Nausea is a horrible feeling. It’s that lightheaded, queasy sickness that says, “If you don’t do something soon, you are going to throw up”. Not fun. Luckily, there are some easy, simple ways to use essential oils to quell that queasy feeling. That way you can see straight again and get on with your life.
If, however, you don’t know the reason for your nausea, then it is important that you see your physician. Chronic nausea can be a symptom of a variety of serious illnesses that may need to be addressed. Treating symptoms is helpful as long as you are also treating the root. You can still use oils to manage your nausea, but the underlying cause should never be neglected.
If you want to try essential oils for nausea relief, here are a few that work wonders:
1. Peppermint
Peppermint has a long and proven track record of relieving stomach discomfort, including nausea. The oil aids in digestion, is antiviral, antispasmodic, anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and analgesic. It helps relax stomach muscles, which allows your body to release more digestive enzymes, speeding up digestion.
It’s strong scent can also cut through other smells that may be triggering nausea, helping to clear and cover them. In the absence of being able to step into fresh air, a whiff of peppermint can help immensely.
To use peppermint oil, either place one drop in a cup of hot water and sip slowly until symptoms pass, or place a few drops on a cloth and breath in the fragrance. This oil can also be safely rubbed into the chest and abdomen. Either method should start to break through the nausea quickly.
This method is only suitable for adults and should never be used with young children, as children tend to be intolerant of peppermint.
2. Ginger
Ginger is frequently used to combat chronic nausea. The strong, distinct smell of this root is energizing and settling to an upset stomach. Ginger root is a laxative, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and anesthetic. This is one of the most effective natural remedies for motion sickness. One of the main nutrients in ginger, called gingerol, is thought to not only affect the digestive tract, but the nervous system as well.
To use this oil, drop a few drops in a cup of water and sip, or you can inhale by the use of a diffuser or by placing a few drops on a napkin or tissue.
3. Lemon
Lemon is a great natural remedy for nausea. Ideally, smelling a fresh lemon can ease symptoms, or sipping a little lemon juice with honey can relieve them. But in the absence of either of these, lemon oil is a great substitute. Using lemon oil in the place of a whole lemon or lemon juice is much more practical when nausea tends to come and go in public places or as the result of traveling.
Lemon is a wonderful anti-inflammatory that is very effective at cleansing and detoxifying our digestive process and its scent is rejuvenating and refreshing.
Other citrus fruits can help as well, such as mandarin or sweet orange oil. Just use them the same way you would lemon oil.
4. Chamomile
Chamomile is the gentlest of all of the oils you can use for nausea, so if the first three are too much for you, then try this one. Chamomile has a wonderfully calming effect on your stomach and is completely harmless, even on the most sensitive of tummies. The smell can help cut through nausea, as can a few drops in a cup of hot water. You can also place a few drops in a steam bath and then inhale the steam under the cover of a towel.
If even that is too overwhelming, don’t smell or taste it at all. Try a few drops on a cold compress applied to the back of your neck.
Conclusion
Whatever the cause of your nausea, there are effective natural remedies that can ease or eliminate your discomfort. If your nausea is the result of pregnancy, do not use essential oils except with the express permission and supervision of a licensed healthcare provider. Essential oils can alter the body’s balance of hormones and, in pregnancy, this is a very important and delicate balance.
If you’re given the go-ahead by your physician or your nausea is not pregnancy related, then give these essential oils a try and see if they stop the spinning and allow you to get on with your life.