Natural and Herbal Remedies for Nausea: What Actually Works?
Whether it's a rocky boat ride, a long car trip, morning sickness, or an unsettled stomach after a stressful week, nausea has a way of disrupting your plans. And, if you're someone who doesn’t like to immediately reach for traditional medication when you’re feeling off, you've probably wondered this: do natural remedies and dietary supplements actually work?
Yes, some natural remedies for nausea can work, but the answer is more nuanced than just “yes” or “no.” So, here, we examine the most popular natural and herbal nausea remedies to see what actually deserves a spot in your handbag, go bag, or medicine cabinet.
Understanding Natural Nausea Relief
Natural remedies often target the digestive system or the brain’s "vomiting center" without the heavy sedative effects sometimes found in traditional medications. Of all the natural and herbal remedies for nausea, ginger is the most well-researched, but other remedies may be worth a try depending on your needs and the cause of your nausea.
1. Ginger: The Gold Go-To Nausea Remedy
For centuries, ginger has been used to ease digestive distress. Modern science confirms that ginger contains compounds called gingerols and shogaols that speed up gastric emptying and reduce the digestive spasms that cause that queasy feeling.
- What the research says about ginger and nausea: Clinical studies have shown ginger to be effective for several types of nausea, including pregnancy-related morning sickness, postoperative nausea, and chemotherapy-induced nausea. A review published in Obstetrics & Gynecology1 found ginger significantly reduced nausea severity in pregnant women compared to placebo. For motion sickness specifically, results are more mixed, but many people find it helpful as a preventive measure.
- How to use ginger for nausea: One of the great things about ginger is that it can be consumed in different forms such as fresh ginger root, ginger tea, capsules, or ginger chews.
Quick Tip For best results with ginger, start taking it 30–60 minutes before a potentially nausea-triggering situation, like getting in a car or boarding a plane. |
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2. Peppermint: The Digestive Relaxant
Peppermint’s active compound, menthol, is thought to help relax the smooth muscles in the digestive tract. This can help reduce cramping and queasiness, especially if your nausea is related to indigestion or bloating.
- What the research says about peppermint and nausea: Peppermint oil aromatherapy or peppermint tea can be effective for mild nausea. While one study2 found that peppermint oil aromatherapy significantly reduced nausea intensity in post-surgery patients, the evidence is less robust for motion sickness or general nausea compared to ginger.
- How to use peppermint for nausea: Peppermint tea is the most common form of peppermint used for nausea. If you prefer aromatherapy and it’s safe for you, you may be able to inhale the scent or apply the oil directly to your wrists or temples. Peppermint can worsen acid reflux in some people and aromatherapy can be unsafe for people with certain allergies, asthma, or other respiratory issues, so check with your doctor before using.
3. Chamomile: The Calming Choice
If you are a high-achiever or have a lot of stress in your life, you may already know of chamomile’s calming effects. Because chamomile acts as a mild sedative and anti-inflammatory agent, it may help with nausea as well.
- What the research says about chamomile and nausea: While chamomile has a long history of traditional use for gastrointestinal complaints, the clinical evidence for nausea relief is limited compared to ginger. It tends to be most useful for stress-induced nausea or a general unsettled stomach, even though some of its benefit comes from the calming ritual of sipping warm tea.
- How to use chamomile to calm nausea: A warm cup of chamomile tea is quite easy to make. Steep one chamomile tea bag or about two teaspoons of dried chamomile flowers in hot water for five minutes. Chamomile is generally very safe, but, if you have ragweed allergies, talk to your doctor to make sure it’s safe for you.
4. Vitamin B6: The Subtle Regulator
Often recommended for morning sickness or pregnancy-related queasiness, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) plays a role in how your body processes certain amino acids that can impact nausea levels.
- What the research says about vitamin B6 and nausea: Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is one of the most clinically supported natural options for nausea — specifically for pregnancy-related morning sickness. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) actually recommends it as a first-line treatment for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.3 But it may not be as effective for more sudden forms of nausea or motion sickness because the B6 needs to build up in your system over time to work.
- How to use vitamin B6 for nausea: Because B6 is typically used for pregnancy-related nausea, it’s best to consult with your doctor before using. The commonly studied dose is 10–25 mg taken up to three times daily.
Pregnant with frequent nausea? Talk to your OB Vitamin B6 is often recommended for morning sickness, but dosage and timing matter. Always check with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement during pregnancy. |
5. Acupressure Bands: The Easy Approach
Based on traditional Chinese medicine, the acupressure bands apply pressure to the P6 (Neiguan or Nei-Kuan) point—two to three finger widths below the wrist crease between the two tendons on your inner wrist. Pressure on this point is believed to reduce nausea or motion sickness.
- What the research says about acupressure bands and nausea: Some users swear by these wristbands for cruises and road trips, but the clinical evidence is considered mixed but promising. While many studies on motion sickness showed effects comparable to placebo, a Cochrane review analyzing multiple trials4 found that P6 acupressure significantly reduced postoperative nausea and vomiting compared to “sham acupressure” (pressure that was designed to mimic the band but not to have an effect, acting as a placebo for the study).
- How to use acupressure bands for nausea or motion sickness: The benefits of acupressure bands are they’re drug-free, reusable, and safe for virtually everyone. However, they need to stay in contact with the pressure point to work, so you need to follow package instructions carefully to ensure the pressure trigger will lie directly over the P6 point.
For motion sickness, put a band on each wrist before you start traveling, not after nausea has already set in. Combining acupressure bands with another remedy like ginger can offer a layered approach to prevention.
How Do These Nausea Remedies Stack Up? A Quick Comparison
If you don’t have time to read the whole article or need something to refer back to when nausea hits, screenshot this handy chart and keep it in your phone:
Remedy | Best For | Evidence Level | Ease of Use |
|---|---|---|---|
Ginger | Motion sickness, morning sickness, post-op | Strong ✓✓✓ | Very Easy |
Peppermint | Stress/digestive nausea, post-op aromatherapy | Moderate ✓✓ | Easy |
Chamomile | Stress-related nausea, general discomfort | Mild ✓ | Very Easy |
Vitamin B6 | Pregnancy nausea | Strong (for pregnancy) ✓✓✓ | Easy |
Acupressure Bands | Motion sickness, post-op nausea | Moderate ✓✓ | Easy |
The Verdict: Do Natural or Herbal Nausea Remedies Actually?
Natural and herbal remedies work best as a preventive measure or for mild-to-moderate nausea or relief from nausea due to specific causes like pregnancy or stress. Many people find they can effectively manage nausea symptoms with ginger, acupressure bands, and other non-medicated options. However, when you need reliable relief, especially for motion sickness or severe nausea, a clinically proven option like Dramamine® may be the right and easy call.
Experiment. See what works best for you. And keep in mind that you have options—natural and traditional treatments can often be used together. For example, pair a ginger chew with an acupressure band, or simply keep Dramamine ® on hand as a backup while giving one of the more natural or herbal options a try.
The goal is always the same: staying well enough to say yes to the trip, the event, the spontaneous plan with friends, and living fully without nausea getting in the way.
Explore the full Advanced Herbals® line, from the makers of Dramamine® to help keep your life in motion.
1 Vutyavanich T, et al. Ginger for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. Obstetrics & Gynecology (2001). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11275030/
2 Tate S. Peppermint oil: a treatment for postoperative nausea. Journal of Advanced Nursing (1997) — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9231284/
3 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy. Practice Bulletin — https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-bulletin/articles/2018/01/nausea-and-vomiting-of-pregnancy
4 Lee A, et al. Stimulation of the wrist acupuncture point P6 for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2015) — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19370583/