'Tis the season for the stomach flu. Even if you manage to avoid the flu, you could be someone who is blessed with the wonderful news that you're expecting and that you get to spend the next few months suffering through morning sickness. Going beyond that, chemotherapy can wreak havoc on your system and cause bouts of nausea and vomiting.
Knowing how to combat the nausea and calm your stomach can become a gift that is worth more than all the gold in the world. The great news about home remedies is that they don't cost much and are easy to implement. Check out these 7 easy ways to calm your queasy stomach.
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1. Ginger. Ginger has great calming abilities for the stomach. Medical News Today recommends using ginger in any form you can take it. Healthline states you can eat a piece of fresh ginger root or make a cup of ginger tea. Add 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger to 1 cup of boiling water and steep it for 10 minutes.
2. Fluids. WebMD recommends drinking lots of fluids. The top recommendations are water, clear broths or sports drinks. Caffeinated drinks and sodas should be avoided.
3. Bland foods. If the cause of the nausea is pregnancy or chemotherapy, WebMD recommends eating bland, non-greasy foods that will be easy for your stomach to digest.
4. Small meals. Another trick recommended by Medical News Today for dealing with nausea caused by something other than the flu is eating smaller meals throughout the day rather than three large ones.
5. Acupressure. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, applying pressure to the P6 (located three finger widths below the wrist and between the two tendons) can help relieve nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.
6. Aromatherapy. Although some recommend the use of aromatherapy, specifically lavender, chamomile, peppermint oil, rose, and clove, the U. S. National Library of Medicine states that studies have not shown that it actually works. If you find the smells soothing, though, it definitely can't hurt.
7. Baking soda. Another recommendation that some make is to use baking soda. The Mayo Clinic says that baking soda definitely helps with a sour stomach, heartburn and stomach indigestion; but it doesn't help with the vomiting. Style Craze does recommend using baking soda to help get rid of the nasty vomit taste in your mouth by mixing 1/4 teaspoon baking soda with 1/2 cup water. You can swish this in your mouth after vomiting to clean out the leftover taste and help protect your teeth.
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The next time you end up suffering from a bout of nausea and vomiting, try to calm your stomach with one of the simple remedies above. You may find the solution to your suffering.