What helps nausea?

If you have any of the following, seek emergency help right away.

• High fever
• Severe abdominal pain
• Blood in vomit or material that looks like coffee grounds
• Severe dizziness, fainting, or signs of dehydration (dry mouth, low urine output)
• Difficulty speaking, vision changes, or other new neurological symptoms

The following low-risk approaches may help some people with nausea. They may not work for everyone; seek professional care for severe or prolonged symptoms.

• Ginger tea or products containing ginger are reported to help some people
• Peppermint tea or peppermint aroma can be soothing for some
• Bland, low-fat foods (for example, plain toast or crackers) may be better tolerated
• Eat small, frequent portions rather than large meals
• Keep up adequate fluid intake; seek care if you cannot keep fluids down or show dehydration signs

See your primary care clinician or go to emergency care in the following situations. Medical assessment helps guide treatment and referral if needed.

• Nausea lasts longer than a few days or gets worse
• Accompanied by high fever, severe abdominal pain, or persistent vomiting
• You cannot keep fluids down and show dehydration signs
• You are pregnant or suspect you might be pregnant

Start with Family Medicine; depending on the evaluation you may be referred to Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, or Otorhinolaryngology. Preparing some information before the appointment can help the clinician.

• Time of symptom onset and how long symptoms have lasted
• Whether you are vomiting and whether there is blood in vomit
• Presence of fever, diarrhea, or abdominal pain
• Any prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal products you are taking
• Pregnancy status or date of last menstrual period