The last time I was on antibiotics, I was very sensitive to sunlight. This time around, I’m having a hard time with nausea. It’s been bad enough that I actually did end up throwing up. Yuck!
Everyone I’ve mentioned this to had a different remedy for me to try. A coworker gave me flat soda to drink. My mom suggested eating dry toast. A friend offered me Pepto, but after tossing my antibiotics, I didn’t want to take any more medication that might come back to haunt me.
So what can you do for nausea (whether it’s related to medications or not)? Here are some home treatments that may bring some relief:
- Stick to gentle foods. If your stomach is that upset, you don’t want to load a big meal in there. Clear liquids are the easiest thing to digest — water, non-citrus juices that have been diluted, Jell-O, even chicken broth are all pretty easy on the tummy.
- Keep yourself hydrated… and keep your electrolytes up. Vomiting (and diarrhea) can strip the body of liquid quickly. Be sure to keep yourself hydrated or you’ll end up feeling worse. The same goes for electrolytes — potassium and sodium. Sports drinks are usually full of electrolytes; drink them diluted with water to keep electrolytes and liquid in your system.
- The spice rack is a great place for nausea remedies. Ginger and peppermint are my top two choices (as tea, candies, or soda in the case of ginger) for an upset stomach. However, other spices like anise, cinnamon, and fennel can also relieve an upset stomach. These can be brewed into tea and sipped to ease nausea.
- After you’ve thrown up, be sure to clean up and rinse your mouth. Often the smell of vomit can kick off another round!
My last bit of advice — don’t fight the nausea too much. If your body needs to get rid of something you ate or drank, let it go. It’s not pleasant, but sometimes “better out than in” is the best remedy.