A boat ride, an overly hearty meal, or a stomach virus are all situations where one might feel queasy or even regurgitate the contents of their stomach.
Antiemetics or anti-vomiting agents are substances that help relieve spasms and reduce nausea. Here are 5 natural anti-vomiting remedies. See after the list to understand the complex mechanism behind these symptoms.
Note: Even if these are natural substances, it is important to check with your doctor for any risk of medication interactions. Beware of potential contraindications with essential oils in particular. In case of prolonged or suspicious vomiting, consult your doctor.
1. Ginger
Ginger is a spice of Indian origin belonging to the same family as turmeric. It is a rhizome renowned for its antiemetic action. It contains gingerols and shogaols which help fight nausea and vomiting of any cause.
Its preventive action on nausea and vomiting in pregnant women has been recognized by the WHO since 1999.
How to consume it: you can prepare a tea using powder or fresh ginger. Sip small amounts several times a day or at the first sign of nausea. You can also chew a piece of raw or candied rhizome in case of motion sickness.
2. Peppermint
An excellent natural anti-vomiting agent. The fragrance of this aromatic herb is tonic and invigorating! This study suggests the beneficial effect of inhaling the essential oil to reduce nausea following cardiac surgery. This other study highlights its effect on reducing nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy.
How to consume it: peppermint can be consumed in tea or decoction between or at the end of meals. It can also be used as an essential oil, which should be diluted in a vegetable oil, for example. During an episode of motion sickness, it can also be inhaled!
3. German Chamomile
This plant is very popular with tea enthusiasts! It helps improve digestion and fall into a restful sleep more easily. It is a plant that soothes stomach upset and particularly nausea and vomiting, as suggested by this study.
How to consume it: as a tea, it has a light and floral flavor. Organic chamomile is recommended. For purists: it can be found in powder form or as pretty whole flowers! It is particularly indicated in cases of gastroenteritis to calm intestinal disorders and reduce nausea.
4. Desmodium
Desmodium is a plant native to tropical Africa. The species Desmodium adscendens is the most concentrated in active principles. It is a liver-protective plant and may help reduce nausea due to chemotherapy side effects. These effects have been analyzed in this study. It’s a particularly effective natural anti-vomiting agent.
How to consume it: consult your pharmacist and doctor before taking during chemotherapy. It can be consumed as a tea or decoction. It is also available in capsule form or as a concentrated drinkable solution.
5. Dill
Sometimes humorously nicknamed “stinky fennel,” dill is an ally of digestive health and a natural anti-vomiting agent. Its aniseed flavor enhances the taste of fish dishes, among others. It has antispasmodic properties, meaning it reduces muscle spasms and particularly those that accompany vomiting.
How to consume it: drink in tea several times a day by adding a few crushed seeds or leaves to a cup of hot water. You can also add some leaves to a dish. It is recommended to use them fresh to maximize their benefits. It is also available as an essential oil to ease nausea.
What is the mechanism behind vomiting and how to alleviate it?
Depending on the situation, the causes of nausea and vomiting may be minor, like seasickness, a migraine, or an overly heavy meal. These symptoms are much more concerning when related to food poisoning or an intestinal blockage, for example! In all cases, it is a reflex commanded by the brain.
Vomiting: a mechanical reaction triggered by the brain
In general, nausea and vomiting resemble a protective reflex of the body to combat 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, certain brain areas. Once alerted, the brain will trigger a mechanical reaction of our body.
For example, when one has overloaded their liver after a too hearty or too boozy meal, a message will be sent to the brain and trigger vomiting. During motion sickness, there is an observed disparity between the eyes that see the landscape passing by, the inner ear that perceives the body in motion, and the immobility of muscle tissue.
The brain will quickly be alerted! A simple emotion, a memory can also trigger a reaction: recalling a dish that made us sick in our childhood, for example.
After that queasy sensation that characterizes nausea, an unpleasant physical reaction is prepared. The abdominal belt contracts, and the body will expel in a pressure movement the contents of the stomach into the esophagus and then into the mouth.
How do antiemetics or anti-vomiting agents work?
In Latin, emeticus means “emetic”, capable of causing vomiting. An antiemetic is a substance that will block vomiting.
Antiemetics commonly refer to medicines that block the stimulation action at the brain level. They also allow the stomach to relax. They are widely used in motion sickness cases, during pregnancy, to alleviate the effects of anti-cancer chemotherapy, etc.
