One of the first symptoms often experienced by pregnant women is morning sickness. Symptoms may range from mild nausea upon waking, to frequent vomiting through the whole day. This sickness is due to the levels of hormones during the early weeks of the pregnancy, which settle down at the end of the first trimester. Anna Hill and Francesca Howell write:
Traditional Herbal Remedies For Morning Sickness
A number of remedies were traditionally used to treat morning sickness. No one remedy works for everyone, and unfortunately a remedy that works one week may make not work the next. If this does happen, ring the changes and try another remedy. Eating small amounts regularly may also help to ease the nausea, keep a few crackers by your bed so that you can have something small to eat before you get up in the morning.
- Ginger (Zingiber officinalis) is the classic herb/spice for nausea. It can be taken in several ways: as a food (ginger biscuits); as a herbal tea (grate fresh ginger into a cup, pour hot water on, infuse for 10 minutes and drink hot or cold); or nibble on crystallised ginger.
- Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) may be taken as a refreshing herbal tea.
- Lemons and limes are refreshing. Add a few drops of lemon or lime juice to hot water and sip through the day.
The same herbs listed above may be used as aromatherapy oils (ginger and lime are the most popular) to smell when the nausea is bad. Carry around a bottle of the oil, and when you feel the need smell the inside of the lid (this will not have as strong an aroma as the bottle of oil itself). Otherwise carry around a couple of drops on a handkerchief.
If these simple remedies do not suit you, or are not strong enough, then consider having a consultation with a medical herbalist for alternatives.
Homeopathic Remedies Often Recommended For Morning Sickness
Homeopathic remedies are used in very low concentrations (in fact the lower the concentration, the more potent the remedy), therefore they are not contraindicated during pregnancy. There are several remedies that are used for nausea, two of them are:
- Nux vom 6c for when the nausea is accompanied with retching (even if there is no vomiting), especially if the nausea is worse after eating food.
- Sepia 6c may be used if the nausea is worse before breakfast, and there is nausea just at the thought or smell of food.
Acupuncture/Acupressure Points Traditionally Used to Treat Morning Sickness
Acupressure points are often useful to treat the nausea, and many women find special wrist-bands designed to help with travel sickness very helpful. There are a number of self-help acupressure points you may find useful. Use a finger or thumb to apply pressure to the point until the nausea is relieved.
- Pericardium 6 This is situated on the inside of the forearm, between the two tendons. To find the spot place the middle joint of your index finger against the crease of the wrist, the spot is at the tip of your index finger, between the two tendons.
- Ren 12 This is located on the midline of the abdomen, half way between the belly button and the bottom of the breast bone.
- Ren 13 Located on the midline of the abdomen, one thumb width above Ren 12.
- Stomach 36 This is located on the leg, one handbreadth below the base of the kneecap and one fingerbreadth outside the top of the shinbone.
If you want to try using acupressure points it is worth having an appointment with an acupuncturist initially. There you can be taught how to use the points appropriately.