Herbal Remedies for Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are symptoms of numerous health problems (from viral gastroenteritis, rotavirus infection, gastroparesis or intestinal obstruction to migraine, vestibular neurosis, depression or heart attack etc.), they may occur as side effects of various medications (mostly chemotherapy) or as part of the morning sickness of early pregnancy. Although nausea and vomiting are rarely the sole symptoms of a life-threatening problem, if the manifestations are severe, you might need to seek proper medical attention. If they are not, you can try to relieve them with some herbal remedies and plenty of rest. If you have nausea and vomiting, you might need specific medication for an eventual underlying disease, or you might only have to deal with the symptoms themselves. Either way, you will definitely benefit from the antiemetic properties of the following herbs.

Valerian

Individual herbs (composition, preparation and administration)

• Peppermint – menthol, menthone, menthofuran, alpha pinene, phenanthrene, limonene, cadinene, cineol, acetic and isovaleric aldehydes, amylic and isoamylic acids, thymol, carvacrol, caryophyllene, sesquiterpenic alcohols
  • Infusion: Add 1 teaspoon of dried plant in a cup of hot boiled water and let steep for 5-10 minutes. Drink cold and gradually.
• Lemon balm – citral, citronellol, citronellal, geraniol, linaloll, caffeic acid, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, stachyose
  • Infusion: Add 1 teaspoon of dried plant in a cup of hot boiled water and let steep for 5-10 minutes. Drink 2-3 cups a day.
• Iceland moss – lichenin, cetraric acid, licheno-stearic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, thallochlor
  • Decoction: Add 1 teaspoon of dried plant in 250 ml of water and boil for 10-15 minutes. Add a pinch of baking soda. Drink cold and gradually.
• Valerian – caffeic acid, valerianine, valepotriates
  • Powder: Take 1 pinch, 3 times a day or when needed.
  • Tincture: Add 20 g of dried plant in 100 ml of alcohol 40% and let it macerate for 8 days. Take 15-20 drops in a glass of water, 2-3 times a day.
• St. Benedict’s herb – gein (a heteroside, precursor of eugenol), tannins
  • Decoction: Add 2 teaspoons of dried plant in 250 ml of water and boil for 5 minutes. Drink before breakfast.
• Wormwood – azulene, beta thuyone, thuyol, phellandrene, cadinene, absinthin
  • Infusion: Add ½ teaspoon of dried plant in a cup of hot boiled water and let steep for 5-10 minutes. Drink ¼ cup, 2-3 times a day.
  • Tincture: Add 20 g of dried plant in 100 ml of alcohol 40 % and let it macerate for 7 days. Take 15-20 drops in a glass of water, 2-3 times a day.

Tea blends

• Blend 1: Mix 40 g of dried peppermint, 30 g of dried lemon balm, and 30 g of dried chamomile. Add 1 teaspoon of this mixture in a cup of hot boiled water and let steep for 5-10 minutes. Drink cold and gradually.
• Blend 2: Mix 30 g of dried valerian, 30 g of dried chamomile, 30 g of dried caraway, and 10 g of dried lavender. add 1 tablespoon of this mixture in a cup of hot boiled water and let steep for 5-1p minutes. Drink 1-2 cups a day, gradually.
• Blend 3: Mix 20 g of lemon balm, 20 g of brotherwort, 20 g of juniper, 15 g of peppermint, 15 g of caraway, and 10 g of centaury. Add 1 tablespoon of this mixture in a cup of hot boiled water and let steep for 5-10 minutes. Drink cold, 1-2 cups a day or when needed.