There are many reasons why you might find yourself sick to your stomach. Not only can children get motion sick, but so can adults, which means you may find yourself feeling queasy on an airplane, in the car, or at the theme park after riding a roller coaster. It’s quite common for women to feel sick to their stomach throughout their pregnancy, and an upset tummy is just part of the territory if you come down with the flu or get strep throat.
You should definitely seek medical attention if you think you have an illness or you’re dealing with nausea after hitting your head, but it isn’t always so serious, in which case there are things you can do get rid of it.
Drink Something Cold and Clear
Sometimes, you simply have to settle your stomach if it’s feeling unwell. That’s definitely the case if you’re motion sick. Clear liquids can work quite well without irritating your stomach further.
If you have already thrown up and don’t want to throw up again, it is especially important to drink clear liquids because you may be getting dehydrated. As you throw up, you throw up all the liquids in your stomach before they can be absorbed, which can make you feel even more sick.
Water is the best thing to drink if you have already thrown up, or if you’re dealing with an illness. If you’re feeling sick due to motion sickness, a carbonated drink might help. Just make sure you follow the clear liquid rule. That means drinking some Sprite or Ginger Ale.
Eat Something Bland
Although eating may be the last thing on your mind if your stomach isn’t feeling well, it may actually be able to settle your stomach. The trick is to make sure you eat the right kinds of foods.
Avoid greasy foods, like French fries, dairy, and acidic fruit. They all have the potential to irritate your stomach further. Instead, try eating something like:
Eating things that are cold can really help too. Popsicles are great because they can rehydrate you, but things like Jell-O and even ice cream can help.
Reorient Your Body
Reorienting your body can be an extremely effective way to get rid of nausea if you’re feeling motion sick. If you’re in the car make sure your body is facing the front of the vehicle. It can also be helpful to sit in the front seat so you can look out the window. Sitting up if you’re laying back in an airplane or a van can help a lot.
Reorienting your body can also help if you’re sick or experiencing nausea for another reason. For example, always sit up after eating, and avoid crunching your stomach, as it can put pressure on your tummy and make it feel even more upset.
Cool Off
There’s something about cooling off that helps settle the stomach. Cool air tastes fresher than warm, stale air, and it can blow the smell and taste of sick away, if you have already thrown up.
Cooling off might mean something as simple as rolling down the window if you’re in the car or turning on the vent if you’re in an airplane. If you’re feeling ill at home, try placing a cool washrag on your face or the back of your neck. You can also try turning on a fan or turning down the air conditioner.
Use Peppermint
Peppermint may be able to help if you aren’t feeling well. Peppermint oil can reduce post-operative nausea and women in labor sometimes use it when nausea strikes. It can also be used if you’re feeling motion sick.
There are many ways to use peppermint. You can try smelling the essential oil from the bottle or a diffuser, but peppermint can also be effective if you drink it in some iced tea. If you’re sick and you’re on the go, peppermint candy or a stick of gum can be effective.
If peppermint isn’t really your thing, there are other essential oils that may be able to help. You can also try:
You can’t always keep nausea from striking, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck feeling sick to your stomach! There are many natural ways you can reduce the feelings of nausea without spending a lot of money on fancy contraptions or potentially harmful medications.