Essential Oils for Nausea and Digestion

Overview

In recent years with a rise in the popularity of self-care routines and products, essential oils have become an integral part of a lot of everyday products for their soothing scent and other rejuvenating properties. In some cases, essential oils have taken place in some of our medicine cabinets for their medicinal properties and their known significance in traditional medicinal treatments.¹

Essential oils are volatile oils isolated from the flowers, stems, leaves, roots, fruits and other parts of medically significant plants using various extraction techniques.² Common essential oils that you can find in your everyday life include lavender oil, which is highly popular in hygiene products such as soaps, shampoos and lotions, and spearmint oil which is a common ingredient in toothpastes, mouthwash and chewing gums. Other varieties of essential oils include cardamom oil, fennel oil, citrus oil, tea tree oil, chamomile oil and lemongrass oil among others. Some of the important characteristics of essential oils that contribute to their medicinal significance include antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiviral properties as well as psychogenic properties aiding in stress relief and treating depression and insomnia.¹ 

There is evidence that essential oils play a role in easing nausea and aiding healthy digestion. In traditional practices, it is not uncommon for people with car sickness to carry a lemon or orange to ease and prevent nausea. There is in fact, a scientific basis for how essential oils in citrus and other naturally occurring sources could aid in preventing nausea.  

Understanding nausea and digestive issues

Nausea is a common gastrointestinal issue reported that is caused by different triggers and stimuli that affect either the central or the peripheral nervous systems.³ Nausea is your body’s defence mechanism against external threatening entities such as certain drugs, bacteria, viruses, fungi or other toxins entering your body so that the body can prepare for the forceful ejection of these toxins by vomiting. In simple terms, nausea is the unpleasant feeling of wanting to vomit.³ However, for some people, nausea and vomiting can happen independently of each other. While common causes of nausea include the aforementioned toxins such as microbes or certain drugs, there are other circumstances of nausea occurrences such as post-operative, chemotherapy, pregnancy and motion sickness.⁴

Digestive problems or gastrointestinal diseases, including indigestion, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, constipation, acid reflux and so on, have been often associated with having negative implications on people’s overall health and quality of life. There can be a range of causes for digestive disease occurrences. The most common cause of gastrointestinal diseases is an alteration of the gut microbiota composition and a reduction of its diversity.⁵ Other factors that lead to an upset gastrointestinal tract include poor dietary choices such as eating a low-fibre diet or consuming a large amount of a particular type of food (e.g. a large quantity of dairy products), lack of physical exercises, changes in a person’s daily routine (e.g. while travelling), refusing to have a bowel movement regardless of having an urge that can lead to excess re-absorption of water from faecal matter and ultimately constipation and haemorrhoids and so on. 

Gastrointestinal disorders are said to affect people’s lives through poorer sleep and problems with relationships, jobs, education, leisure, travel, diet and sexual functioning.⁶ Therefore, having a properly functioning digestive system is crucial to maintaining a good quality of life. 

Mechanisms of action of essential oils

Essential oils are either inhaled, absorbed topically or even orally ingested to enter the body where the molecules in their active compounds travel to the brain and affect the emotional centre of the brain called the amygdala.⁷ Several essential oils are associated with their antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties and are commonly used for their characteristics of promoting relaxation and reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. 

Their anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties could be highly relevant when it comes to the role essential oils play in nausea relief and digestion improvement. Certain essential oils also have a detoxifying effect which would also explain why it helps in relieving nausea-like symptoms. 

Essential oils for overall digestive health

The following table lists some of the common essential oils that are used in relieving nausea and promoting good gastrointestinal health, each of their properties contributing to these effects and methods of applications

Research and evidence

From the table in the above section, characteristics such as anti-inflammation, and anti-microbial properties including antibacterial and antifungal effects, muscle relaxing properties and antioxidant properties can be commonly seen across all the types of essential oils discussed. This could indicate the implications these properties can have on preventing nausea and promoting a healthy gastrointestinal system. 

For instance, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial factors that are commonly seen in all the suggested essential oils can keep toxins and harmful microbes at bay while reducing inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. This in turn can help maintain a healthy digestive system with a balanced gut microbiota and reduce the occurrence of nausea. 

The bowel wall muscle relaxation properties of peppermint oil and the antispasmodic effects of fennel oil can be greatly beneficial in reducing digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Fennel oil is also seen to stimulate digestive juices and enzyme secretion in the gut, which is crucial to maintaining a healthy digestive cycle where carbohydrates, proteins and lipids can be efficiently broken down into smaller pieces for the absorption of nutrients. 

