Whether it is caused by morning sickness, motion sickness, or indigestion, research shows using essential oils for nausea treatment can be effective.
As someone who has spent hours in the car with motion sickness, aromatherapy has helped me enjoy road trips again!
5 Best Essential Oils for Nausea
Peppermint Essential Oil for Nausea
- Peppermint is one of the most widely used essential oils. A clinical trial concluded peppermint oil successfully decreases postoperative nausea from cardiac surgery.
Menthol is a major part of peppermint. It soothes the body including indigestion in the stomach.
Peppermint gives the body a cool and calming feeling, usually calming any queasiness you may feel.
Lemon Essential Oil for Nausea
If you are one of the 50-80% of pregnant women reporting morning sickness, then lemon essential oil may be a necessary remedy.
Essential oils are gaining popularity among pregnant women. This stems from concern that antiemetic drugs can be harmful to the development of the baby. When I was pregnant ginger chews and lemon tea were both great stomach soothers, especially in the first trimester.
I am not pregnant now, but I love starting my morning by diffusing lemon essential oil! It adds such a light and energetic atmosphere to start my day off right.
Ginger Essential Oil for Nausea
Another oil to calm stomachs is ginger. The two main compounds in ginger include gingerol and shagaol. Both of these combine to calm the digestive tract and reduce nausea.
Numerous studies have proven ginger essential oil to reduce nausea from chemotherapy, morning sickness, and surgery.
In one study, pregnant women were given a ginger capsule to consume. A 2010 study reported ginger was more effective than vitamin B6 (which is commonly prescribed to treat morning sickness) in reducing morning sickness.
Lavender Essential Oil for Nausea
- The relaxing properties of lavender make it a preferred essential oil for indigestion. The oil from the flower of lavender is extracted and used in many forms.
Lavender is a calming agent through topical application or oil diffuser. Many people recognize the oil from massages, but the properties of lavender are also known the soothe digestive issues.
As early as 1996, nurses have reported diffusing lavender essential oil to reduce various side effects on their patient’s experience. You can use lavender essential oil to calm the body both inside and out.
Fennel Essential Oil for Nausea
Smelling like black licorice, fennel essential oil is made from crushing the seeds of a fennel plant. Fennel was a common food and medicine used by ancient Egyptians. Fennel has been around for centuries, but scientists have only started studying its benefits in the past few decades. Not a fan of black licorice? That’s ok, your experience with the scent could be totally different than the taste.
In addition to improving gut health, research shows fennel is effective in reducing antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. It has been known to clear your digestive tract along with soothing menstrual cramps.
Get cozy in a fuzzy blanket and add a few drops of fennel essential oil to chamomile tea. Sip and relax while your upset stomach calms.
Quick and Easy Ways to Use Essential Oils
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Oil Diffuser
An oil diffuser brings a spa-like atmosphere and a remedy for nausea. A diffuser will spread an aroma of your choosing throughout your room in a matter of seconds. It breaks down the particles of essential oils into breathable particles that travel through the air. It also purifies and humidifies the air in your home.
I love to make an essential oil blend in my diffuser combining one or two of my favorite essential oils. The smell carries throughout my whole house, but you can also choose to put a diffuser in multiple rooms.
You can also put a car diffuser in order to manage your nausea on the go!
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Carrier Oil
It is important to never put an essential oil directly on your skin. Direct contact with the skin can cause skin irritation for some people.
To prevent this, a carrier oil is needed. Carrier oils dilute the highly concentrated essential oil. Personally, I use coconut oil as a skin moisturizer, so it is my preferred carrier oil. I simply add a few drops of essential oil to the coconut oil and apply it to my body.
Other common carrier oils include jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, and vegetable oil. Even a good unscented moisturizing lotion works great.
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Aromatherapy Accessories
Add a practical accessory to your wardrobe! An aromatherapy bracelet or necklace diffuses an essential oil all day! Place a few drops of any essential oil onto the accessory to release the smell throughout the day. You can also lift it to your nose and inhale for a stronger experience.
If you want a DIY accessory, you can add a few drops of essential oil to a bandana and tie it around your neck or wrist.
What are Essential Oils?
Aromatherapy has been used as a natural remedy for centuries. Extracting the “essence” of a plant has proven to be effective in treating countless ailments.
Research has shown essential oils can be an effective natural remedy. Studies have proven them to be effective in antiviral and antimicrobial treatment. A John Hopkins study concluded some are even more effective than antibiotics in killing Lyme bacteria.
Research on essential oils is fairly new and ongoing. While results in the research may vary, there is still substantial evidence that essential oils are helpful.
In contrast to other home remedies for nausea, essential oils can soothe an upset stomach while you are on the go. I often keep a few essential oils in my purse in order to manage my motion sickness in any environment.
Essential oils are small and easy to transport, making them a quick, accessible remedy.
You can also get more bang for your buck. A single essential oil can be a treatment for multiple situations – not just nausea! Meaning, after purchasing lavender essential oil, you can use it to treat nausea and also help you fall asleep at night!
Essential oils take up a large part of my medicine cabinet because they can be so versatile in their treatments.
Why Essential Oils?
We’ve put a lot of time and thought into this question – learn more about essential oil basics here. In terms of treating nausea with essential oils…
Don’t break the bank by buying expensive medicine that only treats one ailment! Essential oils can be used in countless combinations for a variety of remedies. Essential oils are my go-to when I have an ailment that needs quick remedy. Just one bottle of essential oils can be used in so many ways making the cost quite tiny compared to the cost of other fixes. I bought a pack of essential oils a year ago and they are still half full even with regular use. Essential oils are truly small but mighty!
As mentioned, research in this area is recent, however, there are very few potential side effects. Use a carrier oil on a small portion of your skin initially. As long as no side effects occur, you can add more to your desired location. I have very sensitive skin so I have to be very careful with the topicals I put on my body. I have never had a reaction to essential oils. However, I have contracted hives from multiple over-the-counter medicines.
Essential oils remain my preferred remedy for nausea because of the affordable cost, the longevity of the product, and the lack of potential side effects.
Conclusion – Essential Oils for Upset Stomach
Aromatherapy has been used even before the Greeks and the Romans. But scientific research on them is fairly recent and there is a lot to learn.
Whatever the cause of your nausea we can all agree it’s an awful feeling. If essential oils can bring some quick relief then you should give them a shot. There are many oils that could make a difference and a variety of ways to use them – find what works best for you!
As with all things on this site, we’re not the experts but we are continuing to learn. None of this is medical advice and you should always consult your physician or aromatherapist regarding best practices for your specific situation.
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