Best Essential Oil for Nausea | How to get rid of nausea?

Essential Oil for Nausea

Nausea is a common sensation that typically precedes vomiting. While it usually starts with discomfort in the abdomen, other symptoms associated with nausea typically include sweating, feeling lightheaded, fatigued, or weak.¹

Nausea is not an illness, but instead is a symptom which can be caused by a variety of factors. It acts as a warning sign by the body to alert you of any dangers related to motion or food, and can protect your body from digesting harmful substances. Nausea can also be caused by pregnancy, motion sickness, chemotherapy treatment, unappetizing smells, toxic food, intense pain, or emotional stress.¹

Read More: Essential Oils for Dizziness and Vertigo

The most common nausea treatments are over-the-counter medications, such as Pepto-Bismol or Gravol. However, these medications may cause unwanted drowsiness, upset stomach or headaches (headaches can also be treated with essential oils). Individuals with chronic nausea may want to explore alternative methods on how to soothe nausea without constantly reaching for a prescription bottle.

In recent years, natural remedies for nausea have become increasingly popular. For those curious about how to get rid of nausea naturally, essential oils can be used as a gentle alternative to over-the-counter medications.

What Essential Oil is Good for Nausea?

Although everyone experiences nausea at some point in their life, some individuals may be more susceptible. Below, Essential Oil Experts explores the top essential oils for nausea, along with home remedies for nausea that will get you back to feeling your best.

The Best Essential Oils for Nausea are:

1. Peppermint Essential Oil
2. Ginger Essential Oil
3. Lemon Essential Oil
4. Spearmint Essential Oil

Peppermint Essential Oil for Nausea

The properties of peppermint essential oil have been shown to help alleviate nausea, improve bloating and gas, and calm digestive issues. Widely known for its cooling sensation and invigorating aroma, peppermint is considered the best essential oil for nausea.

A 2012 clinical trial determined that peppermint essential oil may be an effective natural remedy for nausea. The study focused on participants who face nausea regularly due to cancer treatments. Researchers found that after six weeks of daily inhalation, 83% of participants using peppermint essential oil for nausea reported a significant decrease in nausea and accompanying symptoms.

In another study, 75% of participants with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) reported an improvement in symptoms after taking enteric-coated peppermint capsules for two weeks. Further research has shown that when applied externally to animal subjects, peppermint essential oil helps relax stomach muscles.

Nausea Peppermint Essential Oil Recipe

To use peppermint essential oils for nausea and diarrhea, apply 4-6 drops of diluted peppermint oil externally to abdomen, or by inhaling. Try adding 3-5 drops to a diffuser with warm water and let circulate.

Note: Commercially available essential oils should never be ingested unless under the strict supervision of a health care practitioner.

Ginger Essential Oil to Treat Nausea

Extracted from the root of the ginger plant, ginger essential oil’s beneficial qualities may help relieve stomach issues and get rid of nausea. In traditional Indian, Chinese, and Native American medicine, ginger essential oil has been used to relieve symptoms of nausea, stomach cramps and even headaches.

 A 2012 study noted that inhaling ginger essential oil may decrease the severity of nausea, along with reducing the need to take anti-nausea drugs. 

Ginger Essential Oil Recipe to Treat Nausea

To use ginger for nausea, mix 2 drops of ginger essential oil with 1 Tsp. of carrier oil and apply to stomach area. For fast relief, users can simply inhale the aroma of ginger essential oil by holding the bottle 1-2 inches away from their nose.

Lemon Essential Oil for Nausea Treatment

One beneficial quality of lemon essential oil is nausea relief. A recent double-blind study has shown that the scent of lemon essential oil may help reduce feelings of nausea in pregnant women. Participants who inhaled lemon essential oil during the four-day study noted a significant decrease in nausea and vomiting.

DIY Lemon Recipe for Nausea

For users using essential oils for dizziness and nausea at home, add 2-4 drops of lemon essential oil to a diffuser with water. Let the aroma fill the room for soothing nausea relief. Always consult a health care practitioner before using any essential oils for pregnancy nausea.

Spearmint Essential Oil for Nausea

Out of all the essential oils good for nausea, spearmint essential oil’s therapeutic properties make it one of the best.

In a 2013 study, chemotherapy patients took two drops of spearmint essential oil in a specially designed capsule. When compared to a control group, patients who received spearmint essential oil reported vomiting less frequently and reduced feelings of nausea overall.

Spearmint Anti-Nausea Recipe

To provide nausea relief at home, add 4-5 drops of spearmint essential oil to a bowl of steaming, hot water. Lean slightly over the bowl and breathe deeply to inhale the steam.

Note: It is not recommended to ingest spearmint essential oil, unless under the direct supervision of a health care professional.