Nausea has many causes. Anyone old enough to talk can tell you that it is very unpleasant, but you know that already.

This article lists some possible causes of nausea, but this is for completeness. As always, the main concern of most articles on this site is allergies, and nausea can be a symptom of allergies.

After the list of causes are a couple of ideas to alleviate nausea naturally. One is a simple technique you can do any time, anywhere with no special equipment or ingredients. The other is a preparation that is very easy to make and completely harmless (in fact I often make it as a refreshment, nothing more).

Possible Causes of Nausea

Here is a list of possible nausea causes. Some are very serious, and some absolutely are not. Not all of these potential causes or conditions necessarily mean nausea every time. This includes allergies, which can cause nausea for some people in some cases.

Some will pass on their own, some need attention. Nausea on its own is not much of a diagnostic, there are too many possible causes.

• Addison Disease
• Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse
• Allergies
• Appendicitis
• Brain Tumor
• Bulimia
• Cancer
• Certain Medication
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Flu
• Food Poisoning
• Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu)
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
• Gastroparesis
• Heart Attack
• Hydrocephalus
• Kidney Failure
• Migraine
• Motion Sickness
• Nervousness
• Norwalk Disease (also a form of Gastroenteritis)
• Pancreatitis
• Peptic Ulcer
• Pregnancy (Morning sickness)
• Sea Sickness (motion sickness)
• Sleep Deprivation
• Tobacco Smoking / Second-hand Smoke
• Vestibular Balance disorder
• Viral Hepatitis

... to name a few. Just because you are experiencing nausea, does not mean to say you should worry that you have one of the more serious diseases listed above!

Until I got a handle on my allergies, I often experienced nausea. I learned a trick to control it, which I will explain here. I suggested this to my dad, who is experiencing post-operative nausea,

Nausea Remedies

Here are two ways to remedy nausea that you can do at home, or any were. Well, one of them works anywhere, the other works anywhere you can boil water. They are both very safe.

Nausea Remedy 1: Acupressure

This technique is very easy and somewhat effective. I have used it a lot in the past. I have found it to reduce nausea somewhat. Not everyone finds it effective, but it is also possible that if pressure is not put in quite the right place that this technique may not work effectively.

The technique is very simple. Put light pressure on the back of your wrist, about two to three finger-widths below the bottom of the hand, and just between the two tendons that run the length of your wrist. This acupressure point is called P6.

Seabands are a commercial product that apply the pressure in the right place (providing the bands are correctly placed on your wrist). Some people find they work, others find they don't.

My advice is to try this technique (or the seabands) and assume it will work. I have found that after a few minutes, the level of nausea looses its intensity to the point where I can manage it, or disappears completely.

This technique is not producing dramatic results for my dad unfortunately.

Nausea Remedy 2: Ginger Tea

This is a very simple herbal remedy.

Take fresh ginger root (about a half to one inch of root per person, depending on how thick the root is), and slice it up thinly. It is easier to slice along the fibers than across them (and this keeps the knife sharper too).

Add the ginger to a pot and boil for 15 to 20 minutes.

Pour into a cup (through a strainer) and drink.

That's it. It is very tasty, and I like it just as a hot drink.

This one seems to work for my dad.

External Links

• Wikipedia on Nausea
• Wikipedia on Acupressure
• Wikipedia on Acupuncture point
• Skeptical view of SeaBands
• Wikipedia on Ginger
• Original source of ginger as a herbal remedy

Technorati Tags: Definition Nausea