MORNING SICKNESS, ACUPUNCTURE AND HERBAL MEDICINE
By Christina Wolf, LaC
Congratulations on your pregnancy! What’s that? You’re too nauseated to celebrate? Unfortunately, this is the reality for many women in their first trimester (and sometimes in the second and third as well). Nausea, dry heaves, vomiting and heartburn can all eclipse the joy of knowing you’ll soon be a mother. Luckily, there are tried and true ways to combat “morning sickness” (in quotes here because it isn’t just confined to the morning):
- Try to eat frequent, small meals. For some women, keeping their stomachs full will considerably reduce nausea, even though it seems counterintuitive to eat while you’re feeling queasy.
- Ginger is a wonderful, readily-available herbal remedy that’s been prescribed for thousands of years by Chinese physicians. Put a raw slice of ginger under your tongue, chew on a piece of crystallized ginger, drink ginger tea or take ginger capsules frequently throughout the day.
- Trust your cravings! Avoid the foods/smells that seem to make your stomach lurch and eat the foods you are craving, sometimes those foods will stave off nausea for a few hours.
- Acupuncture can be very helpful for reducing the nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy. Pericardium 6, an acupuncture point located about two inches above your wrist crease, on the inside of your forearm, between the two big tendons there is well known for treating any kind of nausea and vomiting. Some pharmacies sell wrist bands that apply pressure to this point and can be worn all day long.
Still sick after following these suggestions? Get some help! Your acupuncturist has other Chinese herbal remedies that may help you, the ND can offer homeopathy and other supplements, your chiropractor can make any necessary adjustments, etc. Of course if you are seriously ill and cannot keep even water down, you may become dehydrated, so it’s important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Remember that this too will pass and the rewards of parenthood will far outweigh the discomforts of pregnancy. Hang in there mamas-to-be!
To make an appointment for acupuncture with Christina Wolf, Lic Ac, click here.
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