Nausea is one of the most uncomfortable sensations—an uneasy, queasy feeling that can turn your stomach. While it’s never welcome, nausea isn’t just an annoyance; it’s your body’s built-in warning system, signaling that something isn’t quite right.
Almost everyone has felt nauseous at some point, and while it may feel miserable, it actually serves a vital purpose. For most of human history, eating was a risky endeavor. Smell and taste act as the first line of defense against spoiled or toxic food, but when those fail, nausea steps in as a last resort. If your body detects something harmful, it may push the emergency eject button—vomiting—to rid your system of potential danger. So while nausea might feel like your body betraying you, it’s often just trying to protect you.
What causes nausea?
Nausea is often linked to disruptions in the upper digestive system (your stomach), but it can also stem from disturbances in the central nervous system (your brain).
Common digestive-related causes include bacterial infections (food poisoning). Before modern food safety regulations, food poisoning posed a serious threat to human survival. Even today, the CDC reports around 76 million cases of food poisoning in the U.S. each year, leading to approximately 300,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths.
One of the most well-known brain-related causes of nausea is motion sickness. If you’ve ever been seasick, you know just how miserable it can be. In fact, the word nausea comes from the Greek word for ship. Motion sickness isn’t limited to boats—it can strike in cars, planes, or even amusement park rides. Other central nervous system-related causes of nausea include:
For women, one of the most common causes of nausea is pregnancy. Morning sickness, which affects many expectant mothers, is thought to be a natural defense mechanism against foodborne illnesses. In early pregnancy, women often develop heightened sensitivity to smells and tastes, making them more cautious about what they eat. This protective mechanism is especially crucial during the first trimester when the developing baby is most vulnerable.
Medications are another frequent culprit. Cancer chemotherapy is infamous for causing nausea, but many other drugs list it as a side effect, including the new GLP-1 weight loss drugs. If you start feeling nauseous after taking a new medication, it’s important to inform your doctor.
Other common causes include viral infections (stomach flu), acid indigestion (ulcers, gastritis, GERD), migraines, brain infections or tumors, concussions, dizziness, and severe anxiety or pain.
What helps with nausea?
There are some simple things you can do to relieve nausea at home.
- Stay hydrated. Drink sips of clear liquid to keep from getting dehydrated.
- Rest and keep still. Motion makes nausea worse.
- Avoid strong odors.
- When you feel like you can keep down some solid food, start with something bland and easy to digest like crackers or toast. [The BRAT diet is often recommended for recovering from nausea. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.
How to stop nausea with nausea medication
There are some over-the-counter (OTC) medications that may help with nausea. The one that works best for you may depend on the cause of your nausea. Some antihistamine OTC medications help relieve nausea and vomiting. They are especially good for nausea caused by motion sickness. These include:
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- Meclizine (Bonine)
- Promethazine (Phenergan)
- Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
If nausea is caused by acid indigestion or gastritis, these OTC medications may help:
- Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol or Kaopectate)
- Sodium bicarbonate (Alka-Seltzer or Bromo Seltzer)
- H2 blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Axiid)
- PPI Proton pump inhibitors (Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec)
- Zegerid (PPI and Sodium Bicarb)
If nausea or nausea and vomiting can’t be controlled at home or with OTC medications, your doctor may prescribe an anti-vomiting medicine called an antiemetic. A common choice is ondansetron (Zofran).
Natural remedies
Home remedies may help some people. People have been using ginger to ease nausea for thousands of years. But like all supplements, there is not much hard evidence. And always the problem with herbal supplements is that they are not controlled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, so you are never sure what you are taking.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, there is some research to support ginger supplements for the treatment of pregnancy nausea and vomiting but not for motion sickness. Two supplements that may also help are the essential oils peppermint and oregano.
When to get help for nausea
Nausea, especially nausea with vomiting, can be dangerous if it goes on for too long. You can get dangerously dehydrated if you are unable to keep down any fluids. Seek medical help if nausea is not going away or if you are unable to keep down any clear fluids. You should also seek help right away if nausea occurs with:
- Bloody vomit or diarrhea
- Severe headache
- Chest pain
