What is Brown Vomit or Bile?
Brown vomit, also referred to as bile, occurs when your vomit contains digestive fluids from your small intestine. The brown color comes from digested blood and stomach bile. Throwing up bile or brown vomit can happen for many reasons. Understanding the causes and treatments can help you find relief.
What Causes Brown Vomit?
There are several possible causes for brown vomit:
- Empty stomach - Throwing up stomach bile when your stomach is empty means your vomit will be bilious and brown. This can happen if you have prolonged gaps between meals or don't eat enough.
- Food poisoning - Consuming contaminated food can cause vomiting and diarrhea. The toxins irritate your stomach lining leading to excess bile production.
- Alcohol hangover - Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can irritate your stomach. As the alcohol leaves your system, it may cause you to throw up brown liquid the next morning.
- Medications - Certain medications like opioids, antibiotics, and NSAIDs can cause nausea and vomiting as side effects. They irritate the digestive system leading to bile vomiting.
- Gallstones - Gallstone formation in your gallbladder prevents proper bile flow into your small intestine. The backflow causes bile to enter your stomach instead, resulting in bile vomit.
- Intestinal blockage - Obstructions in your intestines from inflammation, tumors or hernias can prevent bile passage. The bile then flows back into the stomach, mixing with stomach acid leading to brown vomit.
When to See a Doctor
While throwing up bile occasionally after excessive alcohol intake or on an empty stomach is usually not serious, frequent episodes could signal an underlying condition. See your doctor if you experience:
- Fever higher than 100°F along with vomiting
- Blood in your vomit
- Severe abdominal pain
- Diarrhea lasting more than two days
- Inability to keep down fluids due to persistent vomiting
- Unexplained weight loss
These symptoms could indicate infections, bowel obstructions, peptic ulcers or pancreatitis. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can help prevent complications from fluid loss and malnutrition.
Natural Home Remedies for Bile Vomiting
You can try these natural remedies at home to soothe your stomach and stop ongoing bile vomiting episodes:
Stay Hydrated
Dehydration from fluid loss is common with vomiting. Sip on electrolyte drinks like sports drinks or oral rehydration salts solution to replenish lost salts and minerals. If you cannot tolerate liquids, suck on ice chips or frozen fruit pops.
BRAT Diet
Stick to bland, easy to digest foods like bananas, rice, applesauce and toast initially. The BRAT diet helps settle the stomach. Avoid spicy, fatty and dairy foods till vomiting subsides.
Ginger
Ginger root tea, lozenges and candies can help relieve nausea. Ginger's anti-inflammatory compounds soothe the irritated stomach lining and prevent vomiting triggers.
Peppermint
Peppermint contains menthol that helps relax stomach muscles to prevent vomiting spasms. Drink peppermint tea or take enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules.
Probiotics
Taking a probiotic supplement helps restore good gut bacteria. Beneficial bacteria improve digestion, reduces nausea and maintains GI health.
Medical Treatments for Persistent Bile Vomiting
If natural remedies and diet modifications do not relieve bile vomiting, see your doctor for a clinical evaluation. You may need medications or surgery depending on the diagnosis.
Medications
Your doctor may prescribe:
- Antiemetics - Ondansetron blocks signals triggering nausea and vomiting.
- Antacids - Help neutralize stomach acid and relieve upset stomach.
- Antibiotics - Used for treating bacterial infections causing vomiting.
- Pain medications - Help relieve abdominal discomfort accompanying vomiting.
Surgery
Surgery may be necessary if you have gallstones or a bowel obstruction contributing to bile vomiting. Gallbladder removal surgery helps prevent repeat episodes in most cases. Bowel obstructions require surgical correction to clear the blockage.
How to Prevent Bile Vomiting
Making certain lifestyle changes can help prevent episodes of brown vomit or bile vomiting:
- Eat small, frequent meals - Avoid going too long without eating.
- Stay hydrated - Drink adequate fluids to prevent dehydration.
- Limit alcohol intake - Reduce alcohol consumption which irritates the stomach.
- Manage stress - Find healthy ways to cope with stress which can upset your stomach.
- Get enough sleep - Lack of sleep disrupts hunger signals increasing nausea.
Seeking prompt treatment for any underlying conditions contributing to your bile vomit can also help prevent repeat episodes. Stay alert to worrying symptoms and see your doctor if home care does not help.
FAQs
What causes brown vomit or throwing up bile?
Common causes include empty stomach, food poisoning, alcohol hangover, medications, gallstones, and intestinal blockages. The bile flows back into the stomach instead of the small intestine leading to brown vomit.
Is throwing up bile dangerous?
Occasional bile vomiting is usually not serious. But if you have a fever, blood in vomit, severe pain, chronic vomiting or weight loss, see your doctor as it could indicate an infection, ulcer or obstruction needing prompt treatment.
How can I stop vomiting bile at home?
Drink fluids like electrolyte drinks or oral salts solution to prevent dehydration from fluid loss. Stick to easy to digest BRAT foods initially. Home remedies like ginger, peppermint and probiotics can relieve nausea and soothe your stomach.
How can I prevent throwing up bile in the future?
Eat frequent small meals, stay hydrated to prevent dehydration, avoid excessive alcohol, manage stress and get adequate sleep. Treating any underlying conditions causing bile vomit like infections, gallstones or hernias can prevent repeat episodes.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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