Nausea is the leading cause of ruining a good time. But what exactly is nausea? It’s that feeling when your stomach turns and you’re certain you’re going to keel over and throw up. It seems to strike during times when we’re having fun. For example; on rides at an amusement park, the day after or during a night out, while travelling, or before an important meeting. Where ever you are, or whatever you’re doing when nausea strikes, it’s guaranteed to ruin the party.
According to an article published on www.draxe.com, nausea is considered a “complex protective mechanism influenced by messages that are sent to the brain because of a threat such as an intestinal blockage, strong negative emotion, or a toxic build up in the body. It can be brought on by a number of psychological and physical factors.”
Turn to Essential Oils to Keep the Fun Alive
Luckily, you can defend yourself against nausea and the various symptoms associated with it thanks to beneficial fun boosting and health promoting essential oils.
This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure policy here.
Your best essential oils for nausea, vomiting, digestion and motion sickness include:
- Ginger
- Peppermint
- Lavender
- Chamomile
- Fennel
- Nutmeg
Ginger essential oil
Ginger is a flowering plant that has been used for centuries as powerful spice in cooking. According to an article published on www.draxe.com, it has been used in China and India to treat ailments for over 4,700 years.
Ginger essential oil works as an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, laxative, tonic and stimulant.
To use ginger essential oil for nausea, vomiting, digestion and motion sickness:
- Diffuse one to two drops in your favorite diffuser and inhale
- Add two to three drops to a carrier oil and rub on the stomach
- Add two to three drops to a warm bath.
- Add one to two drops to a cotton ball or handkerchief and carry with you
As an essential oil for nausea, vomiting, digestion and motion sickness, ginger is one of your best essential oils to add to your natural medicine cabinet. It is your number one fun booster when nausea threatens your day.
Peppermint essential oil
Peppermint essential oil packs a lot of punch. I often turn to peppermint tea for mild digestive issues, but if I need something stronger I turn to peppermint essential oil. Due to its antiemetic and antispasmodic peppermint essential oil works to reduce nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness and increase digestion.
To use peppermint essential oil for nausea, vomiting, digestion and motion sickness:
- Diffuse one to two drops in your favourite diffuser and inhale
- Add to your favourite carrier oil and rub on the back of your neck and bottoms of your feet.
- Add to a cool or warm bath
- Add to a compress and place over your head
- Add one drop to a glass of cold or hot water or a gel capsule to take orally*
Peppermint essential oil will have you feeling better in no time. Since this oil is strong in nature a little goes a long way.
Lavender essential oil
Lavender essential oil has many uses to support health. It doesn’t disappoint as an essential oil to treat nausea, vomiting, digestive issues and motion sickness.
The delightfully scented gentle essential oil is derived from the lavender plant, which is part of the mint family.
As an essential oil for nausea, vomiting, digestive issues and motion sickness its anti-septic and anti-inflammatory properties will work wonders to reduce your symptoms.
To use lavender essential oil for nausea, vomiting, digestive issues and motion sickness:
- Add one to two drops to your favourite carrier oil and rub neck and shoulder rub to relax tense muscles and ease head spins.
- Place a few drops on a cotton ball and place under your pillow to help you get some much-needed rest.
- Add one to two drops to a warm or cool bath
- Add to a warm or cool compress and place over your head
Lavender essential oil supports health and wellness through its many effective uses. It is definitely an oil you want to bring to any party.
Read more about Lavender Essential Oil Benefits here. Ready to shop? This organic lavender essential oil is seriously amazing!
Chamomile essential oil
Roman Chamomile is an especially gentle oil that you can safely use in many blends.
Chamomile is a popular herb to treat all kinds of health-related issues. According to this article published on www.draxe.com, “Chamomile tea is one of the world’s most popular herbal teas. In fact, about a million cups are consumed every day.”
“Chamomile has been used to treat various gastrointestinal disturbances, including nausea, vomiting, indigestion, motion sickness and diarrhea. It helps get rid of nausea by dispelling gas, soothing the stomach and relaxing the muscles that move food through the intestines.”
Chamomile essential oil is a concentrated substance distilled from the chamomile plant. Though it is a gentle oil, a little goes a long way. Due to its concentrated form and vast potential uses (including hair and skin care) chamomile essential oil makes a great addition to your medicine cabinet.
To use chamomile essential oil for nausea, vomiting, digestion and motion sickness:
- Add one to two drops to a cup of cold or warm water for a strong tea*
- Add one to two drop to your favourite carrier oil and rub on your shoulders, neck and feet.
- Add one to two drops to a warm bath.
Chamomile essential oil is a nurturing essential oil to add to your all natural medicine cabinet.
Fennel essential oil
Fennel essential oil has many surprising benefits including:
- increasing breast milk flow
- easing premenstrual symptoms
- treating coughs and colds
It is effective as an essential oil for nausea, vomiting, digestion and motion sickness because fennel is a natural laxative and stimulant. The licorice scent and flavour of fennel is powerful. With all of the health supporting benefits and various uses provided by fennel essential oil. Fennel essential oil is an oil you want to have around when the going gets tough.
To use fennel essential oil for nausea, vomiting, digestion and motion sickness:
- Add one to two drops to your favourite carrier oil and rub on stomach
- Add one to two drops to your favourite diffuser and inhale
- Add one to two drops on to the bottoms of your feet
- Add one to two drops to a gel capsule and swallow*
Nutmeg essential oil
Another surprising essential oil for nausea, vomiting, digestion and motion sickness is nutmeg essential oil. This spice is a popular favourite during the winter months, particularly during the holiday season. It has unique health promoting components and various uses. In addition to aiding in digestion and reducing vomiting, nutmeg essential oil is beneficial to the hormonal system, immune system, and nervous system.
Since vomiting and nausea can be related to psychological factors, keeping yourself in good spirits using aromatherapy can do the job in helping you keep your balance.
To use nutmeg essential oil for nausea, vomiting, digestion, and motion sickness:
- Add one to two drops to your favourite carrier oil and rub on the stomach
- Add one to two drops to a cool or warm compress and place on your forehead
- Inhale directly by applying one to two drops to a handkerchief or cotton ball
- Add one to two drops to your favourite diffuser and inhale
- Add one to two drops to a gel capsule and swallow
How to Use these Essential Oils to Help with your Nausea
Essential oils can increase the fun and support health and wellness in your life through a variety of ways and for many purposes. For example; ylang ylang essential oil has libido enhancing properties. Therefore, adding ylang ylang to your favorite carrier oil for massage or to a steamy bath can add to a romantic evening with your partner.
So, here’s the lowdown on how to use essential oils to increase the fun and support your health and wellness in any situation:
- Carrier oils: Carrier oils serve to dilute the essential oil before applying it to your skin. They act as the base for “carrying” the essential oil that is being mixed into it. Some carrier oils I recommend in a previous article include:
- Almond oil
- Jojoba oil
- Apricot kernel oil
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
- Rosehip oil
- Black seed oil
- Warm compresses can be materials ranging from washcloths to cloth bags filled with rice or beads you can put in a freezer or warm in your microwave. Find your favourite and add it to your natural medicine cabinet.
- Ingestion: Using essential oils in a tea or gel tablet and ingesting is a controversial method of using essential oils for any ailment. Consult with a physician or aromatherapist to get professional advice based on your unique situation.
- Inhalation: there are various options for inhaling essential oils:
- Diffusers can be used in your home for hours at a time. (For a list of diffusers, I compiled in a previous article please click here)
- Steam inhalation includes adding water and your essential oil to a pot and letting it boil on your stove. The steam works to humidify your home while delivering your favourite essential oils to your body as you relax. Another method is adding hot water to a bowl and placing your head over the bowl and a towel over your head.
- Spritzers: spritzers are great for traveling. Add two to five drops to a small spritzer bottle or five to ten drops to a large spritzer bottle. A small bottle can be stored in your purse or travel bag and used when required.
Essential Oils for Nausea, Vomiting, Digestion and Motion Sickness during Pregnancy
Nausea is a reality for many expecting women. While there are plenty of over the counter and prescription medicine to help, women afflicted with “morning sickness,” essential oils can be an option to alleviate symptoms.
In an article found on www.babycentre.co.uk titled “Is it safe to use essential oils while I’m pregnant?” Author, midwife, lecturer and complimentary therapist Denise Tiran, says there are expecting moms who use them, but there are recommended precautions and oils to avoid (including nutmeg).
As with any medications, always use care and caution when using essential oils for nausea, vomiting, digestion and motion sickness. If symptoms persist make an appointment with your doctor.
* please take extra precautions when ingesting essential oils. Read more about which essential oils are safe to ingest here.
What do you think?
Have you tried essential oils for YOUR nausea? Has it worked? Let us know in the comments below!
xoxo, Emma
Awesome read! With a road trip being planned out for the next few weeks, I can’t tell you how grateful I am.. Thanks lol
Great to hear Carrie, thanks for your comment! Hope your road trip went well!
What about oils and vertigo ?
My top choice for vertigo would be Peppermint essential oil. It’s a pretty common aromatherapy scent used for nausea, headache, and vomiting – all of which are symptoms also experienced with vertigo. It’s also popular enough you can already get it in a pre-diluted roll on so it’s super easy to carry around with you in your pocket, to use in those moments you’re actually experiencing vertigo. For example, get the Peppermint Roll-on 10 ml from Rocky Mountain Oils here.
Can I mix peppermint and lavender? Or just pick one?
Hello Jay. Yes you certainly can blend those two oils together if you like the combined scent. Personally, I would first start with trying the oils individually and see if you like one better than the other; or which smell you’re more able to “stomach” when you’re feeling nauseous. But if you like them both, by all means, mix them together!
Love your site and information is so helpful. You are about the only place I go to visit.
Thank you so much Pamela, I love hearing that! 💓
Thanks for sharing this very detailed and informative post. I’m already in the third semester of my pregnancy and I no longer suffer from nausea. But I’ll keep this in mind so that my second pregnancy wouldn’t be as hard as this first.