Vomiting bile is an annoying and often painful symptom. Vomiting bile or throwing up bile can affect children, adults and the elderly. If you vomit a greenish-yellow substance, it may be bile. Bile is a fluid made in your liver and stored in your gallbladder. It then travels to your small intestine, where it helps your body digest fats from food. Spitting bile can be caused by vomiting on an empty stomach, binge drinking, food poisoning or a blockage in your intestines. If you vomit bile more than once, a medical condition may be causing the problem. A common cause is bile reflux, which occurs when bile flows from your liver into your stomach and esophagus.

• What is bile?
• Function of bile
• The gallbladder

• Pear-shaped organ
• Formation of gallstones

• Causes of vomiting bile

• Bowel obstruction
• Migraine or muscle tension headache
• Cyclic vomiting syndrome
• Use of alcohol and/or drugs
• Stomach flu
• Food poisoning
• Bile reflux

• Pregnant and vomiting bile
• Which symptoms should consult your doctor?
• Abandon treatment of bile
• Home Remedies for Bile Vomiting

• Avoid dehydration
• Drink juices
• Ginger and cinnamon
• Quit smoking
• Smaller meals

• Prevention
• Prognosis

 Location of the gallbladder in the body / Source: Decade3d – anatomy online/Shutterstock.com

What is bile?

Bile is a dark green to yellowish brown fluid produced by the liver that promotes the digestion of fats in the small intestine. In humans, bile is continuously produced by the liver and stored and concentrated in the gallbladder. After eating, this stored bile is released into the duodenum. Bile consists of bile salts, bilirubin, cholesterol, electrolytes and water. Adult humans produce approximately 400 to 800 ml of bile per day.

Function of bile

Bile acts to some extent as a surfactant, emulsifying the lipids or fats in food. Without bile salts, most lipids in food would be excreted undigested in the feces. Since bile increases the absorption of fats, it is an important part of the absorption of fat-soluble substances, such as vitamins A, D, E and K. In addition to its digestive function, bile also serves as an excretion route for bilirubin, a byproduct of red blood cells produced by the liver is recycled. Bilirubin is a waste product released when old red blood cells break down. Bile is alkaline and as such it also has the function of neutralizing excess stomach acid before it enters the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. Bile salts also have an antibacterial effect and destroy many of the microbes that may be present in the food.Liver and gallbladder / Source: BlueRingMedia/Shutterstock.com

The gallbladder

Pear-shaped organ

The gallbladder is a small, hollow organ where bile is stored and concentrated before being released into the small intestine. In humans, the pear-shaped gallbladder is located beneath the liver. It stores bile, which is produced by the liver. It receives bile from the liver through the hepatic duct and releases it through the bile duct to the duodenum, where the bile helps in the digestion of fats.

Formation of gallstones

The gallbladder can be affected by gallstones, formed by material that cannot be dissolved, usually cholesterol or bilirubin. Such stones can cause significant pain, especially in the upper right abdomen, and are often treated by removal of the gallbladder, called a cholecystectomy. Cholecystitis or gallbladder inflammation has many possible causes, including gallstones, infection, and autoimmune disease.

Causes of vomiting bile

There are several causes of bile vomiting.

Bowel obstruction

An intestinal obstruction or ileus blocks the flow of food, causing you to vomit and the vomit becomes increasingly fecal-smelling the longer the blockage lasts. As the food sludge flows back through the intestinal tract, the bile has already mixed with the food. An intestinal blockage can be caused by inflammatory bowel disease, gallstones or adhesions (a complication of abdominal surgery). These causes are often accompanied by severe abdominal pain and constipation.Headache and bile vomiting / Source: Andresr/Shutterstock.com

Migraine or muscle tension headache

During a migraine attack or severe form of muscle tension headache, you may also experience vomiting bile.

Cyclic vomiting syndrome

Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CBS), also called abdominal migraine, is a rare condition that can cause vomiting of bile and is characterized by random, violent attacks of vomiting for no apparent reason and occurs in otherwise healthy individuals. Statistics Netherlands’ complaints can vary greatly in severity.

Use of alcohol and/or drugs

The excessive consumption of alcohol and/or drugs can irritate the stomach lining or even trigger the receptors in the brain, causing you to vomit. It can also occur with a hangover.Stomach flu and bile spitting / Source: Andrey Popov/Shutterstock.com

Stomach flu

Stomach flu, also known as gastroenteritis, can cause vomiting of bile due to the effects of a viral infection. Stomach flu is often accompanied by diarrhea, abdominal cramps and dehydration. Sometimes you vomit so much that eventually you even vomit bile.

