Finding Relief: Natural Remedies for Nausea During Cancer Treatment
Chemotherapy, though very helpful for fighting cancer, often comes with a slew of unpleasant side effects. One that many patients face is nausea. Radiotherapy can also sometimes cause it, depending on where in the body it's applied. Treatment-induced nausea and subsequent vomiting can certainly affect your quality of life. It can sometimes cause malnutrition and dehydration too. So finding relief is a top priority. There are medications available to help manage treatment-induced nausea. But they come with side effects, so some people prefer to explore natural remedies.
In this article, we will delve into natural remedies for nausea during treatment. We'll explore various ways to help relieve nausea and provide comfort during this challenging time.
Everyone's body and tolerance levels differ, so you may need to try several ways to cope before finding the right ones for you. Some remedies can interfere with your treatment, so it's wise to discuss your plans with your oncologist.
If you're looking for relief from nausea during treatment, read on to discover natural remedies that may help.
Understanding treatment-induced nausea
Nausea is a common side effect experienced by many cancer patients undergoing treatment. An area in the brain controls nausea. It receives input from the rest of the body and the brain itself.
Some strong chemotherapy drugs affect the function of the gut, as does radiotherapy in this area. This irritation in the gut sends a message to the brain.
Receptors in the brain sensitive to chemicals also affect the nausea response.
Radiotherapy to the liver and brain can send messages to the brain that trigger nausea.
Anxiety can trigger treatment-related nausea too. This is most likely to happen if you've had nausea and vomiting after previous treatment sessions or a history of motion sickness. You might even find you're triggered by the smell of alcohol from a swab.
The drawbacks of traditional anti-nausea medications
Doctors often prescribe traditional anti-nausea medications to manage treatment-induced nausea. These include ondansetron, metoclopramide, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, and corticosteroids.
While these medications can be effective for some people, they often come with their own set of side effects.
Ondansetron can cause headaches, constipation, drowsiness, weakness, and chills.
Metoclopramide's side effects include headaches, diarrhoea, drowsiness, weakness and, oddly, nausea and vomiting.
Benzodiazepines can cause drowsiness and confusion.
Antipsychotics' side effects can include drowsiness, blurred vision, confusion, severe constipation and severe dry mouth.
The side effects of corticosteroids include insomnia, restlessness, and mood changes.
Not everyone responds well to these medications either, leaving patients searching for alternative options.
The benefits of natural remedies for nausea
Natural remedies for nausea during chemotherapy offer several benefits over traditional medications:
They are often gentler on the body, minimising the risk of adverse side effects.
You can easily integrate them into your daily routine. And they provide a sense of control over your symptoms.
You can use natural remedies alongside traditional anti-nausea medications. A multi-pronged approach is often more effective.
Ginger: A powerful natural remedy for nausea
Ginger has been used medicinally for a long time, including for its ability to ease nausea. In my previous article, I talked about ginger's pros and cons. It can be really helpful, but it isn't suitable for everyone.
Peppermint: Soothing and effective for nausea relief
Peppermint is another natural remedy that has shown promise in alleviating nausea. It contains menthol, which has a calming effect on the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, helping to reduce nausea and ease digestion.
Researchers tested the effects of peppermint extract on breast cancer patients going through chemo. The researchers gave them 40 drops mixed in water every 8 hours, beginning 24 hours before chemo started until 48 hours afterwards. They also received regular anti-nausea drugs. The peppermint group experienced much less nausea than the control group and their appetites were better (1).
In another trial, patients with various types of cancer took capsules containing 2 drops each of peppermint oil and spearmint oil. They also had regular anti-nausea drugs. They started 30 minutes before each chemo treatment, with another round 4 hours later and the last one 4 hours after that. It significantly reduced the frequency and severity of the nausea and vomiting compared with the control group (2).
You can take peppermint in various forms, including peppermint tea and peppermint oil capsules. Or you can simply inhale the aroma of peppermint essential oil, which we'll talk about later.
It's important to note that while peppermint can be effective for many individuals, it may not be suitable for everyone. Peppermint relaxes the sphincter between the oesophagus and the stomach. If you suffer from heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), it may make it worse.
