Nausea — the sensation of discomfort in the stomach with an urge to vomit — is one of the most universally experienced symptoms, with many possible causes from anxiety and motion sickness to pregnancy and medication side effects. For functional or chronic nausea, and for specific contexts such as pregnancy-related nausea, a range of complementary therapies offer effective and safe relief.
See therapies that may helpNausea is a symptom rather than a diagnosis in itself. It arises from complex interactions between the gastrointestinal tract, the vestibular system, the central nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The "nausea and vomiting centre" in the brainstem receives signals from multiple inputs — gut distension, vestibular signals, chemoreceptors, and higher brain centres (explaining why anxiety and emotional distress cause nausea).
Common causes of nausea include: gastrointestinal conditions (gastritis, IBS, gastroparesis); vestibular disorders (motion sickness, inner ear conditions); pregnancy; medication side effects; anxiety and panic; migraine; and functional or psychogenic nausea.
For this page, we focus on chronic or functional nausea and the adjunct management of nausea in specific contexts (pregnancy, anxiety, migraine), where complementary therapies have the most to offer alongside medical management.
Nausea may be accompanied by:
Seek medical assessment if nausea is persistent, associated with significant weight loss, blood in vomit, severe abdominal pain, or neurological symptoms.
Several complementary approaches have good evidence for specific nausea presentations:
For persistent unexplained nausea, GP assessment is important to identify the cause. For pregnancy-related nausea, your midwife or GP can advise on safe management options including acupressure wristbands, ginger and antiemetic medication where needed. An acupuncturist or hypnotherapist with experience in nausea management can provide effective complementary support.
Showing 2 therapies linked to Nausea support.
| Therapy | Evidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Acupressurist |
moderate
|
Specific points sometimes used for short-term relief in some contexts. |
| Acupuncturist |
moderate
|
Commonly used as supportive care for nausea in some contexts. |
Yes — anxiety activates the autonomic nervous system in ways that directly affect the gastrointestinal tract, reducing gastric motility, increasing gut sensitivity and triggering the nausea response. Anxiety-related nausea often occurs before stressful events or as part of a panic response. Treating the underlying anxiety is the most effective long-term approach.
Yes — the evidence for the P6 acupressure point (located three finger-widths above the wrist on the inner forearm) for reducing nausea is one of the more robust findings in complementary medicine. Studies show significant benefit for pregnancy-related nausea, post-operative nausea and chemotherapy-induced nausea. Acupressure wristbands are widely available and safe.
Ginger has reasonably good evidence for reducing nausea, particularly in pregnancy and motion sickness. The active compounds (gingerols and shogaols) appear to have anti-emetic properties. It can be taken as tea, in capsule form, or as crystallised ginger. It is generally safe in moderate amounts during pregnancy.
Yes — psychogenic nausea is a recognised phenomenon where nausea is driven primarily by emotional or psychological factors including anxiety, anticipatory nausea, and conditioned responses. It is real nausea — not imagined — but arises from the brain-gut axis rather than a structural gut problem. Psychological therapies including CBT and hypnotherapy are effective.
Slow diaphragmatic breathing (breathing deeply into the belly, extending the out-breath) activates the parasympathetic nervous system and can rapidly reduce nausea. Applying pressure to the P6 acupressure point, sipping cold water or ginger tea, and avoiding strong smells also provide quick relief for mild nausea.