What helps with nausea besides medicine?

Nausea and vomiting are commonly associated with cancer treatments – especially chemotherapy. This is because chemo seeks out fast-growing cells to kill. While the goal of chemo is to stop the growth of cancer cells, it also affects healthy fast-growing cells as well. The cells lining the digestive system can be impacted this way. As the system becomes inflamed, the irritation can lead to nausea. 

Nausea can also be the result of a vicious circle. If a patient feels too nauseous to drink water, dehydration can set in and lead to more feelings of queasiness. Vomiting can also set up this dynamic. Oncology care teams always do their best to help prevent nausea in the first place – this is usually through medicine designed specifically to reduce the discomfort. But sometimes nausea can breakthrough.

So what else can a patient or caregiver look at in order to help manage nausea during treatment? Here are a few ideas that may be worth exploring.

Acupuncture. This ancient practice has been studied for its ability to reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea. Different trials have shown that acupuncture can reduce how often episodes of nausea happen and lessen severity when they do occur. The idea of fine needles being stuck into the body isn’t for everyone, but acupuncture does offer a non-drug approach that could be beneficial.

Motion sickness bands. These small, stretchy bands are worn on the wrist and apply pressure to a point (called “Nei-Kuan”) on the inner wrist. The bands have a round button that steadily presses against that point (this is called acupressure, so like acupuncture, but without the needles). Pressing on the Nei-Kuan point is associated with nausea relief.  

Meal planning. For people in cancer treatment, having three regular meals a day may be too challenging. This can be due to long appointments, medical tests, nausea, fatigue, and changes in taste. It is best to plan for snacking and small meals. And ideally, these are lower fat options since fat tends to sit in the stomach longer as the body digests it slowly. It is normal that something that tasted good one day doesn’t taste so good the next, so having a variety of food choices at home can help as tastebuds may change.

Experiment with new flavors. Some people say that some flavors can help when taste changes or turns metallic. Lemon is a good example here – the tart flavor can enhance taste while the smell of lemon may ease feelings of nausea. Ginger root is another well-known option for aiding digestion. Though it has a strong taste, for people who can find ways to enjoy it – hot tea, chewing gum, in cooked foods – the spice does have medicinal properties that aid with both nausea and digestion.  

Modifying beverage choices. It is important to stay hydrated during treatment. Water is ideal, but sometimes a flavored drink is more appealing.  Lemon is an option here as well -- sliced in ice water, as lemonade, in soda, or as tea. Ginger ale is also legendary for its ability to soothe an upset stomach. When drinking soda or other fizzy beverages, it may help to let them become a bit flat before drinking. Too much carbonation may cause burping and further worsen nausea. 

If or when nausea and vomiting become so severe that weight loss, dehydration, or lethargy set in, the care team must be notified. There may be adjustments made to dosing or new therapies prescribed. While these side effects are known and unpleasant, patients should be open with their doctors if they feel mentally or physically overwhelmed.