How to Feel Better After Throwing Up

Nausea and vomiting are caused by a variety of factors, such as illness, pregnancy, motion sickness, or food poisoning. In most cases, bouncing back from a vomiting spell is a simple matter of self-care, although vomiting that lasts more than 24 hours may be a sign of a serious illness. If you experience nausea and vomiting for more than a day or 2, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Otherwise, by eating and drinking the right things and letting your body recover, you can feel better after vomiting in no time!

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Easing Nausea Right after Vomiting

  1. Image titled Faint Safely Step 1
    1
    Rest in an upright seated position with your head elevated. Don’t try to move around a lot after vomiting, since this may actually make your nausea worse. Instead, prop yourself up and rest in a seated position with your head elevated about 12 inches (30 cm) above your feet to best help your body recover.[1]
    • Don’t lie down in a flat position to rest; this may inadvertently cause you to start throwing up again.
    • Stay in this resting position for at least an hour or until your stomach no longer feels nauseous.
  2. 2
    Place a cool compress over the back of your neck. Hold a clean washcloth under cool, running water until it is soaked. Then, wring it out over the sink and fold the cloth in half. Lay the cloth across the back of your neck and keep it there for 5 to 10 minutes. This may be soothing after you throw up. It can also help to lower your body temperature, which may rise after you throw up.
    Advertisement
  3. Image titled Live a Fuller Life After Middle Age Step 13
    3
    Avoid strong or unpleasant smells until you’re no longer nauseous. Odors like tobacco smoke, strong perfumes, or the scent of spicy cooking can all cause vomiting if you’re already nauseous. Avoid your exposure to these kinds of scents as much as possible until you’ve gone at least 24 hours without vomiting.[2]
    • Note that hot foods also tend to have stronger scents than cold foods, so avoiding hot foods is also a good way to prevent food smells from triggering vomiting.
  4. Image titled Know if You Have Hyperhidrosis Step 7
    4
    Refrain from taking oral medications that may irritate your stomach. These include aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen, and some blood pressure drugs. Consult with your doctor before stopping any oral medications you were taking for a different condition before you started vomiting.[3]
    • Some antibiotics have also been known to cause nausea. However, you should never stop taking antibiotics before consulting with your doctor.
  5. Image titled Calm Down when You're Upset Step 3
    5
    Try going outside for fresh air if you still feel nauseous. Getting fresh air by going outside for a stroll is often helpful for managing nausea and vomiting. However, don’t overexert yourself by going for an outdoors walk when you don’t feel physically up to it.[4]
    • If going outside to walk seems too hard to do, try sitting by an open window to breathe in the fresh air from outside.
  6. 6
    Use aromatherapy to relieve your nausea. Aromatherapy is when you inhale the scent of essential oils, such as by adding a few drops of essential oil to a diffuser or when you light a scented candle. Some essential oils that may possibly help to relieve nausea include:
    • Ginger
    • Peppermint[5]
    • Lavender
    • Fennel seed
    • Lemon
  7. Image titled Faint Safely Step 10
    7
    Try deep breathing exercises to quell your nausea. One small study has shown that slow, deep breathing may help decrease feelings of nausea or an upset stomach. In a comfortable, seated position, close your eyes and inhale deeply through your nose for 5 seconds. Then, slowly exhale through your nose for 7 seconds. Repeat this process until your nausea starts to disappear.[6]
    • Try to fill your lungs completely when you inhale to get the best results.
    8. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Eating and Drinking Again

