2 Natural Ways To Soothe Cancer Treatment Nausea
Cancer is a devastating disease where abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and cause healthy cells in the body to die. Cancer is often treated aggressively with chemotherapy, but the treatment has some side effects. Nausea and vomiting are among these side effects, and you should try to control these issues with natural treatments at home. If you cannot control them, then you may end up with malnutrition, dehydration, and torn surgical wounds. Keep reading and consider the following tips.
Drink a Cup of Ginger Tea
Ginger has long been used to soothe nausea. In fact, the ginger root has been utilized for over 2,000 years to help soothe an upset stomach, and researchers believe that the Segal and gingerol phenols in the root are responsible for its positive benefits. You can use the ginger by making your own cup of tea when you start to feel nauseous after a round of chemotherapy. Utilizing fresh ginger is best to reap the benefits of the phenols, so purchase a ginger root from your local grocery or health food store. A small root a few inches long is all you need.
Once you have the root, use a potato peeler to get rid of the dark brown peel on the outside of it. Use a grater to grate two teaspoons of the root, and place the grated material into a large mug or cup. Boil some water and add it to the cup, and allow the ginger to steep for about 15 minutes. Once the tea cools, sip on it slowly. If the tea is too bitter, add a teaspoon or two of sugar or honey. You can add a drop or two of peppermint oil to the mixture as well to enhance the taste. Peppermint is a natural nausea treatment as well that can relax the stomach muscles.
If you do not like tea, then consider eating gingersnaps or drinking ginger ale. These things may not contain freshly chopped ginger root, by they are still likely to help with your nausea symptoms. If you want to use fresh ginger, then try adding the grated root to a light salad.
Use Acupressure
Acupressure and acupuncture both use points on the body along channels or meridians to help treat specific ailments. Acupressure utilizes pressure across these points to help soothe you, and it is sometimes used to reduce nausea. If you want to use acupressure to reduce nausea symptoms, then place your left arm on a table, making sure that the palm is facing upward. Use your index finger to measure about one inch down your arm from the bottom of your wrist. Feel for two tendons underneath your skin and place the thumb of your right hand on the area.
Press on the point with your thumb. Use firm pressure and move your thumb around in a small circle for several minutes. Repeat the process on your right wrist. You can use this acupressure technique at any point that you are feeling nauseous.
If you have a headache or migraine that is contributing to your nausea, then spread the fingers of your left hand. Place the index finger and thumb of your right hand around the web of skin between the index finger and thumb of your left hand. Make sure that your fingers are grasping the skin about one-half an inch down from the edge of the web. Press down firmly on this area of your hand for 30 seconds. Repeat the process on your right hand. Continue pressing and releasing until you feel the pain and stiffness subside in your head and neck region.
Cancer treatments and nausea often go hand and hand. Thankfully, you can control nausea symptoms fairly easily and naturally by drinking ginger tea and by using acupressure points.
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