Buzz
We’ve all faced those frantic, uneasy moments when the overwhelming feeling of nausea hits, making us rush to the nearest sink, trash can, or even the outdoors to avoid a messy situation. While we can’t guarantee you’ll never vomit (sometimes it’s inevitable), this tip can help you delay the urge long enough to find a more suitable spot to let it out.
When TikTok user @onlyjayus shared a video outlining several tricks to prevent sickness—including humming to curb nausea—I was doubtful, as one should be with most health hacks on social media. However, the claim was confirmed by Dr. Karan Rajan, an NHS surgeon at Imperial College London, who uses his platform of nearly 5 million followers to provide medical advice and debunk health myths.
How does this trick work to delay or stop vomiting? As Rajan explains, humming helps suppress the gag reflex. Dr. Ross Perry, medical director of Cosmedics skin clinics, also told the Daily Mail, “When the gag reflex triggers, it often causes stress and anxiety. By controlling your breathing through humming, you can relax. It’s nearly impossible to gag and hum simultaneously.”
Perry also recommended additional methods to strengthen your gag reflex, such as brushing your tongue or applying salt to stimulate the taste buds. “Different techniques work for different people, but the key is to distract yourself from the gagging sensation,” he noted.
(Incidentally, another doctor-approved tip from the original video was to sniff—not drink—rubbing alcohol to alleviate nausea.)
As a parent who has dealt with catching vomit in my hands and cleaning it off car seats, floor mats, and costly rugs, I’ll certainly be teaching my kids this humming trick. Whether they can manage to use it in the moment is uncertain, but I plan to practice it with them before our next trip.
For adults, however, this trick is straightforward and practical. The next time you feel the urge to vomit, try humming—even if just long enough to reach the bathroom.
