Why nausea & vomiting happens
Vomiting is coordinated by a 'vomiting centre' in the brain, triggered by signals from the gut (irritation, inflammation, infection), the inner ear (motion sickness), the brain itself (raised pressure, migraine), drugs (chemotherapy, opioids, alcohol) and hormones (pregnancy, particularly the first trimester). Pregnancy-related nausea is driven by rising hCG levels and is most intense between 6 and 14 weeks of gestation.
What helps — OTC options & advice
For motion sickness: take Avomine (promethazine) or Stugeron (cinnarizine) 30-60 minutes before the journey. For food-poisoning vomiting in adults: ondansetron 4-8 mg dissolves under the tongue and works in 15-30 minutes — Emeset, Ondem are common brands. Domperidone (Domstal) 10 mg tackles gastritis-related and post-meal nausea by speeding gastric emptying. For pregnancy nausea: doxylamine + pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) — sold as Doxinate or Pregnidoxin — is the first-line, evidence-based treatment. Ondansetron is reserved for severe cases under obstetric supervision. For migraine-related nausea: paracetamol + domperidone combinations like Domper-MT or specific anti-migraine drugs (rizatriptan + naproxen). Stay sipping fluids — small sips of ORS, clear broths, ginger tea or flat 7Up every 10-15 minutes are better tolerated than gulps. Avoid greasy, spicy or sweet foods until the nausea settles.
Home remedies & lifestyle
Ginger is genuinely effective — 1-2 g of ginger (a thumb-sized piece, fresh or as tea) reduces nausea, including in pregnancy. Plain biscuits or dry toast first thing in the morning settle morning sickness. Acupressure on the P6 wrist point (3 finger-widths below the wrist crease, between the two tendons) reduces nausea — sea-bands sold for motion sickness work on this principle. Cool, plain rooms — avoid strong smells (perfumes, cooking smells), bright lights and warm stuffy spaces. Small frequent meals beat large meals; an empty stomach can worsen nausea. Mint tea, fennel tea and cumin water are mild traditional remedies.