Acupuncture: A holistic approach to managing chemotherapy-induced nausea
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice that involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body. Practitioners say that it helps balance the flow of energy, known as Qi, within the body.
The needles stimulate the release of endorphins and activate the body's natural healing response. An acupuncturist tailors the treatment to an individual. The treatment is perfectly safe to use alongside regular treatment.
The research on acupuncture has shown promising results. A review of 38 random controlled trials showed that the severity and frequency of chemo-related nausea episodes was reduced (3).
Another review of systematic reviews found it helped with conditions caused by both chemo and radiotherapy. It showed positive results for:
nausea
pain
fatigue
insomnia
bone marrow suppression
hot flashes
lymphoedema
joint pain
difficulty swallowing in patients with nasopharyngeal cancers
gastrointestinal function
dry mouth.
There were inconsistent results for its action on chemo-related peripheral neuropathy, depression and anxiety (4).
There weren't any serious adverse side effects found in either of these reviews.
Aromatherapy: Using essential oils to relieve nausea
Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils for therapeutic purposes. Certain essential oils can help relieve nausea and promote relaxation.
Researchers divided a group of 100 breast cancer patients into 2 groups. One had standard anti-emetic drugs only, and the other sniffed peppermint essential oil and took the drugs. The group that sniffed the peppermint oil suffered less nausea and vomiting (5).
In a systematic review, researchers looked at 11 studies, 9 in adults and 2 in children. In the studies on adults, half of them found that inhaling peppermint and ginger oils reduced both nausea and vomiting. The other half of the studies received chamomile, ginger, or cardamom oil, and these oils reduced nausea alone. Sadly, the studies on children didn't find any effect from inhaling oils (6).
In a group of 90 children receiving chemo for leukaemia, half received peppermint and lemon oils through a diffuser. These children experienced significantly less nausea and vomiting than those who didn't have the oils (7).
To use aromatherapy for nausea relief, you can inhale the essential oils directly from the bottle or you can buy inhalers with a cotton pad. Just add a few drops to the pad, close the inhaler and sniff the inhaler. Alternatively, you can add 4-5 drops to about 100-150 ml of water in a diffuser.
Another option is to dilute the essential oils with a carrier oil, such as coconut or jojoba oil. About 6 drops to each tablespoon of oil is appropriate for adults, and about half that dose for children. Apply the diluted oil topically to pulse points or the soles of your feet. Do a patch test first to check that you aren't allergic to them. Don't use lemon essential oil on areas receiving radiation treatment, as it makes the skin more photo-sensitive. Take care exposing the skin to the sun after using lemon essential oil too.
Acupressure for relieving nausea
Acupressure works similarly to acupuncture, by stimulating pressure points in the body. You can do this manually or by wearing a wristband. You can usually get these in pharmacies, where they're sold for seasickness.
A research study gave children acupressure before their chemo treatments, either manually or by a wristband. Both were effective, but manual acupressure was better at reducing nausea and vomiting in the children (8).
Reflexology is a kind of acupressure, using pressure points on the feet. Two studies found that this too was helpful in reducing nausea and vomiting (9, 10). One study found it helped with insomnia as well (10).
Mind-body techniques for nausea relief
Mind-body techniques can play a part in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea too. To prevent nausea caused by stress and anxiety, you can use techniques like deep breathing exercises, meditation, and guided imagery.
Deep breathing exercises involve taking slow, deep breaths, focusing on the inhalation and exhalation. This helps activate the vagus nerve, promoting a sense of calm.
Meditation and guided imagery involve redirecting the mind's attention to positive and soothing images. This helps to relieve stress and promote overall well-being.
A systematic review of 9 studies looked at psychological interventions for women with breast cancer. Four treatments were used: CBT, muscle relaxation, yoga, and guided imagery. Except for one of the 2 yoga studies, all of them proved to be effective at reducing nausea (11).
Change your diet
Eating small meals more often can help to reduce nausea. Some research suggests that protein-rich meals might help more than those high in fat or carbohydrates. Dairy can make it worse, so try some scrambled or hard-boiled egg. Otherwise, a bland diet like salted crackers, bananas, rice, or apple sauce is easy to eat.
