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There aren’t many feelings worse than nausea, and people swear by all sorts of different remedies to treat and avoid this sensation. For those who regularly suffer from sickness and nausea, there may be one trick you haven’t tried – and paramedic Amy Leigh claims it is “incredibly effective”.
Her tip is straightforward – simply hold a small alcohol wipe packet in front of your nose. Amy explained that these easily found, cheap wipes are typically used to clean and disinfect the skin of her patients.
However, the wipes aren’t just great for disinfecting skin – according to Amy, recent studies have suggested these wipes also have anti-nausea properties too, if patients simply give them a sniff.
Amy said: “In my own practice I have found this incredibly effective,” she declared, acknowledging that of course, patients are treated with anti-sickness medication, too. I would say that in patients who are actively vomiting or have quite severe nausea – always go to the antiemetics – anti-sickness tablets or injections.”
She added: “But in cases of travel sickness, someone who has been drinking a bit of alcohol, or in any cases of mild to moderate nausea, then definitely give the alcohol wipes a try.”
The wipes can be bought cheaply from most chemists. Amy Leigh also advised that the wipes make a “good alternative” to travel sickness pressure bands.
Amy said: “I’m just a really big fan of them,” and advised that Clinell is the particular brand she uses, though “any old alcohol wipe will do”. A study published by the BMJ investigated “patient access to symptomatic treatment through self-serving nausea stations” within a hospital’s emergency department, supporting Amy Leigh’s advice.
The research found that over a 25-week period, IPA [isopropyl alcohol] inhalation effectively improved nausea symptoms, with 53 per cent of survey respondents reporting ‘great improvement’ or ‘good improvement’. Furthermore, 88 per cent of respondents felt there was an improvement in symptoms, reports the Express. However, 12 per cent reported that IPA administration showed ‘no improvement’.
Amy Leigh’s clip received hundreds of responses, many of which seemed to back up her advice. One TikTok user said: “I was in hospital on Monday for surgery and when I came round I was nauseous and they gave me a wipe to smell it worked great.”
Another person revealed: “My 1st month taking Mounjaro (weight loss injection) I felt terribly nauseous. The alcohol wipe worked a treat. Also when I was coming round from general anaesthetic. Great tip.”
A third added: “When I had HG [Hyperemesis Gravidarum, a severe form of nausea and vomiting] in pregnancy towards the end my symptoms eased a bit and I found that smelling the wipes really helped.”
While a fourth praised the tip: “Did this on the train home after my son was sick on a day trip. I felt so queasy but kept sniffing a wipe and topping it up with some hand sanitiser all the way home. Definitely worked for me!”
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