New Health Guide

What does Vomiting Yellow Bile Mean?

Nov 23, 2017

Bile discharge, bright yellow in color, from the mouth, usually early in the morning, is common and can result due to a number of reasons like dehydration or an infection of the respiratory system. This is often not a cause of concern; yet, it should in no way be ignored or neglected. You should immediately get it checked by a qualified doctor to ensure that there is nothing seriously wrong. We will discuss what bile is and what causes you to throw up yellow bile as well as home remedies and prevention measures that you can take to combat this problem.

Causes of Throwing Up Yellow Bile

Bile, also known as gall, is a sharp, acrid and unpleasant tasting fluid which can vary in color from bright yellow to dark brown. Bile is produced by the liver in large quantities to assist in the process of digestion, especially in the breakdown of fats and lipids present in the small intestine. It also helps in eradicating worn out, depleted blood cells and other toxic materials from the body.

There is often confusion between bile and regular vomit. Remember that bile is only digestive fluid excreted from the gall bladder, while vomit may consist of undigested food plus some amount of bile. Speaking of yellow bile, in particular; yellow bile can be due to a number of factors which might usually include respiratory or digestive disorders and others discussed below, however this is only for reference and consulting a doctor is strongly advised.

1. Yellow Colored Foods

If sick with any digestion disorder or in cases where bile discharge from the body is common, the existence of yellow food inside the stomach can cause a person to throw up ‘yellow’. By this we mean that the color might amalgamate with bile making it appear yellow. Those foods include corn, carrot, yellow cocktail, etc. This is not a cause of concern.

2. Extreme Dehydration

Dehydration is a condition when the body is severely deprived of water and other nutrients. When dehydration and water deficiency at an extreme level may lead to light headedness, dizziness, low blood pressure and even unconsciousness, it may also cause the expulsion of yellow bile from the body. This can be treated with the intake of water and fluids into the body but expert advice should be considered.

3. An Empty Stomach

Where nausea and abdominal pain may indicate towards an empty, unfed stomach, throwing up of bile may also be a symptom of the stomach being empty. When we vomit in spite of an empty stomach, the body has nothing to expel apart from the digestive juice itself, as there is no food present within. Therefore starvation and hunger may cause you to throw up yellow bile.

4. Intestinal Blockage

Just a slight bowel blockage can and may lead to a person into vomiting bile. A small hindrance in the path may stop bowel from passing through and cause it to throw out its elements which includes large volumes of bile. This when vomited may appear as yellow bile.

5. Respiratory Inflammation

Any type of respiratory infection, such as an inflammation of the respiratory tract, the common cold or on a serious level, diseases such as pneumonia can result in the throwing up of yellow bile. This happens because, in infections of the respiratory system, there is production of large quantities of mucus. Within this mucus, dwell bacteria and other infectious microbes that travel down the throat and pollute the stomach. This fluid keeps gradually compiling inside the digestive system and nauseates the person into expelling yellow bile, rich in mucus, by throwing up. This is only temporary and will go away when the respiratory infection is cured. However a doctor’s advice should be taken on the matter.

6. Pyloric Valve Malfunction

This condition often occurs in elderly people. Pyloric valve malfunction can results in throwing up yellow bile because pyloric valve regulates bile. While bile flows from the gall bladder into the upper part of the small intestine, food also travels to the small intestine by means of the pyloric valve which creates a small opening to release a liquid form of food and then seals. In cases when then pyloric valve does not close properly, bile rushes back inside the stomach. This bile combines with stomach acid and can cause serious impairment resulting in abnormalities such as heart burn, pain and the throwing up of yellow bile. Immediate consultation from an expert is advised in such cases.

Home Remedies and Preventions

Although bile reflux and bile vomit should always be treated properly and a physician should be consulted in serious cases, there are a few home remedies which are effective in curing this complexity and easing you. Below are simple tips, which if applied, can help you cure this problem.

1. Avoid Smoking and Drinking

Smoking results in bile vomiting to an extent. This happens because smoking dries up body fluid and saliva that is essential in cushioning and guarding the wind pipe. Drinking alcohol irritates the esophagus and relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, which does harm to the whole digestive system.

2. Take Small and Frequent Meals

Eating in small frequent proportions may lessen the pressure on the intestine. Large, heavy meals pressurize the digestive system into working hard to digest and therefore the pyloric valve may dysfunction causing bile reflux.

3. Sit Upright After Eating

Wait for 2-3 hours before lying down after eating a meal, this allows food time for digestion and promotes better digestive health.

4. Limit Fat Consumption

Avoiding foods that are high in fats and lipids will lead to lesser need for bile production as bile assists in the digestion of fats.

5. Avoid Problem Foods

Foods high in acid, spice and caffeine trouble the digestive system as they have a complex molecular structure and require more gastric juices and bile to digest and can therefore also be the cause of bile vomit.

6. Lose Weight

Bile reflux is more common in obese people because of the excess weight and pressure on the stomach and internal organs. Losing weight might help in curing excess bile discharge.

7. Try Yellow Dock

Yellow dock is a herb which entails numerous benefits. The most significant benefit is the control of bile and other digestion related disorders by reducing stomach acid and thus preventing throwing up yellow bile.