Aromatherapy has long been recognized as a safe and effective treatment for nausea. There are a variety of scented oils available to help ease rumbling tummies and keep you from making mad dashes to the bathroom.
Aromatherapy is particularly appropriate for women with morning sickness, who need to be careful about what kinds of medications they ingest. It’s also a great option for those who are undergoing nausea-inducing cancer treatments, since they are not a drug and won’t cause undesirable side effects.
You can use aromatherapy oils straight by putting a few drops on a tissue or hanky and placing it over your nose. Alternately, there are a number of aromatherapy products available, including:
- Candles
- Incense
- Nasal plugs
- Misters
- Diffusers
- Herbal wraps
There are many types of scented oil available. Experiment with several types (and possibly even blends) to see what works best for you. Here are a few of the best scented oils for nausea:
- Peppermint. Perhaps the most commonly used oil for nausea. Peppermint oil offers fast relief. As a bonus, it can give you energy and relieve headaches, too.
- Orange. Orange oil is effective for nausea caused by digestive problems. It can also help with other digestive issues like flatulence and constipation. In addition to relieving nausea, orange oil is known as a stress reliever. Orange oils come in sweet orange and Mandarin varieties. Both are effective for relieving nausea.
- Petitigrain. Petitigrain is effective for nausea caused by morning sickness, especially when blended with other essential oils. It also helps with insomnia.
- Ginger. Everyone knows about drinking ginger ale for nausea, but the essential oils are even more effective. Used alone or blended with orange oil, it adds some pep to your step while relieving your nausea symptoms.
- Lavender. Widely regarded as one of the best essential oils for morning sickness. It can be used like other essential oils or added to a hot compress on the tummy. In addition to relieving nausea, it can help calm frazzled nerves.
- Spearmint. Spearmint oil relieves nausea and can be used alone or blended with lavender. In addition to relieving nausea, it helps to reduce fatigue. It is also effective against headaches (including migraines) and as a stress reliever.
These are just a few of the many essential oils which can be used to treat nausea. It’s a good idea to have a variety of essential oils on hand to deal with nausea. Use invigorating oils like peppermint, ginger, and spearmint in the morning when you need to get up and get going with your day. Use soothing oils like lavender when nausea strikes later in the day to help you get some rest.