Ayurveda can help manage vomiting without leaving any side effects even in the long run. Here are some ayurvedic home remedies for vomiting that might help!
Reasons for Vomiting
Vomiting is the forceful expelling of the contents of your stomach through your mouth. Vomiting is what your body resorts to getting rid of harmful substances in your stomach. It could be your body’s response to irritation in the gastrointestinal tract. A feeling of uneasiness or nausea usually precedes vomiting. Vomiting is not a disease but a symptom of other underlying health conditions.
Vomiting can be limited to a single incidence or can occur repeatedly. You must consider recurrent bouts of vomiting as serious and seek immediate medical aid as an emergency. The reasons for vomiting can be different in babies, adults, and pregnant women.
In adults, reasons for vomiting include:
- Contaminated food
- Overeating or indigestion
- Bulimia
- Bacterial or viral infections in the gastrointestinal tract
- Worm infestation in the gut
- Ulcers
- Bowel Obstruction
- Food Allergies
- Reaction to certain smells
- Motion sickness
- Chemotherapy
- Migraine headaches
- Appendicitis
- Acid reflux
- Gallstones
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Inner ear imbalance
- Acute pain or fear
- Crohn’s disease
- Anxiety
- Excess alcohol consumption
- Concussion
- Heart attack
- Pregnancy
- Cancer
- Certain medications and anaesthesia.
The reasons for vomiting in babies include viral infections in the gut, food allergies, lactose intolerance, swallowing milk quickly, overfeeding, infections, ingestion of toxins, intussusception, and congenital pyloric stenosis.
Ayurvedic Home Remedies for Vomiting
According to Ayurveda, high pitta in the stomach can cause the gastric acid to irritate the gastric membrane, which can further lead to nausea and vomiting. It advocates the necessity to avoid overly hot, fermented, fatty and spicy foods when you are feeling nauseous or vomiting. Ayurveda offers natural, safe and effective remedies for vomiting.
1. Ayurvedic Drinks
-Lime Juice and Baking Soda
Add 10 drops of lime juice to a cup of water and add ½ teaspoon sugar and ¼ teaspoon baking soda. Stir all the ingredients well and drink it.
-Cumin and Nutmeg
Steep a teaspoon of cumin seeds and a pinch of nutmeg in a cup of hot water for a few minutes and drink it. Cumin seeds will reduce the inflammation in your stomach and nutmeg will ease the urge to vomit.
-Honey and Lemon Juice
Mix equal quantities of honey and lemon juice and consume small quantities of it to get rid of nausea.
-Chamomile Tea
Steep chamomile petals in hot water and drink the tea.
-Cinnamon Powder
Alternatively, add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon powder to a cup of warm water and drink it.
2. Other Ayurvedic Remedies
Consume Indian gooseberry in juice, candy, or preserve form to treat nausea. You can chew a few cardamom pods to ease the feeling of nausea and vomiting.
Other Home Remedies
In general, it is advisable to drink clear liquids, soda, or fruit juice whenever you feel nauseous. Eat small, easy-to-digest, light foods and take oral rehydration solutions. Take plenty of rest and avoid strenuous physical activity to treat vomiting. Avoid lying down soon after a meal and avoid drinking water and other liquids along with meals.
Besides, practice deep breathing or yoga whenever you feel like vomiting. To ease the vomit feel, eat fresh ginger or drink ginger tea, mint tea, fennel tea or clove tea. Suck on ice chips, inhale essential oils like lavender, lemon, chamomile, peppermint or rose through a diffuser. Lie down with your head and back propped up and take over-the-counter medications like Pepto-Bismol.
When to See A Doctor
Rush to a doctor if the vomiting continues for more than a day or if you are not able to retain fluids. If you notice blood in the vomit or if the vomit is slightly green, it could be a sign of an underlying health condition. If you are severely dehydrated due to continuous vomiting and you feel excessive thirst accompanied by a high heart rate, it’s advisable to seek medical attention. Seek medical help if you witness any of the following:
- Sunken eyes
- Extreme fatigue
- Severe chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Headache
- Confusion
- Blurred vision
- Stomach pain
- Stiff neck
- High fever
If you suspect pregnancy to be causing the vomiting, then consult your doctor. If your child is vomiting, seek medical attention immediately as children can get dehydrated very quickly and it can even become a medical emergency.