Nausea
The word Nausea, also named nausia, comes from the Greek word for ship and related to sea sickness. Nowadays it describes the feeling tha you may vomit. It can hit quickly and be gone just as fast. It can also linger, making you feel awful all day long. Many times, if you can get the offending material out of your stomach, you immediately begin to feel better, while at other times, it will linger no matter how empty your stomach is.
Symptoms
Nausea gives you the feeling that you may vomit at any time. A general sense of queasiness may be accompanied by a flush of warmth or alternatively, you may feel clammy and go pale. You may feel a lack of appetite towards certain foods or all foods.
Causes
Nausea can be caused by many things like the flu, food poisoning, motion sickness, inner ear problems, ingesting too much alcohol, intestinal parasites, emotional stress, morning sickness, hormonal changes (as in pregnancy) and other stomach irritations. It may also be a sign of heart attack, some kinds of cancer and some kidney or liver disorders. It can also be caused by some medications or medical treatments like chemotherapy.
Cautions
If your nausea persists longer than two days, you vomit periodically for more than 24 hours, or you vomit blood or something that looks like coffee grounds, seek medical attention. If you are elderly and it comes with a fever, see your doctor. If you are nauseous and you have a sudden, severe pain in the abdomen or chest, go to the nearest emergency room. If you're pregnant and you can't eat or drink due to severe nausea, see your care giver immediately. A doctor should be consulted if you have any concerns or if it follows a significant event, such as a head injury.
Herbal Treatments
Internal Applications
- Ginger this is the overall favorite remedy for nausea. Take pills, eat candied ginger, chew a slice or two of raw ginger or choose the candy made from ginger in the Asian portion of your grocery store. Ginger tea, ginger ale and ginger snaps are also effective. With so many options, you can pick the one that works best for you. Ginger can also be taken in a tincture.
- Cinnamon drink cinnamon tea for nausia. This herb contains catechins, which help with this problem.
- Lemon balm make a soothing tea from this herb to help relieve upset stomach.
- Chamomile this herb is soothing to the digestive tract. Drink the tea as needed.
- Fennel this is another digestive herb that soothes the upset stomach. Drink a tea when a feeling of sickness strikes. Make a tea by infusing 1/2 teaspoon of crushed seeds in 1 cup boiling water, steep for 10 minutes and then drink.
- Dill this slightly tart herb can soothe nausia and ease a queasy stomach. Drink the tea whenever needed.
- Goldenseal if you are not pregnant, this herb can be used to relieve sickness. Goldenseal increases the digestive secretions of the stomach and liver. This herb can be taken as a pill or tea.
- Peppermint - drink 3 cups of peppermint tea a day after meals.
- Slippery elm - take after meals in a herbal tea.
- Sweet marjoram - drink an infusion 3 times a day to treat digestive problems.
- Tamarind - widely recognised for treating constipation may also benefit nausea.
External Applications
- Peppermint apply a little diluted essential oil over your stomach. Avoid the sun after applying this oil. Do not use this remedy if you are pregnant. Peppermint tea can also be effective if you drink it as needed.
- Lavender the essential oil of this herb is so soothing it is not surprising it may also help with nausia. Add a drop or two of the essential oil you want to use in a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Massage the mixture into your chest so you can smell the oil easily. Other essential oils you can use in a similar fashion include black pepper, chamomile, camphor, fennel, orange, peppermint, rose and rosemary.