Do you suffer upset stomach, even after taking migraine headache treatments? Raid your pantry for these ten natural herbal ingredients for nausea and vomiting.
The pain isn’t always the hardest part…
Migraine headache pain can be excruciating, indeed. For 90% of all migraineurs, chronic head pain can get bad enough to keep you out of work for hours, sometimes days. And the throbbing, piercing headaches aren’t always the worst part- for many, stomach-crunching nausea and vomiting cause the most agony. While prescription migraine medications like Imitrex or Maxalt relieve nausea to a degree, they are not 100% effective at preventing or alleviating migraine headache symptoms.
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For nausea, look no farther than your spice rack
For the times when prescribed migraine treatments don’t perform as promised, it is comforting to know that there are many alternative home remedies for quelling stomach upset. If you’ve ever baked gingerbread or pumpkin pie, then you already have some of the best natural ingredients for relieving nausea in your kitchen cupboard. Spices like cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves are excellent at easing stomach queasiness. Other remedies like ginseng or rooibos require a visit to your local health food stores.
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Ten home remedies for nausea and vomiting that you (probably) already have:
1- American ginseng: Used by alternative medicine practitioners for digestive health, American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is an effective tonic that alleviates occasional acid reflux, bloating, and uncomfortable fullness. For best health results, use before feelings of nausea become severe.
2- Peppermint: Peppermint tea and peppermint oil are therapeutic for relieving sour stomach symptoms, such as occasional indigestion, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting. Note that peppermint extract is not comparable to peppermint oil; the oil of the mint leaf produces a much more powerful, more pungent mint essence that is most suitable herbal benefits. For tea, brew fresh peppermint leaves in boiling water, but don’t strain; chew the wilted peppermint leaves between sips of tea. Alternatively, substitute dried peppermint leaves.
3- Cinnamon and cloves: Sipping tea made by brewing one-half of a teaspoon of cinnamon, or one teaspoon of cloves, is an age-old practice for upset stomach. Pour one cup of boiling water over spices, allow to seep, and strain.
4- Cumin and nutmeg: Alternatively, an infusion of one teaspoon of crushed cumin seeds and a pinch of nutmeg is also effective for relieving sour stomach.
5- Ginger: One of the best natural ingredients for nausea is ginger, which is available in many forms. If you’re a purist, simply peel and grate a piece of ginger root, squeeze it through a garlic crusher, and catch the healing juices in a small bowl. Drink by the teaspoon, or add to hot water or tea. Ginger pills are also a popular option. Other ways to get your ginger:
- Pickled ginger, the kind that comes with sushi
- Candied, crystallized ginger
- Ginger chews
- Ginger tea
- Ginger ale made with pure ginger extracts- not the kind you can get at the corner supermarket
- Extra spicy gingersnaps
6- Onion: Still got your ginger? To one teaspoon of grated ginger, add one teaspoon of fresh onion juice. It’s not for the faint of heart, but many people swear by its ability to calm queasy stomachs.
7- Lavender: Topical lavender oil (Lavandula angustifolia) is a favored aromatherapy ingredient for enhancing digestive health; that is because lavender contains camphor oil, a powerful tonic for relieving upset stomach. To make a lavender-scented migraine sachet, take a small square of fabric (a cloth napkin or bandana would work in a pinch), sprinkle some dried lavender in the center, and douse with a few drops of lavender oil. Bring all four corners together and secure with a piece of ribbon or string. Inhale deeply whenever you feel stressed, nauseous, or strung out.
8- Rooibos: Rooibos tea is beneficial for providing antioxidant protection, in addition to promoting good indigestion, a healthy inflammatory response, and soothing stress. Rooibos is gentle enough for infants, and is helpful for relieving sour stomach.
9- Aniseed: Aniseed has a lovely, licorice-like aroma. Brew a cup of sweet aniseed tea for good digestive health. Pour a half-cup of boiling water over a quarter teaspoon of aniseed; seep five minutes. Aniseed also adds a pleasing taste to cooked vegetables, soups, and salads.
10- Vinegar: After vomiting, rinse your mouth with one part vinegar and one part water. The healthful properties of vinegar are useful for removing the smell of stomach acids and promoting dental health. Without swallowing or gargling, gently swish a quarter-cup of vinegar with a quarter-cup of water in your mouth, and then spit.
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Sources:
Nausea and Vomiting – Herbal Remedies Guide
4 Natural Remedies for Nausea – Digestive Health Center – Everyday Health