Scientific evidence supports the efficacy of essential oils for nausea and digestion. A placebo-controlled study proves peppermint oil’s effectiveness in treating digestive disorders such as IBS, childhood functional abdominal pain, postoperative nausea and dyspepsia.⁹ According to this study, peppermint oil can have implications on the oesophageal, small bowel, gallbladder, gastric and colonic physiology due to its spasmolytic properties.⁹

Several preclinical and clinical studies have been published about ginger oil’s effectiveness in treating pregnancy, post-chemotherapy, post-operative and motion sickness-related nausea and vomiting.¹⁰

Another research shines a light on the popularity of lemon essential oil in around 40% of pregnant women in treating pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting and reported that 26.5% of these women found it effective in soothing their symptoms.⁸

Safety considerations and precautions

Certain essential oils such as peppermint oil can be highly potent and must be diluted in a carrier oil like coconut oil or almond oil before topical application. In aromatherapy, 100% pure volatile essential oils are diluted in concentrations ranging from 1% to 5% in carrier oils, depending on the potency of the oil. 

Application methods of each essential oil can also vary depending on its potency and typically, direct ingestion of any type of essential oil is not advised due to its ability to irritate your gastrointestinal lining. Food-grade essential oils must be diluted in carrier oils or water or even infused in tea. It is important to read the essential oil labels before adding it to food or ingesting it to ensure safety. If the label says “NOT FOR INTERNAL USE”, strictly refrain from ingesting that essential oil no matter how much you dilute it. For example, instead of directly inhaling essential oils, using a diffuser or adding a couple of drops of your choice of essential oil onto a ball of cotton would be safer options. 

Furthermore, when purchasing essential oils, ensuring that the source it comes from is reputable and trustworthy is vitally important. Some credible sources to purchase your essential oil would be your trusted local pharmacies and high-street drugstores or reputed herbal health and wellness stores. Utmost caution should be paid when purchasing essential oils online to make sure it is pure and high-quality. 

Finally, potential interactions with medications or medical conditions must be considered before integrating essential oil into your treatment plan against nausea and digestive issues. You should consult with your GP or specialist healthcare practitioner before starting to use essential oils to prevent adverse reactions. 

Additional lifestyle and dietary recommendations

Instead of relying solely on herbal aromatherapy as a solution, complementary lifestyle practices to support digestive health must be encouraged with the integration of essential oil use into a holistic approach to wellness. 

Maintenance of a healthy diet and lifestyle habits is essential for managing nausea and improving digestion in the long run. This includes following a balanced diet that is rich in essential nutrients and fibre while ensuring an active lifestyle. In this age of technological advancement and the rising popularity of sedentary lifestyles, it is crucial to keep your body moving. 

FAQs

1. How do I use essential oils for nausea and digestion?

Essential oils can be used in various ways, including inhalation, topical application, and ingestion. Inhalation can be as simple as sniffing the oil directly from the bottle or using a diffuser. The topical application involves diluting the essential oil with a carrier oil and massaging it onto the skin, usually over the abdomen for digestive issues. Ingestion should be done cautiously and only with oils that are safe for internal use, and it's best to consult a healthcare professional before doing so.

2. Which essential oils are best for relieving nausea?

Some of the most commonly used essential oils for nausea relief include ginger, peppermint, citrus, fennel, lavender, and chamomile. Each of these oils has properties that can help alleviate nausea and promote relaxation.

3. Are there any safety concerns associated with using essential oils for nausea and digestion?

It's important to dilute essential oils properly before applying them to the skin, as they can cause irritation or sensitisation. Additionally, certain essential oils may not be suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women, young children, or individuals with certain medical conditions. Always research and consult with a qualified healthcare professional before using essential oils, especially if you have any concerns or pre-existing health conditions.

4. How long does it take for essential oils to work for nausea and digestive issues?

The onset of relief can vary depending on factors such as the individual's sensitivity, the specific oil used, and the method of application. Inhalation methods may provide quicker relief, while topical application or ingestion may take a bit longer to take effect. It's important to be patient and consistent with essential oils to experience their full benefits.

5. Are there any essential oils that should be avoided for nausea and digestion?

Some essential oils may be too strong or irritating for certain individuals, or they may have properties that are not suitable for managing nausea or digestive issues. For example, oils high in menthol, such as wintergreen or eucalyptus, may be too stimulating for some people. It's essential to research each oil's properties and potential contraindications before use, and when in doubt, consult with a healthcare professional.

Summary

Several essential oils have antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, muscle-relaxing and antispasmodic effects and can be highly beneficial in keeping toxins and harmful microbes at bay while reducing inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Essential oils such as peppermint, ginger, citrus and fennel have proven properties that can be beneficial in treating and preventing nausea from different causes while helping to maintain a healthy functioning digestive system. 

It is however encouraged to consult with healthcare professionals to ensure safety and to prevent adverse side effects relating to reactions with other medicines or medical conditions. Finally, practising a sustainably healthy lifestyle and dietary choices is paramount in maintaining a well-rounded gastrointestinal health with no digestive disorders.