Essential Oils For Nausea
Whether you’re dealing with motion sickness or morning sickness, nausea is a disruptive and unpleasant ailment. Regardless of whether it’s travel, motion, or sea sickness, everyone will experience nausea at some point in time.
Some essential oils are now known to help alleviate the feeling of nausea through various aromatherapy practices, and are considered a natural alternative when it comes to relieving nausea.
Benefits Of Essential Oils For Nausea
When looking for a natural alternative for mild nausea relief, there are a variety of essential oils containing natural carminative and antispasmodic properties that are believed to target areas such as digestive and stomach discomfort, nervous tension and inflammation.
Some essential oils are known for the following benefits:
- Promotes relaxation
- Decompresses the mind
- Relaxes the muscles
- Decreases feelings of stress
Using essential oils for nausea relief may provide an inexpensive natural alternative. To get the most out of their many properties, essential oils are commonly used in different aromatherapy practices such as diffusing, massage, adding a few drops to a warm bath and so on.
Best Essential Oils For Nausea
When it comes to nausea relief, there are a range of essential oils that offer versatility through various aromatherapy practices. Here are some of our favourite essential oils for nausea:
Ginger Essential Oil
Ginger Essential Oil releases an earthy, invigorating, spicy aroma that is known to relieve symptoms of nausea and promote overall health. In fact, a 2017 study found that the inhalation of ginger essential oil resulted in lower reporting of nausea and vomiting in postoperative patients. Ginger has a high concentration of Gingerol, which is also known to alleviate digestive and bowel discomfort.
How To Use Ginger Essential Oil for Nausea
Ginger Oil may help alleviate feelings of nausea in the following ways:
Diffusing: Diffuse Ginger Oil in your aromatherapy diffuser, electric vaporizer or car diffuser (when suffering from car sickness).
Inhaling: Add one drop onto a tissue or handkerchief and inhale the aroma from a distance, ensuring that the essential oil does not come into direct contact with the skin as this may cause irritation.
Warm bath: To help with feelings of inflammation or cramping, add a few drops into a warm bath to help create a relaxing atmosphere.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint Essential Oil has a subtle, yet cool, crisp aroma that is believed to ease stomach and digestive discomfort; for this reason it is a popular choice amongst those wanting to alleviate feelings of nausea. Along with its antispasmodic properties that are known to relax the muscles, Peppermint Oil also acts as an antiemetic (nausea prevention).
How To Use Peppermint Essential Oil for Nausea
Peppermint Oil may help with nausea in the following ways:
Diffusing: Add a few drops of Peppermint Oil to your aromatherapy diffuser, electric vaporizer or car diffuser (when suffering from car sickness).
Inhaling: Add one drop onto a tissue or handkerchief and inhale the aroma from a distance, ensuring that the essential oil does not come into direct contact with the skin as this may cause irritation.
Cardamom Essential Oil
Cardamom Essential Oil has carminative and antispasmodic properties that are known to ease nausea and indigestion while improving blood circulation and reducing fatigue. With a fresh yet spicy aroma, Cardamom Oil has been used since the 4th century (BCE) to relieve digestion discomforts and intestinal issues. In fact, a 2013 study found that when blended and diffused with other essential oils such as Ginger and Peppermint, Cardamom Oil reduced feelings of nausea in postoperative patients.
How To Use Cardamom Essential Oil for Nausea
Cardamom Oil can be used in a variety of ways:
Diffusing: You can add a few drops of Cardamom Oil into your aromatherapy diffuser, electric vaporizer or car diffuser to help alleviate feelings of nausea or motion sickness.
Inhaling: Add one drop onto a tissue or handkerchief and inhale the aroma from a distance, ensuring that the essential oil does not come into direct contact with the skin as this may cause irritation.
Warm Bath: To help with any associated cramping or spasming, add a few drops to a warm bath.
Fennel Essential Oil
The sweet and earthy aroma of Fennel Essential Oil is known to alleviate upset stomachs by helping with digestion, bloating and intestinal discomfort. With its antispasmodic and carminative abilities, Fennel Essential Oil may help with digestive cramps and is a popular choice for those wanting to relieve nervous tension.
How To Use Fennel Essential Oil for Nausea
Diffusing: Add a few drops of Fennel Essential Oil in your aromatherapy diffuser or electric vaporizer
Inhaling: For those who do not own a diffuser or vaporizer, you can add a drop onto a handkerchief or tissue and inhale at a distance; just be sure to avoid direct contact with the skin as this may result in irritation.
Warm Bath: For those wanting to ease inflammation and spasms, simply add a few drops to a warm bath.
Diffusion Guidelines
Essential oils are extremely concentrated and potent so it’s important to apply a safe application when diffusing and diluting. As such, when using essential oils for nausea, it’s important to use the recommended guidelines when diffusing or inhaling.
When diffusing essential oils, always ensure that you are a safe distance from the diffuser. In saying this, we advise against directly inhaling the vapor from the diffuser or vaporiser as this can irritate the sinuses.
If your nausea persists or worsens over 48 hours, or if you begin to feel dehydrated, stop using essential oils and contact your GP or health care professional.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding please consult with your doctor or healthcare professional before using essential oils.
Other Tips For Treating Nausea
Other than essential oils, you can visit your GP or health professional for more advice on nausea. This may include a combination of the following:
- Practicing deep breathing
- Plenty of rest
- Stay hydrated
Where To Buy Essential Oils For Nausea
While essential oils are generally available to purchase at health, wellness and retail stores, it is important to keep in mind that the purity and quality of these oils will vary. That is why we recommend finding a reputable supplier.
Here at AWO, we have a wide selection of 100% pure essential oils and organic essential oils that are sold at reasonable prices. Because our stock is purchased in bulk quantities our costs are significantly less, which allows us to offer our high-quality products at affordable prices. We are also based right here in Australia!
Essential Oil Safety
Whilst essential oils are natural products, they are extremely potent and can cause serious harm if used incorrectly. For this reason, we recommend the following:
- In line with the Therapeutic Goods Act, we do not recommend ingesting essential oils without the guidance of a registered Aromatherapist or Naturopath.
- Avoid using essential oils during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding.
- We recommend storing your essential oils in a cool, dry place at room temperature, ensuring that they are not directly exposed to sunlight and are out of reach of children or pets.
- Essential oils can be very concentrated and are likely to cause irritation or reactions if applied directly to the skin. For this reason, it is important to first dilute your essential oils before using topically (on the skin). Our recommended dilution percentages can be found under the ‘Best Essential Oils For Nausea’ section.
Resources
Hunt, R. et al, 2013, ‘Aromatherapy as Treatment for Postoperative Nausea’, Anaesthesia & Analgesia, vol. 117, no. 3, pp. 597-604.
Lee, Y.R. & Shin, H.S., 2017, ‘Effectiveness of Ginger Essential Oil on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting on Abdominal Surgery Patients’, ‘The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine’, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 196 - 200.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness.