Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms that come from irritation to the intestinal tract, but they can also be associated with other illnesses such as diabetes, and are linked with disturbances in the inner ear. Putrid odors, jet lag, headaches, food allergies, poor digestion and both emotional and physical stress can cause this ugly feeling.

Nausea is that unpleasant sensation that makes you feel like you want to vomit. Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of contents from the stomach through the mouth.

There are several ways to deal with this difficulty and perhaps the safest and most effective way is very natural: the use of essential oils. Here are seven ways to use essential oils for the prevention and relief of nausea:

1. Many aromatherapists recommend a very gentle massage with essential oils over the stomach area. In this instance you would dilute the chosen essential oils into a carrier oil base, and then rub a few drops of the blend over the tummy. You can also rub 1-3 drops behind each ear (over the mastoid).
2. Some may find a massage uncomfortable, and in this case a compress may be preferred. Here you could put about two cups of warm water in a sink or basin, add 10-15 drops the chosen essential oils, and after swishing the oils around to disperse them, put a cotton washcloth into the solution, gently wring it out, and then place the cloth over the tummy.
3. Simple inhalation may be the easiest and best way to relieve or prevent nausea. You can either inhale directly from the bottle of essential oil, or put a few drops on a tissue or cotton ball. This can be stored in a baggy, then taken out for a whiff when the sense of nausea come on.
4. Try adding a drop of Peppermint (Mentha piperita) or Spearmint (Mentha spicata) to an Altoid or breath mint, if you feel a bout of nausea coming on. Often this will prevent an attack, and is quite tasty.
5. Drink some chamomile (Matricaria recutita or Chamaemelum nobile) cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), or peppermint tea. Or add a slice of ginger to some hot water. I have also found it effective to add a drop of essential oil to ginger ale. This and both of these teas are soothing to an irritated tummy. Don't have these items on hand? You can make a tea with essential oils, but you will want to dilute the oil before adding it to the cup of hot water. Put one drop of essential oil into a teaspoon of honey. Then you will only need to add about 1/4 to 1/3 of the teaspoon of oil infused honey to a cup of warm water. Remember that the essential oil is a very concentrated form of the herb or spice. One drop of chamomile essential oil is equivalent to about 30 cups of chamomile tea. So go easy here. And remember to use ONLY the purest therapeutic grade oils. This is very important. If unpure or adulterated oils are used, you can only make the problem worse.
6. You can also apply the essential oils to your feet. Pay attention to the reflexology point for the stomach: the area on the bottom of the foot, in the middle of the foot on the inside in line with the big toe. The acupressure point to relieve nausea is on the inside of the arm, just above the wrist in line with the long finger.
7. Sometimes using a diffuser to disperse an essential oil can be helpful. Here it is particularly important to select, ahead of time, an essential oil that is agreeable to the person. Choosing an oil that the nauseated person finds offensive, for whatever reason, can only make matters worse.

The most appropriate essential oils to use are peppermint, spearmint, Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans). Mailhebiau recommends using Dill seed ( Anethum graveolens) oil for children. Essential oils of carrot seed (Daucus carota), chamomile, turmeric (Curcuma longa), and Patchouli (Pogostemon cublin) have also been found to be effective. See your aromatherapist to determine which essential oils are right for you.

Here is an effective blend for nausea to be used as a tummy massage:

5 drops of Roman Chamomile

2 drops of Peppermint

2 drops of Patchouli

1 drop of Ginger

1 Tablespoon of vegetable oil or jojoba carrier oil (or unscented body lotion).

Combine ingredients and rub on hands. Have the person who is nauseated inhale slowly and deeply a few times, then gently massage this blend over the solar plexus area (below the rib cage) in a circular motion. You can store the massage oil in a glass bottle. This recipe makes about 1/2 ounce. Be sure to label the bottle with the ingredients, and the date the blend was made. You can also use this blend without the vegetable oil, and place a few drops on a tissue for inhalation. Store it in a plastic bag, and take it out to smell of it when the feeling of nausea comes on.

Simple acute nausea and vomiting that occurs following overeating or over indulgence of alcohol, or in the morning sickness of early pregnancy may require little or no treatment. But severe or prolonged nausea and vomiting requires careful management. Chronic nausea can be a sign of something more serious. See your health care professional for this.

This article is written for informational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat medical problems. The advice and care of a physician is recommended for your health concerns. Aromatherapy is intended as complementary care with health care providers, not as an alternative to care.