During the beautiful and empowering experience of pregnancy, there are many discomforts along for the ride. In the 1st trimester, about 80% of women will be met with fatigue, nausea, sometimes vomiting, food aversions, active and frequent bladder, and more. The pregnancy nausea can either increase in waves or come on with full vengeance. Every woman’s experience can range from a constant, nagging, nauseous feeling worsening when the stomach is empty, or strong food aversions taking place. Or the nausea hits with an intensity followed by gagging, or vomiting. When the HCG levels start to increase around the 4-to-6-week mark and beyond, the nausea tends to follow suit. Most women are left with the misery of not feeling well for weeks to months, while battling the emotional toll of feeling of missing out with joy, anxiety, and sometimes a grief form of depression. Why? Because many women work hard for their pregnancies during the fertility journey and most of us are painted with the beauty of pregnancy; but, not the reality of its change. Sure, maybe tired, slight “morning sickness”, with the need for smaller meals is common BUT we are not told the truth. Nausea during pregnancy, commonly known as “morning sickness”, can happen at any time during the day and night and may continue into the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. We will discuss some natural remedies to help manage the morning sickness such as herbal medicine, teas, food, and Acupuncture.
Herbal Tea Options:
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Ginger: Ginger has been used for centuries to alleviate nausea and vomiting. The options include ginger tea, ginger candies, or ginger supplements. “Several studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing pregnancy-related nausea. For example, a study published in the “Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology” in 2014 found that ginger supplementation significantly reduced nausea and vomiting in pregnant women compared to a placebo group.” (1). Ginger tea can be bought prepackaged in a tea bag, or a fresh piece of ginger root. I would recommend using a small amount of fresh, ginger root because it can be a spicy taste. If you have a history, or are spotting, while pregnancy; I do not recommend ginger in large doses because it is a circulatory herb and can cause heavier bleeding.
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Peppermint: Peppermint has a soothing effect on the stomach and may help alleviate nausea. due to its cooling properties. Peppermint tea or sucking on peppermint candies can be beneficial. While there’s limited direct research on peppermint for pregnancy nausea, a review published in “Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice” in 2013 suggested that peppermint oil may help relieve nausea and vomiting in various conditions (4). I would recommend adding peppermint oil onto a cotton ball to help smell it throughout the nausea waves. I do not recommend ingesting any essential oils because they are so potent and could eat away at the mucus lining of our digestive systems.
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Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, has been shown to reduce pregnancy-related nausea. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends vitamin B6 as a first-line treatment for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. A systematic review published in “Obstetrics and Gynecology” in 2016 concluded that vitamin B6 supplementation is effective and safe for treating pregnancy nausea (4).
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Magnesium: Taking magnesium (Magnesium Carbonate) can help with decrease morning sickness. I favor the CALM brand because you can adjust the dose of magnesium as you need. It is in powder form, which is mixed into water. If you start getting looser stool, or diarrhea, back off the magnesium dosage due to your body has enough. This is known as bowel tolerance for dosing magnesium. The other benefit of magnesium is it helps with muscle restlessness, anxiety, and constipation stemming from increased progesterone levels.
Small, Frequent Meals: Eating small, frequent meals throughout the day can help prevent nausea associated with an empty stomach. High-protein snacks like nuts or yogurt may be particularly helpful. While there’s limited specific research on this approach for pregnancy nausea, it’s commonly recommended by healthcare providers.
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Papaya Enzymes: this can be used after the 1st trimester if nausea continues into the 2nd trimester.
Acupressure & Acupuncture:
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Acupressure: Some women find relief from nausea through acupressure, particularly by stimulating the P6 point on the wrist. There’s limited scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness, but anecdotal reports and small studies suggest it may help reduce nausea. One study published in “Obstetrics and Gynecology” in 2001 reported that acupressure on the P6 point reduced nausea severity in pregnant women (2). Sometimes purchasing the sea bands can provide some constant relief because it stimulates the P6 (Pericardium 6) point to calm nausea.
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Acupuncture: is such a powerful tool in Traditional Chinese Medicine. There are so many Acupuncture point options and combination to help with decreasing Nausea. I have seen the benefits of decreased to absent nausea, improved appetite, able to eat a full meal, increased energy levels, and more. Acupuncture works locally around the acupuncture points with stimulating, or calming, the immune system, activating the body’s natural healing abilities, relays to the center of the brain to calm, and supports the stomach/hormonal connection during the 1st trimester. Below is a research pilot study finding, Smith et al (2002), “This pilot study investigated the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. The study involved 42 pregnant women who were randomly assigned to either an acupuncture group or a control group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture treatment specifically targeting nausea and vomiting, while the control group received sham acupuncture. The study found that women in the acupuncture group experienced a significant reduction in nausea and vomiting compared to the control group. The authors concluded that acupuncture shows promise as a safe and effective treatment option for pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, though further research with larger sample sizes is warranted (4, 5).
Reference:
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Viljoen, E., Visser, J., Koen, N., & Musekiwa, A. (2014). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect and safety of ginger in the treatment of pregnancy-associated nausea and vomiting. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 34(7), 1-7.
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Norheim, A. J., Pedersen, E. J., Fønnebø, V. M., & Berge, L. (2001). Acupressure treatment of morning sickness in pregnancy. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 87(4), 654-658.
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McKay, D. L., & Blumberg, J. B. (2006). A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of peppermint tea (Mentha piperita L.). Phytotherapy Research, 20(8), 619-633.
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Matthews, A., Dowswell, T., Haas, D. M., Doyle, M., & O’Mathúna, D. P. (2015). Interventions for nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (9), CD007575. “Acupuncture for nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy: a randomized, controlled pilot study”. Vol 22 (5). Pg: 468-71.
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Acupuncture: Smith, C., Crowther, C., & Beilby, J. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology: the Journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology