Several remedies can ease nausea and an upset stomach, ranging from ginger and peppermint to over-the-counter medications, dietary changes, and simple physical techniques like wrist acupressure. The right choice depends on what is causing your symptoms and how quickly you need relief. Nausea itself is not a disease but a protective signal, driven by a network of brain and gut pathways that respond to toxins, motion, hormones, and even emotional stress. That complexity is why no single remedy works for every situation, but it also means you have a lot of options.
Ginger
Ginger is one of the most studied natural remedies for nausea, with research stretching back decades. Its active compounds appear to work directly on the gut by speeding up gastric emptying and calming contractions, while also influencing receptors in the brain involved in the nausea signal. You can take it as fresh ginger tea, crystallized ginger candy, ginger capsules, or even flat ginger ale (though most commercial ginger ales contain very little actual ginger). For motion sickness, pregnancy-related nausea, or mild stomach upset, many people find that even a small amount of ginger takes the edge off within about 20 to 30 minutes.
The practical tip is to start with a small dose. Chewing on a thin slice of raw ginger root or sipping ginger tea is enough for many episodes. If you are using capsules, doses in studies typically range from about 250 mg to 1 g taken a few times a day. Large amounts on an empty stomach can sometimes cause heartburn, so moderation matters.
Peppermint Oil and Menthol
Peppermint works through a different mechanism than ginger. Its key ingredient, menthol, relaxes smooth muscle in the gut by blocking calcium channels, which reduces the cramping and spasms that contribute to nausea and stomach discomfort. Research has shown that menthol directly inhibits the contractions of both small intestine and colon tissue, which helps explain why peppermint oil capsules are also used for irritable bowel syndrome symptoms like bloating and abdominal pain.1PubMed Central. The physiologic effects and safety of Peppermint Oil and its efficacy in irritable bowel syndrome and other functional disorders
Peppermint tea is the gentlest way to try this. If your nausea comes with crampy abdominal pain, the muscle-relaxing effect can be especially helpful. Enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules are designed to dissolve in the intestine rather than the stomach, which reduces the chance of heartburn. One caution: if your nausea is related to acid reflux, peppermint can actually make things worse. By relaxing the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus, it may allow stomach acid to creep upward. So peppermint is a better fit for nausea linked to indigestion, bloating, or cramping than for nausea that comes with a burning sensation behind your breastbone.
What You Eat and How You Eat It
When your stomach is already unhappy, what and how you eat matters as much as any remedy you take. Fatty foods are one of the biggest culprits for worsening nausea. Research on patients with gastroparesis found that nausea severity more than doubled after a high-fat solid meal compared with a low-fat liquid meal, and symptoms stayed elevated for hours afterward.2PubMed. Effect of dietary fat and food consistency on gastroparesis symptoms in patients with gastroparesis Lab studies have also demonstrated that fat, especially longer-chain fats, increases the stomach’s sensitivity to stretching, which amplifies feelings of fullness, bloating, and nausea in people prone to dyspepsia.3PubMed Central. Dietary fat intake and functional dyspepsia
The practical takeaway is straightforward: when you feel nauseated, stick to bland, low-fat, easily digested foods. Crackers, plain rice, toast, bananas, and broth are classic choices for a reason. A systematic review of dietary approaches for gastroparesis confirmed that low-fat diets and bland, starchy, or salty foods did not worsen symptoms, and that meals made of smaller particles (think pureed or well-chewed soft foods) actually improved gastric emptying time.4PubMed Central. Dietary Interventions for Gastroparesis: A Systematic Review Eating smaller, more frequent meals rather than large ones also helps, because a stomach that is less distended sends weaker nausea signals.
Staying Hydrated Without Making It Worse
Dehydration is both a consequence and a contributor to nausea. Vomiting and diarrhea deplete fluids fast, and once you are dehydrated, nausea tends to intensify. But gulping down a big glass of water on a churning stomach can trigger more vomiting. The trick is small, frequent sips.
Plain water works, but oral rehydration solutions are more effective when fluid loss is significant, because they contain a specific balance of sodium and glucose that helps your intestine absorb water more efficiently. Research has shown that the ratio of sodium to glucose in the solution is key: fluid absorption peaks at a moderate glucose concentration, and when glucose is too high, the intestine actually secretes water rather than absorbing it.5PubMed Central. Potency of Oral Rehydration Solution in Inducing Fluid Absorption is Related to Glucose Concentration Perfusion studies have found that optimal water absorption occurs at relatively low glucose concentrations, and that higher concentrations reverse the effect entirely.6PubMed. Jejunal and ileal glucose-stimulated water and sodium absorption in tropical enteropathy: implications for oral rehydration therapy
What this means for you: sugary sports drinks and fruit juices are not ideal rehydration choices when you are vomiting. Their high sugar content can pull water into the gut and worsen diarrhea. Commercially available oral rehydration solutions or homemade versions with a small amount of sugar and a pinch of salt are a better bet. If you do not have any of those, diluting juice with water or alternating sips of broth and water gets you closer to the right balance.
