How To Stop Vomiting: Home Remedies - Medical News Today

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SubscribeHow to treat vomiting and nausea at homeMedically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C — Written by Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA and Bethany Grayland-Leech — Updated on May 30, 2025

• Tips
• Relaxation techniques
• Aromatherapy
• Tips for children
• Alcohol-related vomiting
• Contacting a doctor
• Summary

Various home remedies can help ease nausea and prevent dehydration after vomiting. These remedies can include drinking clear liquids and eating bland foods. A person can also try methods like aromatherapy and guided meditation.

There are many different causes of vomiting and nausea, such as food poisoning, bacterial or viral infections, pregnancy, and motion sickness. It can also occur as a side effect of some medications or certain treatments, such as chemotherapy.

People can take steps to help reduce vomiting and nausea and prevent complications like dehydration. Depending on the underlying cause, they may require medical intervention.

Home remedies and tips

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Most cases of vomiting will stop with medical intervention, as many cases are caused by a virus. However, there are steps a person can take to reduce the feelings of nausea and stomach discomfort that often accompany vomiting. These include:

• resting
• getting plenty of fresh air
• finding something distracting, such as listening to music
• eating or drinking a small amount of something light and bland once they have finished vomiting
• wearing loose clothing
• taking over-the-counter medications, such as bismuth subsalicylate

Pregnant people should check with a doctor before taking antiemetic medications.

Once a person has finished vomiting, they can start drinking small amounts of clear liquids. When they feel able to do so, they can try the following:

• chewing and sucking on ice chips or frozen juice chips
• drinking plenty of fluids, such as water, diluted squash, broth, ginger ale, ginger tea, and sports drinks
• sipping cold drinks
• eating cold foods, such as popsicles, or sipping cold drinks
• eating plain foods, such as toast, rice, and plain pasta
• eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day
• eating sour foods, such as sour candies, pickles, lemons, or limes
• avoiding fried, spicy, or greasy foods

Relaxation techniques

Relaxation techniques may help reduce nausea and vomiting by making a person feel relaxed and distracting them from their feelings of nausea and discomfort.

A person can try:

• deep breathing
• guided imagery
• meditation
• hypnosis
• listening to music

Aromatherapy

Although research suggests essential oils may have some health benefits, it is important to remember that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not monitor or regulate the purity or quality of these oils. A person should talk with a healthcare professional before using essential oils and research the quality of a particular brand’s products. It is also important to always do a patch test before trying a new essential oil.

A person can try aromatherapy using peppermint oil.

A 2021 study found that peppermint oil reduced the frequency and severity of nausea in those undergoing chemotherapy. It also helped to reduce the frequency of vomiting and retching.

Although there is little research stating what strength of oil to use or how often, a person can inhale peppermint oil, rub it on their skin, or put a small amount on a cold cloth and place it on their head.

It is important to dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil, such as jojoba oil or coconut oil, before applying it to the skin. This can help prevent skin irritation.

Home remedies for children

For the first 12 to 24 hours of vomiting, parents and caregivers may want to avoid feeding the child solid foods depending on the severity and frequency of vomiting. Instead, the child may benefit from drinking small amounts of electrolyte solution. Drinking will help prevent dehydration and is less likely to cause further vomiting than solid foods.

If the child does not want to drink, a parent or caregiver can:

• Make ice pops or ice cubes from oral rehydration solutions or drinks containing electrolytes.
• Give a child gelatin as an alternative to liquids.
• Dilute fruit juice with water.

After 12 to 24 hours, parents and caregivers can provide bland foods, such as:

• crackers
• toast
• bland soups
• bananas
• mashed potatoes

Tips for alcohol-related vomiting

Alcohol has a dehydrating effect on the body, which can be one of the causes associated with a hangover. Alcohol can also irritate the stomach lining, increasing stomach acid and slowing down digestion. As a result, a person can experience irritation that leads to nausea and vomiting.

If a person experiences alcohol-related vomiting, they can reduce their symptoms by following the tips outlined earlier in the article. They may also benefit from:

• drinking bouillon soup, as it is gentle on the stomach and a good source of vitamins and minerals
• eating sugary foods to help reduce trembling
• taking an antacid

When to contact a doctor

A person should contact a doctor for vomiting and nausea if:

• vomiting lasts more than 2 days
• home remedies are not helping
• there are signs of severe dehydration, such as extreme thirst, dark-colored urine, very little urine, and dizziness
• they suspect they are pregnant
• they are pregnant and are experiencing severe vomiting, as this could indicate hyperemesis gravidarum
• a person is experiencing vomiting after a head injury
• a person vomits blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds, which is often dried or old blood

If a parent has any concerns about the symptoms their child is experiencing, they should seek medical treatment. A doctor may recommend rehydrating with intravenous fluids and prescribe anti-nausea medications.

Summary

Many cases of vomiting will resolve without medical intervention. In the meantime, a person can take steps to ease the discomfort and nausea.

A person should get plenty of rest and drink fluids to prevent dehydration. Once they feel able to do so, they can then begin to eat plain foods, such as pasta or toast. Methods such as relaxation techniques and aromatherapy can also help to reduce nausea.

If vomiting does not stop after a couple of days, they should contact a doctor.

 

• Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
• GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
• Pediatrics / Children's Health

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

• Diarrhoea and vomiting. (2023). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/
• Ertürk NE, et al. (2021). The effects of peppermint oil on nausea, vomiting and retching in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: An open label quasi-randomized controlled pilot study. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33197662/
• Feeling sick (nausea). (2023). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/feeling-sick-nausea/
• How to recover from a hangover. (2023). https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/general-health-effects/how-to-recover-from-a-hangover
• Managing nausea and vomiting at home. (2024). https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/side-effects/eating-problems/nausea-and-vomiting/managing.html
• Nausea and vomiting and cancer treatment. (2025). https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/nausea-vomiting
• Treating vomiting: What to do when your child is throwing up. (2025).https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/abdominal/Pages/treating-vomiting.aspx

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Medically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C — Written by Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA and Bethany Grayland-Leech — Updated on May 30, 2025

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