A boat trip, an overly large or overly indulgent meal, or gastroenteritis are all situations in which you might feel queasy or even regurgitate the contents of your stomach.
The antiemetics or anti-vomiting remedies are substances that relieve spasms and reduce nausea. Here are 5 natural anti-vomiting remedies. Read on after the list to understand the complex mechanism behind these symptoms.
Note: Even though these are natural substances, you should check with your doctor for the risk of drug interactions. Be careful of possible contraindications with essential oils in particular. If vomiting is prolonged or concerning, consult your doctor.
1. Ginger
The ginger is a spice of Indian origin belonging to the same family as the turmeric. It is a rhizome known for its antiemetic action. It contains gingerols and shogaols that help fight nausea and vomiting of any cause.
Its preventive effect on nausea and vomiting in pregnant women has been recognized by the WHO since 1999.
How to consume it : you can prepare an infusion from powdered or fresh ginger. Sip small amounts several times a day or at the first signs of nausea. You can also nibble on a piece of raw or candied rhizome in case of motion sickness.
2. Peppermint
An excellent natural antiemetic. The scent of this aromatic herb is tonic and invigorating! This study suggests the beneficial effect of inhaling the essential oil to reduce nausea after cardiac surgery. This other study highlights its effect on reducing nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.
How to consume it : peppermint can be consumed as an infusion or a decoction, taken between meals or at the end of a meal. You can also use it as an essential oil; for that, it should be diluted in a vegetable oil, for example. During an episode of motion sickness, you can also inhale it!
3. German chamomile
This plant is well known to herbal tea lovers! It helps improve digestion and to fall asleep more easily. It is a plant that soothes stomach ailments and, in particular, nausea and vomiting as suggested by this study.
How to consume it : as an infusion, it has a light, floral flavor. Organic chamomile is preferred. A note to purists: it can be found in powder form or as pretty whole flowers! It is particularly indicated in cases of gastroenteritis to soothe intestinal disorders and reduce nausea.
4. Desmodium
Desmodium is a plant native to tropical Africa. The species Desmodium adscendens is the richest in active compounds. It is a liver-protective plant protective of the liver that may help reduce nausea caused by the side effects of chemotherapy. These effects were analyzed in this study. It is a particularly effective natural antiemetic.
How to consume it : ask your pharmacist and your doctor for advice before taking it in the context of chemotherapy. It can be consumed as an infusion or as a decoction. It also comes in capsule form or as a concentrated oral solution.
5. Dill
Sometimes given the rather unflattering nickname ‘stinky fennel’, dill is a plant that supports digestive health and is a natural antiemetic. Its aniseed flavor particularly enhances the taste of fish-based dishes. It has antispasmodic properties, meaning it reduces muscle spasms, particularly those that accompany vomiting.
How to use it: as an infusion several times a day, put a few crushed seeds or leaves in a cup of hot water. You can also add a few leaves to a dish. It is recommended to use them fresh to get the most benefit from their virtues. It is also available as an essential oil to relieve nausea.
What is the mechanism behind vomiting and how can it be alleviated?
Depending on the case, the causes of nausea and vomiting can be harmless — think seasickness, a migraine, or an overly large meal. These symptoms are much more worrying when they involve food poisoning or an intestinal obstruction, for example! In all cases it is a reflex controlled by the brain.
Vomiting: a mechanical reaction triggered by the brain
In general, nausea and vomiting are like a protective reflex of the body to fight against the absorption of substances that may prove harmful. The vomiting center is located in the brain.
It can receive stimuli from the digestive tract, the inner ear, and certain areas of the brain. Once alerted, the brain will trigger a mechanical reaction of our body.
For example, when the liver is overloaded after a meal that was too large or involved too much alcohol, a message will be sent to the brain and trigger vomiting. In motion sickness, there is a disparity in perception between the eyes, which see the landscape passing by, the inner ear, which senses that the body is in motion, and the immobility of the muscular tissue.
The brain will be quickly alerted! A simple emotion or a memory can also trigger a gag reflex: for example, recalling a dish that disgusted us in childhood.
After that queasy feeling that characterizes nausea, an unpleasant physical reaction is about to take place. The abdominal muscles contract and the body will expel, in a pushing motion, the stomach’s contents into the esophagus and then into the mouth.
How do antiemetics or anti-vomiting remedies work?
In Latin emeticus means emetic, likely to cause vomiting. An antiemetic is a substance that will block vomiting.
Antiemetics commonly refer to medicines that block stimulatory action in the brain. They also help relax the stomach. They are widely used for motion sickness, during pregnancy, to alleviate the side effects of cancer chemotherapy, etc.
