t let me throw up.” That’s actually a reasonable starting place: resting, quiet, and minimal movement give your nervous system a chance to reset. Adding a cool cloth to your forehead or the back of your neck often makes you feel a little more in control.

When the first wave eases, people often start with the smallest possible step: a sip or two of water. If that stays down, they might move on to a tiny glass of diluted sports drink or a few spoons of clear broth. The key is patiencerushing usually ends with another sprint to the bathroom.

Ginger and peppermint tend to become go-to tools once the immediate storm is calmer. Some swear by ginger chews they keep in their bag or car at all times. Others prefer a mild peppermint tea, especially at night when they want something warm and soothing but not heavy. Many pregnant people report keeping ginger candies in their desk, purse, and nightstand “just in case” because they never know which smell or food is going to set them off on any given day.

Wrist acupressure bands are another “quiet hero.” People who get motion sick on boats or in cars often pop these on before travel and then forget about themuntil the one time they leave them at home and deeply regret it halfway through a winding mountain road. The bands are small, drug-free, and reusable, which makes them a simple experiment if your nausea is related to motion or pregnancy.

Food adjustments usually happen in phases. Right after a stomach bug or food poisoning, even the idea of food can be gross. Once the worst passes, people commonly test the waters with dry crackers, toast, or a banana. If that goes well, they slowly layer in more varietyplain rice, a bit of chicken, maybe some yogurt or applesauce. Those who jump straight back into heavy, spicy, or greasy foods often discover the hard way that their stomach was not as ready as their appetite.

Another real-world pattern: people underestimate the power of smell. They know not to eat greasy food, but they forget that just smelling someone else’s lunch can be enough to trigger nausea again. That’s why opening a window, avoiding strong perfumes, and letting someone else handle the cooking can make such a big difference, especially in smaller homes or offices.

Emotionally, nausea can also feel very isolating. It’s uncomfortable, unpredictable, and often invisible to others. Having a simple planlike “rest, sip fluids, ginger or peppermint, cool cloth, and call the doctor if it doesn’t improve by tomorrow”can restore a sense of control. People who track what seems to trigger their nausea (certain foods, long car rides, anxiety spikes, skipping meals) often discover patterns they can plan around.

Finally, one of the most important “experience lessons” is knowing when to stop playing home doctor. Many people try to push through terrible nausea for far too long because they don’t want to “bother” a professional. But once you’re unable to stay hydrated, you’re losing weight, or you’re dealing with severe pain or other worrying symptoms, calling a healthcare provider isn’t overreactingit’s taking care of your future self.

Put simply: home remedies are great tools, not heroic tests of endurance. Use them early, use them smartly, and don’t hesitate to get help when your body is clearly asking for backup.

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