Having an upset stomach can be very difficult, and can easily interrupt the flow of your daily life. This goes another step further when you begin vomiting as well. Not being able to keep your food down can quickly begin to deplete your happiness right along with your nutritional reserves, and electrolytes.

Why?
There are a number of different things that can cause nausea and vomiting. Interestingly, nausea and vomiting are both purposeful reactions created by your body. Initially, they had evolutionary importance because they protected us against eating things (or eating more of something) that may be harmful to our health. Vomiting, in particular, provides our body with a means of quickly expelling damaging substances that we’ve ingested. When we have a bacterial or viral infection, the body vomits in an attempt to expel any potential sources of infection found in the gut. Nausea and vomiting are also a means of stopping us from needing to digest food when our body’s resources are focused elsewhere and cannot be diverted.

Infection
Viral and bacterial infections can both result in nausea and vomiting, particularly when the infection originates in the digestive tract. This is probably the most common cause of nausea and vomiting in the general public. We are all familiar with “food poisoning”, which is caused by an infection of the digestive tract with a bacterium or virus that enters the body riding on something that we eat. In order to protect us from the offending food, the innate wisdom of our body first tells us to stop eating by initiating a sensation of nausea. As soon as the infection is registered, our body ceases digestion and so we get the urge to stop eating. If the infection continues to bloom, our body has to step it up to vomiting (and sometimes diarrhea) to flush the source of infection out of the body. Taking medicinal clay or activated charcoal can both help to bind to toxins released by the infection and reduce any nausea and vomiting.

Pregnancy
One of the most common early signs of pregnancy is the nausea and vomiting traditionally known as “morning sickness”. Unfortunately, despite the name, it can occur at any time of the day or night. There are many underlying potential causes of pregnancy nausea, and some hypothesize that it’s just a side effect of the massive hormonal changes in the body. Sometimes, it can be treated using a multi-mineral supplement and Vitamin B6. Ginger is also safe in pregnancy and is an excellent herb for settling the stomach in almost all cases of nausea.
Dehydration and Hangovers
A very common cause of nausea and vomiting, especially in athletes, is dehydration. When the body does not have enough water and/or electrolytes, the resulting water imbalance can make you feel nauseated and can eventually make you vomit. This is actually one of the most common causes of the nausea and vomiting associated with a hangover. Please see our Dehydration and Hangover articles for more information.

Inner Ear and Vertigo
A large portion of the inner ear is dedicated to balance. There are three fluid filled hoops that flow in different directions. The motion of this fluid is sensed by hairs that give information to our brain about our position and the motion of our body. The dizziness that you feel after spinning in circles, is caused by the continuing motion of the fluid in these hoops causing confusing signals to your brain. When there is difficulty in this sensation of the inner ear, whether because of stones, infection or dehydration, it can quickly cause Vertigo, which can then result in nausea and vomiting. Treating the underlying cause of the Vertigo is the fastest way to help alleviate the nausea.

Other Causes
Poor digestion can frequently cause nausea and even vomiting when the body fails to process food that is eaten. Certain medications and supplements can also cause these symptoms, so be sure to contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms begin soon after starting a newly recommended product.