Wrist Acupressure
Pressing on a point called P6 (Neiguan), located on the inside of your wrist about three finger-widths below the crease, has a surprisingly solid evidence base for reducing nausea. A Cochrane review pooling data from 40 trials and nearly 5,000 participants found that P6 acupoint stimulation reduced the risk of nausea by roughly 29% and the risk of vomiting by about 30% compared with sham treatment in people recovering from surgery. It also reduced the need for rescue anti-nausea medication by a similar margin.7PubMed Central. Stimulation of the wrist acupuncture point P6 for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting A randomized controlled trial also found that the technique was even more effective at reducing nausea intensity than at preventing vomiting, and that it improved patient comfort overall.8PubMed. The Effect of Neiguan Point (P6) Acupressure With Wristband on Postoperative Nausea, Vomiting, and Comfort Level: A Randomized Controlled Study
You can press this point firmly with your thumb for a minute or two, or buy inexpensive acupressure wristbands (often marketed as “sea bands”) that apply continuous pressure. The beauty of this approach is that it costs nothing, has no side effects, and you can use it alongside any other remedy. It is especially popular for motion sickness and morning sickness, where medication options may be limited.
A Quick Trick With Rubbing Alcohol
One of the more surprising nausea remedies that has gained traction in emergency departments is inhaling isopropyl alcohol. You tear open an alcohol prep pad (the kind used before injections) and take a few slow, deep sniffs. The effect kicks in faster than most oral anti-nausea drugs. A narrative review of clinical experience with this technique noted that inhaled isopropyl alcohol has a more rapid onset compared with traditional antiemetics, though the effect tends to be short-lived. Results have been more favorable in emergency department settings, where it reduced nausea and vomiting from various causes in adults.9PubMed Central. Clinical experience with the use of inhaled isopropyl alcohol to treat nausea and vomiting: A narrative review
Researchers are not entirely sure why it works. Part of the benefit may simply come from controlled, deep breathing, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system and calms the vomiting reflex. The alcohol vapor itself may also stimulate olfactory pathways in a way that interrupts the nausea signal. Either way, it is a useful tool when you feel a wave of nausea coming on and need a few minutes of relief while waiting for other treatments to kick in. You should not drink rubbing alcohol, obviously, but sniffing it from a pad is considered safe in moderation.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Several pharmacy-aisle options target nausea and upset stomach through different mechanisms, so knowing which to reach for depends on what is going on.
- Bismuth subsalicylate: The active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol. It has both antisecretory and antimicrobial effects in the gut. The salicylate component reduces the secretion of fluid into the intestine, while the bismuth portion has direct antimicrobial activity against bacteria that cause diarrhea.10PubMed. Bismuth subsalicylate in the treatment and prevention of diarrheal disease Animal studies have shown it can inhibit the fluid accumulation caused by bacterial toxins by anywhere from roughly 60% to over 90%, depending on the toxin involved.11Reviews of Infectious Diseases. Antisecretory and Antiinflammatory Properties of Bismuth Subsalicylate This makes it a good choice for nausea accompanied by diarrhea, especially traveler’s diarrhea or mild food poisoning. Be aware it can turn your tongue and stool black, which is harmless but alarming if you are not expecting it.
- Antihistamines: Drugs like meclizine and dimenhydrinate are first-line treatments for motion sickness.12PubMed Central. The effects of meclizine on motion sickness revisited They work by dampening signals in the vestibular system, the inner-ear balance apparatus that goes haywire during car rides and boat trips. Their main downside is drowsiness, though meclizine tends to be less sedating than dimenhydrinate.
- Scopolamine: Available as a prescription patch in the US but over the counter in some countries, scopolamine is an anticholinergic agent that blocks input to the brain’s vomiting center and the vestibular nuclei.13PubMed Central. Motion sickness: an overview The behind-the-ear patch delivers the drug slowly over three days, making it popular for cruises and long trips. Side effects include dry mouth and occasionally blurred vision.
Prescription Antiemetics
When over-the-counter options are not enough, prescription medications offer stronger relief. Ondansetron (Zofran) is one of the most widely prescribed. It blocks serotonin receptors in both the brainstem’s area postrema and on vagus nerve terminals in the gut, which are two of the main relay stations in the nausea pathway.14PubMed. Pharmacology of ondansetron Originally developed for chemotherapy-induced nausea, it is now commonly prescribed for post-surgical nausea, gastroenteritis, and other causes. It comes in tablets that dissolve on the tongue, which is helpful when swallowing a pill feels impossible.
Other prescription antiemetics include promethazine (a sedating antihistamine), metoclopramide (which speeds up gastric emptying), and prochlorperazine (a dopamine blocker). Each works on different receptors, so if one does not help, another might. Your doctor may also prescribe a short course of a benzodiazepine if anxiety is amplifying your nausea, since the brain’s emotional circuitry and its nausea circuitry share significant overlap.
