Posted by Eliana on Jul 2, 2010 in Featured Articles, Pregnancy | 9 comments

Pregnancy is a time when many women begin seeking complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM). Increasingly more people are realizing that many CAM treatments are safe, gentle, and effective and do not carry the same side effects or risks of over-the-counter and prescription medications when used properly. The following are some helpful tips for dealing with the typical nausea and vomiting of early pregnancy.

Although it may not feel so, nausea during the beginning stages of a pregnancy is really a good thing, as it is a sign that there is enough beta-Hcg, a hormone that plays a role in the maintenance of the pregnancy. Beta-Hcg is first produced by the developing embryo and then by the placenta. The absence of nausea during early pregnancy may be associated with a non-viable fetus and subsequent miscarriage.

Beta-Hcg contributes to a decrease in the mother’s stomach acid, thereby decreasing her appetite. Stomach acid is necessary to for the proper digestion of food. When food sits in the stomach and does not get digested well, nausea ensues.

As long as the nausea and vomiting is mild, it can be controlled with a combination of diet, herbs, or homeopathy. For women with severe nausea and vomiting, dehydration is a concern that may even require hospitalization. As for any health condition, please inform your doctor or practitioner trained in CAM therapies such as homeopathy and/or herbal medicine when considering any of the following recommendations. If you have a high-risk pregnancy or any underlying health condition, it is best to ask your doctor before attempting any sort of treatment while pregnant.

Nutritional recommendations

Nausea and vomiting makes it difficult for the mother-to-be from getting all the nutritional requirements for her and her developing baby. The following dietary tips may help prevent nausea so that she can more easily get proper nutrition.

Eat small, frequent meals, every 3-4 hours. These should all contain a good protein source. Your obstetrician or midwife will tell you how many calories and how many grams of protein and other nutrients you should be getting on a daily basis. It is important to stick to this schedule, even if you don’t feel hungry.
Eat a protein-rich snack before bed or during the night if you awaken.
Keep a box of plain, dry crackers by your bedside. This way you can eat a few immediately upon waking in the morning. This is very helpful to prevent morning sickness.
Drink fluids in between meals instead of with meals. This avoids diluting the stomach acid. A tablespoon of apple cider vinegar before meals, or at least before the meals that cause the most nausea, helps stimulate your body’s own production of digestive enzymes, thereby improving digestion.
- Although this usually helps the symptoms of acid reflux, occasionally it may aggravate it. If you experience a burning sensation in your esophagus after trying this, please discontinue.
Investigate food allergies or intolerances. Common triggers for digestive upsets include dairy, wheat/ gluten, corn, and soy. Eliminating one or several foods you think may be causing you symptoms of a digestive upset for a 2-4 week trial period may help. If your symptoms resolve during the elimination period, and then recur when you resume eating that particular food, it may be best to avoid that food for the remainder of your pregnancy.

Botanical medicine

Herbs have been used for centuries as medicine. With the modern advances in medicine in the past hundred years or so, their use has fallen out of favor for various reasons. However, recent research has corroborated their traditional uses in many cases. It is important to note that not all herbs are safe to take during pregnancy. Generally speaking, the herbs that are strong tasting and bitter typically have a high alkaloid content. These are biochemical components that may have strong stimulating actions and should be avoided during pregnancy. Herbs and spices that have been traditionally used as food, are usually safe during pregnancy in small to moderate amounts. The following are commonly used herbs for nausea, vomiting, and digestive upsets. They are best sipped throughout the day as teas.

Ginger. Several studies suggest ginger is effective in treating nausea not only of pregnancy but also of motion sickness and of chemotherapy treatments. Women with moderate to severe acid reflux sometimes do not respond well to ginger.
Peppermint. Traditionally used for all types of digestive upsets, peppermint may be drunk after meals for gas and bloating as well as nausea. This herb may also aggravate acid reflux as it relaxes the gastro-esophageal sphincter (the “doorway” between the esophagus and the stomach).
Cardamom. This is one of the spices in many Chai tea blends as well as many curries. Cardamom may be used as a ground spice on food or as a tea or boiled in milk or a milk substitute. Be sure to obtain pure cardamom or a Chai tea blend that is caffeine-free.
Chamomile. