Nobody likes vomit. Especially other people's vomit. I remember the night my little sister vomited on me while I was sleeping. When my eyes came into focus, I found my sister had not only vomited, she had also passed out. Waking up in a puddle of vomit is always unsavory, but for me, it was also a learning experience. Years later, as a practitioner, my ayurvedic brain questioned, 'Why did she pass out?" I started to research, and realized that passing out after vomiting was normal, and that gave me an important clue to why vomiting happens, and how to prevent nausea & vomiting.

Passing out after vomiting is called vasovagal syncope. Vasovagal syncope is when over-stimulation of the vagus nerve causes such a drop in heart rate and blood pressure that it leads to fainting. My sister experiences this every time she throws up. Vagus what? The vagus nerve is a fascinating nerve that governs nausea and vomiting. When it is overstimulated, it makes you nauseous. The vagus nerve also governs your digestive system, your ear (think motion sickness) and coughing. It is the centerpiece of the parasympathetic nervous system, activated whenever you are in rest & digest mode. Because of this, relaxation, the vagus nerve, and nausea are paradoxically related.

At first glance, nausea doesn't feel very relaxing. The heaviness of nausea often gets overlooked because vomiting is so dramatic. On second glance, you'll notice that before you vomit there is a feeling of surrender. When you are nauseous you don't feel like moving. You make a semi-conscious noise like 'Ughhh' as you lay, listlessly, on the couch. Nausea is languid. When you are nauseous, even thinking takes too much effort. Your cheeks feel puffy and you look green like a cartoon character that has smoked too many cigars.

Nausea is characteristic of vagus nerve stimulation. The emotions and sensations you get when nauseous teach you what vagus nerve stimulation feels like. If you've ever been curious about your vagus nerve, remember that when you are feeling nauseous you are essentially feeling your vagus nerve.

Vomiting, as we've mentioned, is a stimulated state. One could even say that nausea and vomiting are opposites. A refreshing bout of vomit is your body's answer to a heavy state of nausea. After vomiting you feel light. Before vomiting, you feel sour and heavy. In Ayurvedic terms - nausea is governed by excess apana (which is downward moving), and vomiting by excess udana (which is upward moving).

WHAT HAS HELPED YOU HEAL?

DIET REMEDIES FOR 'FREQUENT NAUSEA'

PRODUCT REMEDIES FOR 'FREQUENT NAUSEA'

AVOID DIETS, LIFESTYLES & HERBS THAT AGGRAVATE THESE EFFECTS

Symptoms Tell A Story

The first step to healing is learning patterns from your symptoms. Symptoms are clues that reveal underlying imbalances, showing you where your body is weak. Specifically, they reveal the doshas & qualities that may have become aggravated. If you notice a quality or dosha appears next to many of your symptoms, it helps you establish a pattern that may be systemic.

V = VATA, P = PITTA, K = KAPHA

GUNA	FOODS TO AVOID	DO YOU HAVE THIS IMBALANCE?
OILY ABOUT OILY GUNA Oily refers to anything fatty, or that increases fat. LEARN MORE ABOUT OILY	AVOID OILY FOODS THAT MAY AGGRAVATE FREQUENT NAUSEA	Status Unknown Take these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Oily' guna
HEAVY ABOUT HEAVY GUNA Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight. LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY	AVOID HEAVY FOODS THAT MAY AGGRAVATE FREQUENT NAUSEA	Status Unknown Take these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Heavy' guna
GOOEY ABOUT GOOEY GUNA Gooey is identified by anything gelatinous (such as oatmeal), or by mucus congestion. LEARN MORE ABOUT GOOEY	AVOID GOOEY FOODS THAT MAY AGGRAVATE FREQUENT NAUSEA	Status Unknown Take these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Gooey' guna
DIFFICULT ABOUT DIFFICULT GUNA Difficult refers to anything that is difficult to digest, or takes a long time to digest. LEARN MORE ABOUT DIFFICULT	AVOID DIFFICULT FOODS THAT MAY AGGRAVATE FREQUENT NAUSEA	Status Unknown Take these quizzes to find out if you need to decrease Difficult to digest foods
SWEET ABOUT SWEET GUNA Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats. LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET	AVOID SWEET FOODS THAT MAY AGGRAVATE FREQUENT NAUSEA	Status Unknown Take these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Sweet' taste

To learn more about the symbols above, click on them.

SEE A DIET WHICH REMOVES THESE CAUSES

ADDRESS ISSUES IN STAGE OF DISEASE 1

If you have symptoms in this category, your body is sending you a warning sign. Since digestion is so metabolically intensive and sensitive to stress and emotions, the earliest warning signs of imbalance usually appear in the digestive tract first. You may have gas and bloating, for example, or acid reflux. Ayurveda recommends paying careful, close attention to warning signs. They indicate that an imbalance is starting to accumulate. Correct these warning signs before they accumulate further and weaken your body's resistance. This is usually accomplished by removing diet and lifestyle habits that aggravate your imbalanced doshas and qualities.

REDUCE THESE RELATED SYMPTOMS & HABITS

DO YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR UNIQUE BODY?

What aggravates it? What heals it? Then get your Personal Ayurvedic Body Book! This book, written by founder and director of Joyful Belly, John Immel, is individually formatted for your unique body and will help you confidently choose food that restores your healthy glow to get you feeling like your best self. Just $19.99!

ADD TO CART

About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda exudes a certain ease, which many find enjoyable and insightful. His online course Balance Your Ayurvedic Diet in a Week provides tools for gracefully healing with Ayurveda to thousands. John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda , which specializes in digestive tract pathology & Ayurvedic nutrition. John and his wife Natalie recently published Explore Your Hunger: A Guide to Hunger, Appetite & Food.

John's interest in Ayurveda and digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, including his public service work in South Asia. John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion. John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing. In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.

John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots, and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church. Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick. That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well.

Read more