When it comes to health advice, there’s nobody better qualified to provide it than someone who works in a medical capacity.
If you’re someone who suffers from sickness and/or nausea, paramedic Amy Leigh is on hand with a simple “hack” she claims is “incredibly effective”. Holding a small alcohol wipe packet aloft, she explained that these are typically used to clean and disinfect the skin of her patients.
However, Amy Leigh revealed numerous recent studies have suggested these wipes also have anti-nausea properties too – you just have to sniff them. “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,” Amy Leigh said. “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.”
But where you can buy them? “Pretty much anywhere – they’re very readily available,” the paramedic explained. “And they’re very cheap and affordable to buy.”
Amy Leigh also advised that the wipes make a “good alternative” to travel sickness pressure bands. “I’m just a really big fan of them,” she declared, advising that Clinell is the particular brand she uses, though “any old alcohol wipe will do”.
A study published by the BMJ looked into “patient access to symptomatic treatment through self-serving nausea stations” within a hospital’s emergency department and backs up Amy Leigh’s advice, meanwhile.
It found that over a 25-week period, IPA [isopropyl alcohol] inhalation is effective in improving nausea symptoms, with 53% of the survey’s respondents suggesting ‘great improvement’ or ‘good improvement’. In addition, 88% of respondents felt there was improvement in symptoms.
Just 12% reported that IPA administration showed ‘no improvement’, however.
Amy Leigh’s clip was met with hundreds of responses, many of which appeared to support Amy’s advice too. “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,” one TikTok user outlined in their success story.
A second 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.”
Whilst 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!”