  1. Image titled Know when You Are Overeating Step 14
    1
    Refrain from eating or drinking for 15 minutes to let your stomach rest. Your stomach muscles are going to feel pretty sore after you finish throwing up, especially if you were vomiting a lot. Letting your stomach rest will reduce the risk of you vomiting again once you get back to eating.[7]
    • It’s okay to rinse your mouth out with a little bit of water to get rid of the taste of vomit after you throw up. Just try to avoid swallowing any of it for the first 15 minutes.
  2. Image titled Cure a Viral Infection with Home Remedies Step 15
    2
    Drink small sips of water or suck on ice chips to prevent dehydration. After 15 minutes have passed and you haven’t vomited again, start taking sips of water every 5-10 minutes to get fluids back into your system. Vomiting causes you to lose a good deal of water, so it’s important to rehydrate your body as soon as you’re able to.[8]
    • If you start vomiting again after drinking water, stop drinking it and wait another 15-20 minutes before you try again.
    • You can also try drinking weak teas, sports drinks, or clear soft drinks without carbonation at this stage, so long as they don’t upset your stomach.
  3. 3
    Chew on a piece of fresh ginger or sip a cup of ginger tea. Ginger has antiemetic properties, which means that it can help to stop nausea and vomiting. If you have some fresh ginger around, you can cut off a 0.5 in (1.3 cm) piece and chew on it or use it to make a cup of ginger tea. Cut off the skin with a knife and place the whole piece in your mouth if you want to chew on it, or place it into a mug and pour boiling water over it. Steep the ginger in the hot water for 10 minutes and then sip the tea slowly.[9]
  4. Image titled Gain Energy During Pregnancy Step 18
    4
    Try eating bland, soft, starchy foods 8 hours after you’ve stopped vomiting. You should wait until you’ve been able to keep liquids down for 8 hours without vomiting before you try eating anything. The first things you try to eat should be light, starchy foods that are easy to digest, such as bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, also known as the BRAT diet.[10]
    • The BRAT (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast) Diet is the recommended diet for people suffering from an upset stomach.
    • Tea and yogurt are also easy foods to eat after vomiting.
  5. Image titled Gain Weight Quickly Step 1
    5
    Eat small meals every 2-3 hours to slowly return to a normal diet. This will put less of a strain on your stomach than eating a big meal every 6-8 hours. Also, limit your meals to foods served cold or at room temperature for the first 24 hours after vomiting to minimize the risk of upsetting your stomach again.[11]
    • Some examples of foods to try to eat at this stage include mashed potatoes (that aren’t too hot), rice, cream soups made with low-fat milk, pretzels, or low-fat pudding.
    • Don’t eat any fried, greasy, acidic, or sweet foods at this point, as these types of foods can irritate your stomach. Wait until you’ve been vomit-free for 24-48 hours before trying to tackle fried chicken or a glazed donut.
  6. Image titled Deal with Misophonia Step 13
    6
    Avoid caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol until your stomach feels better. Caffeinated and alcoholic drinks and tobacco products can all irritate your stomach and potentially cause you to start vomiting again. To be safe, avoid consuming these products for at least 24-48 hours after you’ve stopped vomiting.[12]
    • If you’re lactose intolerant or otherwise sensitive to dairy, you should also refrain from eating any dairy products until you’ve gone 24 hours without vomiting.
    7. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Recovering Physically from Nausea

  1. Image titled Assess Heat Illness Step 1
    1
    Avoid overexerting yourself for at least 1-2 days. Your body will need to rest to not only recuperate from the act of vomiting, but also get over whatever caused you to vomit in the first place. Moving around a lot while you’re nauseous may also cause you to start vomiting again, so it’s best to let yourself rest until your nausea is entirely gone.
    • If you have friends or family who can help take care of you while you’re recovering, ask if they’d be willing to stay with you to help until your nausea is gone.
  2. Image titled Cope with Claustrophobia Step 10
    2
    Consider using medication to control frequent nausea and vomiting. If you’ve done all you can through self-care to try to control your nausea and you still find yourself going through frequent bouts of vomiting, you may need some help from medication. Talk to your doctor about being prescribed an anti-nausea medication to get recurring nausea and vomiting under control.[13]
    • Examples of commonly prescribed anti-nausea medications include Phenergan and Zofran.
    • Note that some over-the-counter medications that are used to treat upset stomachs, such as Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate, probably won’t stop you from vomiting if you have a stomach virus.
  3. Image titled Cure a Morning Stomach Ache Step 20
    3
    Go to the doctor if your vomiting doesn’t go away or gets worse. Although vomiting and nausea usually go away after 24 hours of self-care, they can sometimes be signs of more serious illnesses. Seek medical attention if your vomiting lasts for more than 24 hours, there’s blood in your vomit, or you start to experience severe abdominal pain.[14]
    • You should also contact a doctor if you have nausea without vomiting that persists for more than 48 hours.
    4. Advertisement

