If you’re feeling nauseous right now, start with the simplest interventions: sit upright, breathe slowly through your mouth, and sip a small amount of cool water or suck on ice chips. Most nausea passes on its own within a few hours, but there are several things you can do to speed up relief and keep yourself comfortable while it lasts.
The Fastest Trick Most People Don’t Know
Sniffing a rubbing alcohol pad is one of the quickest ways to cut nausea. A 2023 systematic review found that inhaling isopropyl alcohol significantly reduced nausea within 30 minutes and actually worked faster than standard anti-nausea medications given in emergency rooms. In one hospital study, 88% of people who tried it reported symptom improvement, with over half calling it “great” or “good” improvement.
The mechanism isn’t fully understood, but the strong scent appears to create an immediate signal in the brain that interrupts the neural pathway triggering nausea. If you have rubbing alcohol at home, open the bottle and take a few slow, deep inhales from a few inches away. You can also use an alcohol prep pad (the kind in first aid kits). This won’t cure whatever’s causing your nausea, but it can buy you real relief while you figure out next steps.
Controlled Breathing
Deep, deliberate breathing activates your body’s calming response and can reduce the urge to vomit. Inhale slowly through your nose for four counts, hold briefly, then exhale through your mouth for six counts. Repeat this for a few minutes. This works partly because nausea often triggers rapid, shallow breathing, which makes the sensation worse. Breaking that cycle with intentional slow breaths can noticeably calm your stomach.
Ginger for Nausea
Ginger is one of the best-studied natural remedies for nausea. Its active compounds bind to the same serotonin receptors that anti-nausea medications target, blocking the chemical signals that make you feel sick. Research suggests that about 1 gram of ginger per day (roughly half a teaspoon of ground ginger) taken over several days can reduce vomiting by as much as 70% compared to a placebo.
For quick relief, ginger tea, ginger chews, or even flat ginger ale with real ginger can help. Ginger capsules from a pharmacy or health food store are a more concentrated option. If you’re dealing with ongoing nausea from pregnancy, chemotherapy, or motion sickness, consistent daily use tends to work better than taking it only when symptoms flare.
Press the P6 Point on Your Wrist
There’s a pressure point on your inner wrist called P6 that has solid clinical evidence behind it. A Cochrane review found that stimulating this point reduced nausea and vomiting by about 30% and was roughly as effective as anti-nausea drugs. It’s the same point targeted by motion sickness wristbands like Sea-Bands.
To find it, place three fingers across your inner wrist starting at the crease where your hand meets your arm. The point sits just below your index finger, between the two tendons running up your forearm. Press firmly with your thumb and hold for two to three minutes, or massage in small circles. You can do this on either wrist. It won’t work for everyone, but it’s free, safe, and worth trying.
What to Eat and Drink
When nausea strikes, the instinct to avoid food entirely makes sense, but an empty stomach can actually make things worse. The key is eating small amounts of bland, easy-to-digest foods. The classic BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) is fine for a day or two, but you don’t need to limit yourself to just those four foods. Brothy soups, oatmeal, boiled potatoes, plain crackers, and unsweetened dry cereal are equally gentle on the stomach.
Once you can keep bland food down, start adding more nutritious options: cooked squash, carrots, skinless chicken, fish, eggs, and avocado. These are still easy to digest but provide the protein and nutrients your body needs to recover. Avoid greasy, spicy, or heavily seasoned foods until you’re feeling reliably better.
Hydration matters more than food in the short term. Take small, frequent sips of water, clear broth, or an electrolyte drink rather than gulping large amounts at once. If plain water makes your nausea worse, try it slightly chilled or with a small squeeze of lemon. Popsicles and ice chips are good alternatives if even sipping feels like too much.
Over-the-Counter Medications
The right OTC medication depends on what’s causing your nausea. Meclizine (sold as Dramamine Less Drowsy or Bonine) works well for motion sickness, vertigo, and inner-ear-related nausea. It blocks signals in the part of the brain that controls balance and spatial orientation. It can cause drowsiness, though less than older antihistamines like dimenhydrinate.
Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) is better suited for nausea tied to an upset stomach, indigestion, or mild food-related illness. It coats the stomach lining and reduces irritation. Keep in mind that it’s primarily an anti-diarrheal, so it’s most helpful when nausea comes alongside digestive symptoms rather than dizziness or motion sensitivity.
Standard anti-nausea medications can take 30 to 60 minutes to kick in, and some cause side effects like drowsiness, headaches, or dizziness. If you need faster relief while waiting for medication to work, combine it with the breathing techniques or isopropyl alcohol inhalation described above.
Nausea During Pregnancy
Pregnancy nausea affects up to 80% of pregnant people and typically peaks between weeks 6 and 12. The first-line treatment recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is a combination of vitamin B6 and doxylamine (the active ingredient in some OTC sleep aids like Unisom SleepTabs). A typical starting approach uses 12.5 mg of doxylamine, which is half of a standard 25 mg scored tablet.
Ginger is also considered safe during pregnancy at moderate doses. Small, frequent meals, keeping crackers by the bed for early morning snacking, and avoiding strong smells are practical strategies that many people find helpful. If you can’t keep any fluids down for more than 12 hours, that warrants a call to your provider since dehydration during pregnancy needs prompt attention.
Warning Signs That Need Medical Attention
Most nausea resolves on its own or with the strategies above. But certain symptoms alongside nausea signal something more serious. Get to an emergency room if your nausea comes with chest pain, severe abdominal cramping, blurred vision, confusion, a high fever with a stiff neck, or rectal bleeding.
You should also seek urgent care if your vomit contains blood, looks like coffee grounds, or is green. Signs of dehydration, including dark urine, dizziness when standing, dry mouth, and extreme thirst, mean your body is losing more fluid than you’re replacing. A severe headache unlike anything you’ve experienced before, combined with nausea, also warrants immediate evaluation.