Study Finds Benefits for Morning Sickness, Plus 6 Natural Remedies to Help

The dreaded morning sickness period which emerges in over half of pregnant women about the sixth week through the twelfth week is one of lore, handed down as a badge of honor. Some experience little bouts while others are inundated with daily episodes that could drain energy and fray nerves.

Now you can wear that badge of honor with pride as a new study finds that experiencing morning sickness is a good thing. In addition, there’s no need to suffer unreasonably so if you are struggling, these 6 natural remedies may help you along.

A Necessary Purge 

Morning sickness has always been regarded by traditional practitioners such as acupuncturists, naturopathic doctors and Chinese medicine herbalists as a necessary purge. It is theorized that it is how the body reboots itself by attempting to squeeze out embedded toxins that may be harmful to the baby. Conventional medicine hasn’t been able to determine the exact reason for morning sickness but it has pinpointed a particular hormone that could be responsible.

According to WebMD, Dr Jennifer Niebyl head of obstetrics and gynecology at University of Iowa College of Medicine reports that,

“…the most popular theory is that morning sickness is the body’s reaction to the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is produced at higher levels during the first trimester than at any other time during pregnancy.”

Now, a new study published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) concludes that,

“Among women with 1 or 2 prior pregnancy losses, nausea and vomiting were common very early in pregnancy and were associated with a reduced risk for pregnancy loss. These findings overcome prior analytic and design limitations and represent the most definitive data available to date indicating the protective association of nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy and the risk for pregnancy loss.”

So, if you are toughing it out, keep in mind that it is a good-bad thing. For those that do not have morning sickness, you may want to monitor your pregnancy more closely with your doctor to make sure you are not at risk.

Super Morning Sickness Fixes

Electrolyte Cubes – When food is not an option sucking on an electrolyte cube helps quench thirst, subdue hunger and, yup, replace electrolytes which can easily be depleted during pregnancy. Some people like to use Gatorade but if you don’t want all that sugar and dye look for Emergen-C powder packs (or other similar formulas) which contain minimal sugar and loads of vitamins and minerals essential in replenishing electrolyte levels.

Lemon Water Sips – Fresh lemon squeezed into filtered water and continually sipped could significantly reduce nausea. In a study published in the Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal it concluded that, “Lemon scent can be effective in reducing nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.”

Nut Butter Bites – Some women have reported beneficial results from eating a nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew) spread on a cracker. It is believed that the cracker may absorb stomach acids while the nut butter replenishes protein which could help reduce nausea symptoms.

Folklore Remedy – Parenting reports on a remedy for morning sickness and for some, headaches. Taken from a book called Old Vermont Cures, it is a mixture of 1 tablespoon of pure apple cider vinegar; 8oz filtered water; 1 tablespoon of pure honey.

Eye of the Needle – The 4,000+ year old practice of acupuncture has had a variety of beneficial results that many conventional medical institutions have integrated as an on-site adjunct therapy. Researchers from the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Adelaide University, published their study in Birth which concluded that, “Acupuncture is an effective treatment for women who experience nausea and dry retching in early pregnancy.”

Homeopathy – The practice of homeopathy doesn’t get the recognition it deserves because science cannot determine its mechanism of like-cures-like vibrational therapy. Yet, for hundreds of years it has helped scores of people as a safe, inexpensive approach to healing which is maybe another reason it is not so popular, Big Pharma cannot make a cent off it. Here are several remedies and their applications to specific scenarios as reported by Natural News. Do take note that it is best to work with a professional homeopath for best results. If taking homeopathy it is also recommended to: never touch the remedy; place it under your tongue; do not eat, brush your teeth or put on perfume/cologne twenty minutes before or after taking a remedy.

• Colchicum: This woman’s morning sickness is worse after smelling food, especially cooking food. She vomits even at the thought of food. Her nausea is also worse from even the slightest movement.
• Ipecacuanha: This woman has constant, persistent nausea. Even vomiting doesn’t relieve the nausea and she feels worse when lying down.
• Nux Vomica: Nausea is worse in the morning and from eating. The stomach is very sensitive to pressure. If necessary, Nux Vomica can be taken in alternation with Ipecacuanha.
• Lacticum Acidum: Nausea is better after eating and worse from the smell of tobacco smoke. Her appetite is not affected, or she may have increased appetite.
• Sepia: Nausea is worse in the morning. She is sensitive to odours and craves sour foods. She may be depressed and may regret the pregnancy.
• Symphoricarpus: This is a good non-specific remedy for morning sickness if other remedies fail to give results. The nausea is worse after any motion with aversion to all food.

 

Embrace your morning sickness as best you can with scientific assurance and these 6 natural remedies to ease your discomfort. In due time, all will seem like a dream when you look into your baby’s eyes and know it was all worth it.