Drink plenty, particularly if you're vomiting. The best drinks are those that replace electrolytes, like vegetable broth and flat mineral water. Avoid carbonated drinks, which can make nausea worse. Iced drinks can sometimes be easier to cope with than hot ones.
Cool down
Getting some fresh air can help to settle your stomach. Even sitting in front of an open window is effective.
A cold compress on the back of your neck can help too. When you feel nauseous, it's often associated with feeling hot.
Combining natural remedies for optimal results
You can use each of the options in this article on its own. But combining multiple techniques may give you even better results. It's important to listen to your body and experiment with different combinations to find what works best for you.
Remember, finding relief from nausea during treatment is a personal journey, and what works for one person might not work for someone else.
It is important to keep your oncologist advised about any natural nausea treatments you plan to use. Some may not be appropriate for your particular treatment regime.
By incorporating these natural remedies, you can reduce the impact of treatment-induced nausea. That could mean that you can continue the treatment without interruption, leading to a better outcome for you.
Eating is a pleasure for many people. Reducing nausea may significantly improve your enjoyment of food and increase your quality of life too. Bon appétit!
Nausea is just one side effect of treatment. In my book, there are suggestions for dealing with the other side effects. To buy the book, click on the button below.
References
Jafarimanesh H, Akbari M, Hoseinian R, Zarei M, Harorani M. The effect of peppermint (mentha piperita) extract on the severity of nausea, vomiting and anorexia in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy: A randomized controlled trial. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2020;19:1534735420967084. doi:10.1177/1534735420967084
Tayarani-Najaran Z, Talasaz-Firoozi E, Nasiri R, Jalali N, Hassanzadeh MK. Antiemetic activity of volatile oil from Mentha spicata and Mentha × piperita in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. ecancer. 2013;7:290. doi:10.3332/ecancer.2013.290
Yan Y, López‐Alcalde J, Zhang L, Siebenhüner AR, Witt CM, Barth J. Acupuncture for the prevention of chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Cancer Medicine. 2023;12(11):12504-12517. doi:10.1002/cam4.5962
Zhang X, Hou W, Pu F, et al. Acupuncture for cancer-related conditions: An overview of systematic reviews. Phytomedicine. 2022;106:154430. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154430
Eghbali M, Varaei S, Hosseini M, Yekaninejad MS, Shahi F. The Effect of Aromatherapy with Peppermint Essential Oil on Nausea and Vomiting in the Acute Phase of Chemotherapy in Patients with Breast Cancer . Journal of Babol University Medical Science. 2018;20(9):66-71. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.18869/acadpub.jbums.20.9.66
Toniolo J, Delaide V, Beloni P. Effectiveness of inhaled aromatherapy on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: A systematic review. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2021;27(12):1058-1069. doi:10.1089/acm.2021.0067
Şancı Y, Yıldız S, Ayçiçek A, Möhür N. Effect of peppermint-lemon aromatherapy on nausea-vomiting and quality of life in pediatric patients with leukemia: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2023;Jul13:S0882-5963(23)00179-3. doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2023.07.001
Altuntaş D, Dalgiç Aİ. The effects of acupressure in the prevention of nausea and vomiting related to chemotherapy in children: A randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nursing. 2022;39(6):386-395. doi:10.1177/27527530221092324
Abdelfattah EM, Elkhodary TR, Mohammed Ali WG. Effect of Foot Reflexology on Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting among Cancer Patients. Mansoura Nursing Journal. 2022;9(2):61-67.
Pekmezci H, Hintistan S. The impact of foot reflexology on nausea-vomiting and sleep quality for lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in Turkey. Cyprus Journal of Medical Sciences. 2022;7(5):614-622. doi:10.4274/cjms.2022.2021-227
Samami E, Shahhosseini Z, Hamzehgardeshi Z, Elyasi F. Psychological Interventions in Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Women with Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review. Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences. 2022;47(2):95-106. doi:10.30476/ijms.2020.86657.1660
