Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy are some of the most common, yet horrible symptoms of pregnancy. And you’re not alone. 50-90% of pregnant women suffer through nausea, with about half of those women also vomiting. What fun! During the very exciting time of pregnancy, this symptom puts a bit of a damper on the celebration. So, what can naturopathic medicine do to help reduce these symptoms?
Ginger
The kitchen staple, ginger has been shown to be very safe yet effective for mild to moderate nausea. So how do you use it? The best way is to get it is as a powdered extract. There’s some range in the best individualized dosage so see your naturopathic doctor to be sure you’re getting an effective amount. To find some relief, a lot of people use the root itself as a tea or a candy. Although this can be somewhat effective, you’re not likely getting a high enough dosage to alleviate your symptoms. If you still want to give it a try, it’s safe and may help with other digestive discomfort (think bloating). You can add ginger root to your tea by slicing it up and adding boiled water or by buying some ginger chews (watch the sugar content though!).
Vitamin B6
Another simple intervention that has a large volume of research behind it, is vitamin B6. Get it as either pyridoxine or better yet as its active form, pyridoxine-5-phosphate (P5P). This vitamin is considered the first line of treatment for nausea before medications. Recently, some studies have demonstrated that ginger may be superior to B6 for combating nausea. Want the best of both worlds? Your naturopathic doctor can recommend B6 and ginger in their best forms to really kick that morning sickness to the curb!
Acupuncture
Less studied, though still effective, is acupuncture, particularly, the acupuncture point called ‘Pericardium 6’ . Pericardium 6 has been shown in the research to calm the feelings of nausea. This point is located about two inches away from your wrist crease. If you’re getting acupuncture during pregnancy, be sure to see a qualified professional since some points are not safe during this time. Naturopathic doctors are highly trained to make a safe acupuncture treatment plan.
Lifestyle
Anything else? Most women report that the feelings of nausea and vomiting are staved off by eating small, frequent meals. Easy to tolerate foods such as crackers are great to have on hand, particularly early in the morning when NOTHING seems appetizing. When possible, snack on nuts or high protein snacks in between meals to keep your stomach from feeling uncomfortably empty.
If you are experiencing nausea and vomiting, be sure you keep up adequate hydration! Lots of water and electrolyte-replenishing drinks (once again, watch the sugar content!), especially if you’re also experiencing vomiting.
Curious about more ways naturopathic medicine can help you have a safe and healthy pregnancy? Book an appointment with me today!
References
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