| Dr Pam Brown continues our series on | | | | massage into your chest so that you can inhale the |
| complementary medicines by looking at how they | | | | aroma easily. |
| can help reduce or overcome the feelings of sickness | | | | Ginger can help with all types of nausea, including that |
| that can be caused by some anti-cancer treatments. | | | | associated with chemotherapy, but should be avoided |
| Nausea is when you feel sick and vomiting is when | | | | if there is any problem with the clotting of the blood. |
| the contents of your stomach actually empty. | | | | Check with your doctor before taking ginger capsules |
| If there is no obvious cause for your nausea or | | | | if you are pregnant. Ginger appears to have a calming |
| vomiting, always ask your doctor for advice. Some | | | | effect on the gut. You can drink ginger ale (but make |
| causes of nausea and vomiting need urgent | | | | sure it is made with real ginger), eat ginger biscuits or |
| treatment, and some other causes can be treated | | | | crystallized ginger, or grate fresh ginger and infuse it |
| easily, so there is no need to suffer these distressing | | | | with boiling water to make a tea. For more severe |
| symptoms. | | | | nausea, ginger root powder or standardised ginger |
| Conventional treatments for nausea and vomiting | | | | extracts are available as capsules. Always follow the |
| Eating small light meals may help. Dry crackers and | | | | dosing directions on the pack if taking capsules. |
| low fat foods are easy to digest. Avoid citrus juices | | | | Studies which compared ginger capsules with |
| and fizzy drinks. If you are vomiting, instead of | | | | conventional anti-sickness treatments found ginger |
| eating take frequent sips of water or an electrolyte | | | | was just as effective for seasickness and sickness |
| solution (such as Dioralyte or Rehidrat) to help put | | | | after surgery, but with no side effects. Ginger |
| back the fluid and salts which you have lost. | | | | started to work after 20-30 minutes, and the effects |
| Anti-sickness medicines | | | | lasted for about 4 hours. |
| * Metoclopramide | | | | Green tea is helpful when nausea and vomiting are |
| * Domperidone | | | | due to food poisoning. Drink a cup as needed. |
| * Cyclizine | | | | Camomile tea can be used twice daily for its soothing |
| * Prochlorperazine (Stemetil) | | | | properties both on the stomach and the nerves, and |
| * Newer, very effective anti-sickness drugs such as | | | | peppermint tea may also aid digestion and settle |
| ondansetron are used before and during | | | | nausea and vomiting. (Avoid peppermint if you are |
| chemotherapy. | | | | pregnant.) Cinnamon tea contains catechins which |
| Sometimes you will need a combination of different | | | | help with nausea. |
| types of anti-sickness drugs to stop you vomiting. | | | | Homeopathy offers three main remedies for nausea |
| Always ask your doctor for advice if you notice | | | | and vomiting. Ipecacuanha is helpful for intense, |
| blood in the vomit, the vomiting is accompanied by | | | | continuous nausea and sweating which is unrelieved |
| abdominal pain which doesn't settle after a few | | | | by vomiting. Arsenicum album can help when there is |
| hours, or the vomiting continues for more than 12 | | | | burning pain and acid vomiting, with diarrhea, coldness, |
| hours. | | | | chills, weakness and anxiety. Nux vomica works best |
| Which complementary therapies can help? | | | | when there is a heavy, bloated feeling in the |
| Acupressure on pericardium point 6 (P6) can be | | | | stomach with belching, heartburn and nausea, and |
| effective in all types of nausea and vomiting. Point P6 | | | | symptoms are worse in the morning and after food. |
| is located on the inside of the wrist, 3 finger breadths | | | | Let a 6c tablet dissolve in your mouth every 15 |
| up from the wrist crease nearest to the hand. Press | | | | minutes to an hour, up to a total of 6-10 doses, or |
| on this point in line with your ring finger for 30 | | | | use three times per day. Leave about 30 minutes |
| seconds to 1 minute on each side with the thumb of | | | | after taking conventional treatments or cleaning your |
| the other hand. Alternatively you can wear | | | | teeth before you take a homeopathic remedy. |
| acupressure bands ('Anti-nausea bands') sold for | | | | Reflexology may be helpful for nausea. If you explain |
| travel sickness. Acupuncture treatments from a | | | | to your reflexologist that you are feeling sick much |
| therapist may also help. | | | | of the time, s/he can work carefully on the stomach |
| Peppermint, spearmint, lavender, sweet fennel and | | | | and bowel areas to make sure these are as healthy |
| chamomile aromatherapy oils are soothing and can | | | | as possible. This may help your nausea. |
| ease nausea. Add a couple of drops to the | | | | Always check with your doctor first before using any |
| bathwater, add to a diffuser or burner, or mix a | | | | complementary therapy. |
| couple of drops into a spoonful of vegetable oil and | | | | |