Nausea is the conscious, unpleasant awareness of the imminent urge to vomit — typically accompanied by autonomic features such as pallor, excess salivation, sweating, and bradycardia. It is mediated through the vomiting centre in the medulla and the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ), which receive inputs from the gastrointestinal tract (via the vagus nerve), the vestibular system, the cerebral cortex (psychological and anticipatory nausea), and systemic circulation (toxins, metabolites, hormones). Common causes include gastroenteritis (infective), pregnancy (first trimester — morning sickness), medication effects (NSAIDs, opioids, chemotherapy, metformin, antibiotics), motion sickness, migraine, vestibular disorders, anxiety, functional dyspepsia, gastroparesis, and metabolic disturbances (uraemia, hypercalcaemia, diabetic ketoacidosis).

What lifestyle changes can help with nausea?

Small, frequent, bland meals reduce gastric distension that worsens nausea. Avoiding fatty, spicy, or strong-smelling foods helps. Cold foods or those at room temperature are often better tolerated than hot ones when nauseous. Ginger in tea, biscuit, or supplement form is a practical and safe first-line intervention. Adequate hydration with clear sips prevents dehydration if vomiting accompanies nausea. P6 acupressure wristbands are low-cost and widely available.

What integrative approaches support nausea?

Antiemetics appropriate to the cause: ondansetron for chemotherapy-induced; antihistamines (cyclizine, promethazine) for vestibular and pregnancy-related nausea; metoclopramide for gastroparesis-related; H2 antagonists and PPIs for dyspepsia-related. Ginger (1 g/day in divided doses) has consistent evidence for pregnancy nausea, chemotherapy-related nausea, and post-operative nausea. Acupressure at P6 (Nei Guan) point has evidence across multiple nausea causes. Anxiety-related nausea responds to CBT and anxiolytic treatment.

When should I seek professional support for nausea?

Seek medical assessment for nausea persisting more than 2–3 days without identified cause, nausea with significant weight loss, blood in vomit, severe abdominal pain, or neurological symptoms. Urgent assessment if nausea accompanies severe headache, chest pain, or signs of dehydration.

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Nausea

The uncomfortable subjective sensation of an urge to vomit — without necessarily vomiting — arising across a wide spectrum of gastrointestinal, neurological, hormonal, and psychological causes.

Understand what may be causing this

Reviewed by Dr. Ciara Magee · Integrative Midwifery26 March 2026High Evidence

Quick answer

Nausea describes the subjective unpleasant sensation of the urge to vomit — without necessarily progressing to vomiting. ICD-10: R11.0 (nausea alone); ICD-11: MD90.0. A non-specific and extremely common symptom requiring contextual and temporal assessment to identify aetiology.

Recognition

Do any of these feel familiar?

Many people describe nausea as feeling like their stomach is "turning" or "doing somersaults." You might find yourself avoiding certain foods or smells that suddenly seem overwhelming. Some people report that even the thought of eating makes them feel worse, while others find that small, frequent sips of water or ginger tea provide some relief.

The unpredictability of nausea waves can be particularly challenging. You might feel fine one moment and then suddenly need to sit down or find fresh air. Many people learn to carry small snacks or remedies with them, and develop personal strategies for managing the sensation when it strikes unexpectedly.

What is Nausea?

The uncomfortable subjective sensation of an urge to vomit — without necessarily vomiting — arising across a wide spectrum of gastrointestinal, neurological, hormonal, and psychological causes.