Essential Oils for Nausea: What the Research Shows
What reviews and trials found about inhaled peppermint, ginger and other essential oils for nausea after surgery, during chemotherapy and in pregnancy, with limits and cautions.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Get medical help if nausea comes with warning signs. MedlinePlus says to contact a health care provider immediately if you have a reason to think vomiting is from poisoning, have vomited for longer than 24 hours, or have signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, infrequent urination or dark urine. [1] If someone has swallowed an essential oil, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222; for collapse, a seizure or trouble breathing, call 911. [2] The NHS says sudden nausea with chest pain, pain spreading to the arms, back, neck or jaw, or shortness of breath could be a heart attack. [3]
Smelling peppermint or ginger oil is a popular idea for queasiness. This page covers what trials and reviews found, mostly in hospital settings, and it does not advise anyone to use an oil. It also does not suggest swallowing any oil.
What the research found
Peppermint means Mentha x piperita and ginger means Zingiber officinale. [4] [5] The studies below mostly describe inhaled scent; some used massage or a drop placed near the nose.
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Population and form studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea after surgery, all aromatherapy (Cochrane) | In 16 studies with 1,036 participants, aromatherapy was not found effective at reducing nausea severity compared with placebo, though people were less likely to need rescue antiemetics. [6] | Insufficient evidence | Adults and children after surgery; mixed scents |
| Peppermint after surgery (Cochrane) | A specific comparison of peppermint to placebo did not show an effect on nausea severity at five minutes. [6] | Insufficient evidence | After surgery; inhaled |
| A trial of ginger and a blend | Nausea fell significantly with ginger oil and with a blend of ginger, spearmint, peppermint and cardamom oils compared with saline, but not with alcohol. [7] | Promising but limited | 301 adults after day surgery; one center; inhaled |
| Oral surgery | Nausea severity fell in an aroma group, but use of antiemetics was not significantly different. [8] | Promising but limited | Adults after oral surgery; single-blind; peppermint, ginger and lavender together |
| Cancer treatment nausea (NIH) | Inhaling peppermint oil can help reduce nausea and vomiting in people undergoing chemotherapy. [9] | Promising but limited | Adults; inhaled |
| Cancer, pooled | 25 trials: aromatherapy reduced nausea, but not vomiting alone; the authors say conclusive evidence is lacking. [10] | Promising but limited | Adults with cancer; inhalation and massage |
| Peppermint after chemotherapy, pilot | In an open-label, quasi-randomized pilot, nausea measures improved in all but one chemotherapy schedule. [11] | Preliminary | Adults with cancer; not blinded |
| Children with leukemia | In 90 children aged 2 to 12, peppermint-lemon inhaled through a diffuser was reported effective compared with placebo and control groups. [12] | Insufficient evidence | Children undergoing chemotherapy |
| Nausea in pregnancy | A trial of 90 pregnant women reported that combined lemon and peppermint inhalation could reduce mild to moderate nausea and vomiting. [13] | Promising but limited | Pregnant women in Iran; inhaled |
A review of 21 studies in pregnancy reported lower nausea and vomiting with aromatherapy but still called for larger, higher-quality studies. [14]
Reading these results
- Children are a special case. NIH says menthol should not be inhaled by or applied to the face of an infant or small child, because it may negatively affect breathing. [9] The leukemia trial above was a research study of a diffuser, not a home guide. Ask the child's care team.
- Evidence quality. The Cochrane review rated its evidence from moderate to very low. [6]
- Not the same as ginger food. The NHS suggests ginger or peppermint tea and ginger foods for feeling sick; that is food and tea, not oil. [3] See ginger tea, peppermint tea and ginger.
Traditional use
NCCIH notes that mint plants have been used for digestive disorders since ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt. [9] That is historical use, not proof for nausea.
Frequently asked questions
Does peppermint oil help nausea?
NIH says inhaling peppermint oil can help reduce nausea and vomiting in people having chemotherapy, but a Cochrane review found no effect of peppermint on nausea severity after surgery. [9] [6]
Does ginger essential oil help nausea?
One trial of inhaled ginger oil after day surgery reported reduced nausea compared with saline. It is a single-center trial. [7]
Is aromatherapy safe for morning sickness?
Trials reported lower nausea, but sources note little is known about medicinal peppermint in pregnancy. Ask a midwife, doctor or pharmacist. [13] [9]
Is it safe for children?
Menthol should not be inhaled by or applied to the face of an infant or small child. Ask the child's pediatric team. [9]
When is nausea an emergency?
Vomiting for longer than 24 hours, signs of dehydration, or suspected poisoning need prompt medical contact; chest pain with nausea can be a heart attack. [1] [3]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety
- Pregnancy. Morning sickness usually clears up by weeks 16 to 20 and does not put the baby at increased risk, but a severe form (hyperemesis gravidarum) can be serious. [15] Little is known about medicinal amounts of peppermint in pregnancy. [9] See essential oils in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Skin. Peppermint oil on the skin can cause rashes and irritation. [9]
- Medicines. If you take any medicine, NIH advises talking with a provider before using herbal products. [9] See medication interactions.
- Swallowing. Misuse of essential oils can cause serious poisoning. [2]
When to see a clinician
The NHS advises seeing a GP if you feel sick and do not feel better in a few days, or often feel sick. [3] For pregnancy, the NHS lists inability to keep food or fluids down for 24 hours as a reason to call the midwife or doctor. [15] Our guide to indigestion and nausea covers causes. For the peppermint trials in detail, see peppermint oil for headache and nausea.
References
- Nausea and Vomiting (MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine). https://medlineplus.gov/nauseaandvomiting.html. Read 2026-10-23.
- Essential oils: Poisonous when misused (Poison Control). https://www.poison.org/articles/essential-oils. Read 2026-10-23.
- Feeling sick (nausea) (NHS, UK; page last reviewed 17 November 2023). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/feeling-sick-nausea/. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy name match: Mentha piperita (GBIF). https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/match?name=Mentha+piperita. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy name match: Zingiber officinale (GBIF). https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/match?name=Zingiber+officinale. Read 2026-10-23.
- Aromatherapy for treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29523018/. Read 2026-10-23.
- Aromatherapy as treatment for postoperative nausea: a randomized trial (Anesthesia & Analgesia, 2013). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22392970/. Read 2026-10-23.
- Effect of aromatherapy with peppermint, ginger, and lavender on postoperative nausea severity after oral surgery under general anaesthesia: a single-blind randomized controlled trial (Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2025). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40154579/. Read 2026-10-23.
- Peppermint Oil (NCCIH, last updated May 2025). https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/peppermint-oil. Read 2026-10-23.
- Effects of aromatherapy on nausea and vomiting in patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2024). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38330531/. Read 2026-10-23.
- The effects of peppermint oil on nausea, vomiting and retching in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: an open label quasi-randomized controlled pilot study (Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2021). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33197662/. Read 2026-10-23.
- Effect of peppermint-lemon aromatherapy on nausea-vomiting and quality of life in pediatric patients with leukemia: a randomized controlled trial (Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 2023). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37453895/. Read 2026-10-23.
- The effect of combined inhalation aromatherapy with lemon and peppermint on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: a double-blind, randomized clinical trial (Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 2020). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33344211/. Read 2026-10-23.
- Effectiveness of aromatherapy on physiological and psychological symptoms during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2025). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41192533/. Read 2026-10-23.
- Vomiting and morning sickness (NHS, UK; page last reviewed 17 April 2024). https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/common-symptoms/vomiting-and-morning-sickness/. Read 2026-10-23.