Tips for Alleviating a Nauseous and Queasy Stomach

Nausea sometimes hits you out of nowhere. Usually the reason is something small that leaves you a little off but goes away within a few hours. Other times, it's a sign of pregnancy or a more serious issue like food poisoning or the flu. That nauseous, queasy feeling can also be the result of something as simple as overeating, or a major side effect of chemotherapy.

When that queasy feeling sneaks up on you, sometimes the answer is to simply lie down for a short time. This is quite often hard to do, however, especially if you are at work, or at home alone with your young children. So if napping is out, what's left?

Peppermint

If you've ever been to Pizza Hut, you may have been offered a peppermint candy on the way out the door. The reason for this is that peppermint has a calming affect on an upset, queasy stomach. I guess it makes good business sense for Pizza Hut. There's no value in all of your customers leaving your restaurant feeling sick.

If you are feeling nauseous, try a peppermint candy or even peppermint tea. You may find some peppermint products in the natural food section of your grocery store that are designed to help with nausea.

Your Eating Habits

If you are pregnant or you are nauseous due to drug therapy, you may want to alter your eating habits slightly. Eating smaller, more frequent meals can help keep nausea at bay. Remember if you aren't feeling well, you need to keep hydrated. Drink as many glasses of water as you can.

Ginger

Like peppermint, ginger can also help keep a queasy stomach quiet.

Odors

If you are feeling a little off, just the smell of certain things can make you feel worse. Perfumes, chemical smells, and food smells are often culprits. Get away from the source of a smell you know will upset your stomach further, and keep windows open when cooking. Better yet, go lie down if you can, and have someone else cook for you.

Prenatal Pills

When you are expecting, your doctor will most likely prescribe prenatal vitamins. Many women have problems with nausea when taking them. Don't stop taking them if they make you sick, it's important to the health of your baby that you take them as directed by your doctor. Try taking your vitamin with a meal to cut down on the queasy feeling.

Crackers or Bread

Any dry food like crackers or dry toast may help with a queasy stomach. You may see a lot of pregnant women eating crackers when they aren't feeling well, and there is a good reason for this. It does work to some degree, especially when you have an empty stomach upon awakening.

Metformin

If you are on Metformin for diabetes or for fertility treatments related to PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), you may be experiencing nausea after eating. Talk to you doctor about how it is making you feel if the side effects to not go away after six to eight weeks. It takes a while for your body to adjust, so you may just have to deal with it for a while. Cutting down on sugary and carb-laden foods may help alleviate some of the nausea.

Hangover

After a long night out, your stomach might be disagreeing with you. This is the one and only occasion I have found that a greasy meal actually settles my stomach instead of upsetting it further. I'm not sure why this is, and I'm not sure I should recommend it because it may not be the same for everyone. If you try this one when you have a hangover, do so at your own risk!

Final Thoughts

A queasy stomach may be minor and go away quickly, and at other times, it will linger, letting you know something is wrong. If you have an upset stomach that lasts for more than a few days, you should see your doctor. You should also consider you may have some type of food poisoning.

If you are on drug therapy or pregnant, please consult with your doctor before trying anything new to alleviate a nauseous stomach. There may be interactions or complications you may not know of, and your doctor is the only person who should be giving you advice when your nausea is related to a serious medical condition.