Nausea During Pregnancy
Morning sickness affects up to about three-quarters of pregnant women, and the standard approach to treating it differs from general nausea management. The combination of doxylamine and pyridoxine (vitamin B6) is the only medication specifically FDA-approved for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, marketed as Diclegis in the US. It is recommended as first-line pharmacological treatment by several professional organizations.15PubMed Central. Doxylamine succinate-pyridoxine hydrochloride (Diclegis) for the management of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: an overview A randomized placebo-controlled trial found that it produced a significantly larger improvement in nausea and vomiting symptoms and quality of life compared with placebo.16PubMed. Effectiveness of delayed-release doxylamine and pyridoxine for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: a randomized placebo controlled trial Safety data from studies involving more than 200,000 first-trimester exposures have shown no increased risk of birth defects.17PubMed Central. The delayed-release combination of doxylamine and pyridoxine (Diclegis®/Diclectin ®) for the treatment of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy
Before reaching for medication, many pregnant women find relief from the same strategies mentioned above: ginger, small bland meals, wrist acupressure, and staying hydrated. Vitamin B6 on its own (without doxylamine) is often tried as an initial step, since it is widely available and well tolerated. Interestingly, some researchers view normal pregnancy nausea as a functioning defense system rather than a malfunction. A review of the evolutionary evidence found the strongest support for the idea that nausea and vomiting of pregnancy protects the mother and embryo from harmful substances in food, particularly bacteria in meat and toxins in strong-tasting plants.18PubMed. Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy in an evolutionary perspective That does not make it less miserable, but understanding that it is a normal biological signal rather than something wrong can be reassuring.
Probiotics and Gut Health
If your nausea is chronic and tied to ongoing digestive problems like functional dyspepsia (persistent upper-stomach discomfort without a clear structural cause), probiotics may offer some benefit. Probiotics have been suggested as a treatment option based on their potential to reduce gut inflammation and rebalance the microbial populations in the stomach and small intestine.19PubMed Central. Probiotics in Functional Dyspepsia One proposed mechanism is that certain probiotics reduce populations of bacteria that produce toxic byproducts irritating to the stomach lining.20PubMed Central. Efficacy of prebiotics and probiotics for functional dyspepsia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
The honest assessment, though, is that the evidence here remains mixed. Some people with chronic indigestion report improvement with specific probiotic strains, while others notice no change. Probiotics are not a quick fix for an acute bout of nausea; they are more of a long-term strategy for people whose digestive systems seem chronically out of balance. If you are dealing with a one-off stomach bug or food poisoning, probiotics are unlikely to help in real time.
Hypnosis and Relaxation Techniques
The connection between the brain and the gut is not a metaphor. Stress, anxiety, and anticipation of nausea can all amplify the sensation. Clinical trials have found that hypnosis is effective for nausea and vomiting related to chemotherapy as well as for irritable bowel syndrome.21PubMed Central. Hypnosis and relaxation therapies Deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and guided imagery can also lower baseline nausea intensity, especially for people who notice that their nausea gets worse when they are anxious or in stressful environments.
This matters for people with anticipatory nausea, which is common in chemotherapy patients who begin feeling sick even before treatment starts, simply because their brain has learned to associate the clinic with vomiting. It also matters for anyone who has noticed a pattern where stress or worry reliably triggers stomach upset. Addressing the mental component is not a substitute for treating the physical cause, but ignoring it leaves a powerful lever unused.
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis and When Cannabis Is the Problem
Cannabis is widely used as a home remedy for nausea, and for some people it genuinely helps. But heavy, long-term use can paradoxically cause a condition called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, characterized by severe, cyclical vomiting episodes. Patients with this condition often discover on their own that hot showers or baths provide temporary relief. In one case series of 98 patients, hot water bathing was documented in 57 of them, and roughly 91% of those individuals reported symptom relief from the hot water.22Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis: A Case Series of 98 Patients
The learned compulsive bathing behavior is considered a hallmark of the condition.23PubMed Central. Cannabinoid hyperemesis relieved by compulsive bathing The only lasting treatment is stopping cannabis use entirely. This syndrome is worth knowing about because it often goes undiagnosed for months or years, during which patients may undergo expensive and invasive testing. If you or someone you know uses cannabis regularly and experiences unexplained episodes of severe nausea and vomiting that respond to hot showers but not to standard anti-nausea drugs, cannabinoid hyperemesis should be on the list of possibilities.
When to See a Doctor
Most bouts of nausea and upset stomach resolve on their own within a day or two, especially if they stem from a mild stomach bug, overeating, stress, or motion sickness. But certain features warrant medical attention. Persistent vomiting lasting more than 24 hours (or 12 hours in young children or older adults), signs of dehydration like dark urine and dizziness on standing, vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds, severe abdominal pain, or high fever alongside vomiting all signal something that home remedies alone cannot address. Nausea that keeps coming back over weeks without an obvious explanation also deserves investigation, since it can reflect conditions ranging from peptic ulcers and gallbladder disease to medication side effects and anxiety disorders.
Keep in mind that many common medications cause nausea as a side effect, including antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, iron supplements, and some antidepressants. If your nausea started shortly after beginning a new medication, talk to your prescriber before layering on anti-nausea remedies that may mask a signal worth paying attention to.