Food poisoning

Food poisoning often occurs suddenly and violently because the body comes into contact with bacteria, viruses or parasites in food. Symptoms vary depending on the source of infection. Most types of food poisoning cause one or more of the following signs and symptoms:

• nausea
• vomit
• watery stools or bloody diarrhea
• abdominal pain and cramps
• fever

Bile reflux

Bile reflux occurs when bile flows back into the stomach and esophagus. This condition is the result of poor functioning of a sphincter or valve.Giving up stomach fluid during pregnancy / Source: Zerocool, Pixabay

Pregnant and vomiting bile

During pregnancy you may vomit or vomit bitter yellow fluid. What could be the cause of that? The bitter yellow liquid you give up is your stomach fluid. You usually see it first in the morning, before you have eaten, or if you have repeatedly vomited. This fluid in your stomach contains enzymes and other substances to digest your food. But if you’re vomiting and there’s no food in your stomach, you can bring some of it up. It is often frothy or white. If your vomit is a yellow or greenish-yellow color, this often indicates bile.During pregnancy, vomiting can be a normal symptom of morning sickness or reflux. If you throw up stomach fluids when you get out of bed in the morning, it may help to eat something simple and light before getting out of bed. Try some water with crackers, plain almonds or cashews, or a slice of apple or banana.It is important that you do not become dehydrated, so drink plenty of water. Drinking small amounts is often better than drinking a large amount at once. Keep a cup of water on your bedside table that you can drink when you wake up at night. If plain water is difficult to tolerate, try soda or mineral water or ginger tea. Add a slice of lemon or some mint leaves for a little flavor. If you have chest pain, contact a doctor immediately / Source: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock.com

Which symptoms should consult your doctor?

Bile vomiting may not require medical treatment if it has an obvious cause and can be resolved with self-care measures such as rest and adequate fluid intake. However, if you are constantly vomiting bile, you should see a doctor. Even if there are indications of bile reflux, it is wise to consult your doctor. Also contact your doctor if there are signs of (severe) dehydration.Also contact your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:

• chestpain
• unexplained weight loss
• severe abdominal pain
• inability to stop vomiting
• difficulty breathing
• vomit that looks like coffee grounds

 Tea with fresh ginger / Source: Istock.com/ChamilleWhite

Abandon treatment of bile

Once bile vomiting has started, it is very difficult to stop mid-episode. One of the most common causes for vomiting bile is that your stomach is empty. It is usually the least distressing form of bilious vomiting and can be easily prevented and remedied by using ginger, for example in tea, to calm the stomach as it contains natural anti-inflammatory properties that are effective in helping to reduce nausea and vomiting.Unfortunately, not all cases of vomiting can be treated so easily. There are some other possible treatment methods:

• Bowel obstruction: A common condition in infants and toddlers due to a malformation of the intestinal tract. This cause of bilious vomiting requires immediate medical attention as surgical intervention is the most likely method of treatment.
• Migraines or muscle tension headaches: can often be remedied with medication and bed rest.
• Cyclic vomiting syndrome: the doctor will often prescribe anti-emetics. There are several lifestyle changes that can help improve symptoms, such as getting enough sleep, preventing vomiting, and eating regularly.

Prevent excessive alcohol consumption / Source: Marian Weyo/Shutterstock.com

• Alcohol: Alcohol is treated by the body as a poison and it is fatal if consumed in excessive amounts. Vomiting after drinking alcohol can be helped by stopping alcohol consumption and drinking water.
• Stomach flu: since this is mainly due to a viral infection, often the only thing you can do is to ensure that the lost water and electrolytes are replenished, for example by ORS, a solution of salts and (grape) sugar in water.
• Food poisoning: Similar to stomach flu, you need to make sure you get enough water and electrolytes to avoid dehydration.
• Bile reflux: lifestyle changes can help, such as drinking less alcohol and quitting smoking. Medicines that reduce stomach acid can be prescribed by your doctor.

 Drink enough water / Source: Mimagephotography/Shutterstock.com

Home Remedies for Bile Vomiting

Bile vomiting can sometimes be controlled with home remedies.

Avoid dehydration

Make sure you drink enough every day. The Nutrition Center advises adults (men and women) to drink 1.5 to 2 liters per day. The Nutrition Center advises alternating between water, tea and coffee without sugar, and dairy drinks such as semi-skimmed milk, buttermilk and yoghurt drinks or soy drinks.

Drink juices

Drink cold lime juice and fresh fruit juices with pulp. These will reduce inflammation.

Ginger and cinnamon

Ginger tea and cinnamon can help relieve nausea and vomiting.

Quit smoking

Smoking is known to increase stomach acid production and decrease salivation

Smaller meals

Smaller meals spread throughout the day are better for the digestive system.Eat a high fiber diet / Source: Gpointstudio/Shutterstock.com

Prevention

You can often reduce your risk of vomiting by making certain lifestyle changes:

• To reduce the risk of vomiting, drink no more than one alcoholic drink per day.
• To reduce the risk of colon cancer, it is wise to eat a lot of fruit and vegetables and not to smoke and drink moderately.
• Do not do drugs.
• Drink enough water every day.
• Eat a diet rich in fiber to reduce the risk of intestinal complaints.

Prognosis

The prognosis largely depends on the underlying cause of bile vomiting. In acute cases, such as after a night of heavy drinking or food poisoning, you will probably make a full recovery with some self-care measures. In case of an underlying medical condition, you can also experience a full recovery, but treatment will vary depending on the condition. Anyone experiencing unexplained or persistent vomiting should consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis and to avoid complications.

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