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Medical Author:

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

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Medical Editor:

Bhupinder Anand, MD

The mainstay of home nausea remedies is to drink fluids. Fluid intake helps correct electrolyte imbalance, which may stop the vomiting. Drinking fluids prevents dehydration, which is the main side effect of excessive vomiting.

• Begin with small amounts, such as 4-8 ounces at a time for adults and 1 ounce or less at a time for children. Drink only clear liquids (such as clear soup broth, juice, sports drinks).
• Avoid milk and any dairy products, which can worsen nausea and vomiting.
• After 24 hours of tolerating fluids, work your way up to soft foods, including gelatin, oatmeal, yogurt, and similar soft foods. If vomiting and nausea return, switch back to liquids only.

Ginger may be used to control nausea and vomiting. Studies have shown it to be effective after surgery and for motion sickness. Ginger comes in gelatin capsules, or tea candied or crystallized ginger.

Peppermint oil is reported to relax the muscles in the gastrointestinal tract, and may be a natural cure to help relieve symptoms of nausea and vomiting. It can be used as a tea, in capsules, or inhaled as aromatherapy.

NOTE: If you choose to use remedies involving homeopathy, herbs, dietary and nutritional supplements, acupressure, aromatherapy, and other alternative or complementary healing methods, be advised that these products and techniques have usually not been scientifically proven to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. Serious interactions with prescription and nonprescription medications are always a possibility. Keep your doctor informed about every medication or medicine-like substance you use and seek medical advice for your health concerns before taking any medication or remedy.

Dehydration in children: Children should be given oral rehydration solutions such as Pedialyte, Rehydrate, Resol, and Rice-Lyte.

• Water, soda, tea, and fruit juice will not correctly replace fluid or electrolytes lost with the vomiting. Moreover, water may dilute electrolytes to the point where the patient suffers seizures.
• In underdeveloped nations or regions without available commercial pediatric drinks, the World Health Organization has established a field recipe for fluid rehydration: Mix 2 tablespoons of sugar (or honey) with ¼ teaspoon of table salt and ¼ teaspoon of baking soda. (Baking soda may be substituted with ¼ teaspoon of table salt.) Mix in 1 liter (1 qt) of clean or previously boiled water.

Dehydration in adults: Although adults and adolescents have a larger electrolyte reserve than children, electrolyte imbalance and dehydration may still occur as fluid is lost through vomiting.

• Initially, adults should eat ice chips and clear, noncaffeinated, non-dairy liquids such as sports drinks, ginger ale, fruit juices, and Kool-Aid or other commercial drink mixes.
• After 24 hours of fluid diet without vomiting, begin a soft-bland solid diet such as the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce without sugar, toast, pasta, and potatoes.

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