Occasionally, we all eat something that makes us feel sick. In this case, throwing up what you just ate is probably a good idea instead of dealing with nausea and discomfort. However, you should always take care when you throw up since the process can be painful and uncomfortable. And never use self-induced vomiting as a way to lose weight since vomiting frequently will take away the essential nutrients your body needs. It can also lead to erosion of your esophagus and teeth due to the constant contact with caustic stomach acids.

How to Induce Vomiting

1. Tigger Gag Reflex

• Use fingers: This involves sticking out your tongue then putting your middle and index fingers on the back of it. Then, you pull your tongue as well as fingers back until your fingers touch your lingual, which is the tiny tongue hanging down from the palate’s back portion, or the back of the throat wall. Some people need to keep their fingers in their throat for a few seconds and use will power as well. When your stomach starts to cramp, take your fingers from your mouth and let your stomach empty its contents. This method only works if you have a gag reflex.
• Use a toothbrush: If you don’t want to use your finger, a toothbrush can also help you naturally induce vomiting. You will use the toothbrush the same way you would use a finger. Be sure to wet the bristles on the toothbrush first so you don’t scratch your throat. Then, simply rub the toothbrush against the area that triggers your gag reflex. Remember to thoroughly clean or replace the toothbrush afterwards.

2. Watch Someone Else Throw Up

While you won’t likely find someone throwing up right when you need to, watching someone vomit can in fact induce you to do the same. Most likely, you will need to rely on technology and find a video of someone throwing up. The idea is that when you see someone else vomit or do anything else, like yawn, it triggers your body to create the same response. This means if you see someone else vomit, you are more likely to. This is known as sympathy vomiting and is a fast and natural way to induce vomiting.

3. Spinning

Many people have also found that an easy method of how to induce vomiting is spinning. This method makes you dizzy, which can quickly lead to vomiting. Try by sitting in a chair that spins and start the spinning motion. Make the chair twirl faster and faster until you feel as if you are ready to throw up.

4. Take Emetics

To safely induce vomiting, take medications known as emetics. These are designed specifically to induce vomiting. A common emetic is Ipecac, which you will find as a syrup or tablet. Mix it with water then drink it. The medication will make your stomach wall contract severely, pushing out contents. Keep in mind that the medication may take several moments to cause vomiting and you may feel uncomfortable during this time.

5. Try Home-Made Emetics

• Salt water has been used for centuries to induce vomiting because it is very effective and natural. When there is too much sodium chloride(salt) in your stomach, it will trigger vomiting. You can try drinking a cup of salt water and then using the finger method mentioned above if it didn’t work the first time. Just be careful as you don’t want to ingest too much salt since it could be harmful.
• Castor oil is a great home remedy that has become a popular suggestion of how to induce vomiting naturally. However, you need to take extra care when using this method since castor oil is considered a very strong purgative and it may lead to dehydration. Because of this, make sure you use the minimum amount necessary, typically a tablespoon. Add 1 tablespoon of castor oil in a cup of water, then drink all of it. It may take around 10 minutes to become effective.
• Mustard can help you throw up because it is unappetizing. Mix a tablespoon of regular mustard with a full cup of warm water. Drink the solution slowly; some people may need to hold their breath or pinch their nose while drinking it. This remedy will typically take 20 to 30 minutes to start working. Also, keep in mind that it doesn’t work for everyone.

Are There Any Risks of Inducing Vomiting?

1. Aspiration

One of the biggest risks of learning how to induce vomiting is aspiration. If the vomit reaches the lungs, it can cause aspiration pneumonia.

2. Burning

The vomit may contain corroding substances such as alkali or acids, which may lead to chemical burns on your mouth, throat, or esophagus.

3. Esophageal Tear

In the case of violent vomiting, you may experience a partial thickness tear (Mallory-Weiss syndrome) or possibly a full thickness tear (Boerhaave syndrome). These issues are particularly common among chronic alcoholics as well as those with bulimia or other eating disorders following overeating. Other symptoms include upper abdominal or lower chest pain and vomiting up blood.

4. Choking

When vomit enters the breathing pathways, it may lead to choking, which is always a risk with vomiting, and that is especially true for those who are unconscious. You should never use the techniques of inducing vomiting on someone who isn’t conscious.