Expert Q&A
Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow

  • Question
    I only threw up a teeny bit, but it was green bile. It has been an hour or two. Do I seriously need to wait 7 or 6 more hours until I eat toast, just with jam and no butter?
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    If you have just vomited, it is best to take a break from eating. It is important to keep yourself hydrated by drinking small amounts of clear fluids such as water, or tea or a sport drink with electrolytes and let your stomach rest without eating food. Avoid caffeine and fizzy drinks with sugar. Drink cool or cold liquids to help with nausea. As time goes on and you are able to keep liquids down without having an upset stomach, you may start eating soft bland foods such as toast, rice, bananas, or applesauce. Eat slowly and avoid greasy and acidic foods. Follow-up with your medical provider if your symptoms are getting worse or not resolving.
Advertisement

Warnings

  • Go to the doctor immediately if there is blood in your vomit or if your vomiting is accompanied by a severe headache or abdominal pain, lethargy, confusion, a fever over 101 °F (38 °C), or rapid breathing. These may all be signs of a more serious medical condition.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • If vomiting lasts more than a few hours in a child under the age of 6, or more than a day in a child over the age of 6, take the child to see a doctor at once.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Feel Better After You Have Been Sick
How to
Feel Better After You Have Been Sick
Start a Fitness Regime After a Long Illness
How to
Start a Fitness Regime After a Long Illness
Prevent Bed Sores
How to
Prevent Bed Sores
Treat Bedsores
How to
Treat Bedsores
Get up off the Couch After Sickness
How to
Get up off the Couch After Sickness
Measure Wound Granulation
How to
Measure Wound Granulation
Heal
How to
Heal
Recover From a Foot Injury
How to
Recover From a Foot Injury
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/8106-nausea--vomiting/care-and-treatment
  2. ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=56&contentid=2939
  3. ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=56&contentid=2939
  4. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000122.htm
  5. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229920318549
  6. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10596772
  7. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/8106-nausea--vomiting#care-and-treatment
  8. ↑ https://uhs.umich.edu/diarrheavomiting
  9. ↑ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10408398.2011.553751
  1. ↑ https://uhs.umich.edu/diarrheavomiting
  2. ↑ https://www.lahc.edu/studentservices/healthcenter/Basic%20First%20Aid%20-%20Nausea%20and%20Vomiting.pdf
  3. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000122.htm
  4. ↑ https://patient.info/digestive-health/nausea-and-vomiting/medicines-for-nausea
  5. ↑ https://www.uwsp.edu/stuhealth/Documents/Other/Nausea,%20Vomiting,%20and%20Diarrhea.pdf

About This Article

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Medically reviewed by:
Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
This article was medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS. Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006. This article has been viewed 192,488 times.
3 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 5
Updated: February 24, 2022
Views: 192,488
Categories: Recovery from Illness

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

Article SummaryX

Throwing up can leave you feeling rough, but fortunately, there are a few ways you can help yourself feel better. If you’re still feeling nauseous, rest sitting up to settle your stomach until it passes. You can also open a window or sit outside to get some fresh air. Avoid taking any medication for at least an hour and avoid eating or drinking for at least 15 minutes, since this can irritate your stomach. After that, take small sips of water to stay hydrated. Try to wait 8 hours before eating again and then stick to bland foods like bananas, white rice, applesauce, and plain toast, which will be gentle on your stomach. For more tips from our Medical co-author, including how to lower your body temperature after throwing up, read on.

Did this summary help you?
Advertisement