We throw up or vomit (know medically as ("Emesis") due to a myriad of factors, including ingestion of toxins, excess alcohol, illnesses, dysfunction of the gastrointestinal system or a vaso-vagal response such as is seen when we smell something particularly malodorous or see something that is very disturbing (such as a decomposed human body).

What happens with vomiting is that the normal peristaltic rhythm of the gastrointestinal tract becomes reversed, the pyloric valve (that empties the stomach into the small intestine) usually closes, and the muscles of the stomach and esophagus expel their contents, which is usually a mix of ingested substances, stomach acids, bile and digestive fluids, up and out through the mouth and nose.

Vomiting can be spontaneous, induced by mechanical or chemical means or sometimes caused by a tumor or other blockage in the stomach or small intestine. It can also be a response to allergens or medicines introduced into the body, especially chemotherapeutics used to fight cancer.

Normally vomiting is self-limiting and once the stomach is emptied and the underlying cause abates, the normal gastrointestinal functions and peristaltic rhythms return. So the best treatment for vomiting is to do nothing except give clear warm broth after the episode is over to flush the acids out of the esophagus.

Prolonged vomiting is often a sign of s serious medical condition and requires immediate consultation with your health care practitioner.

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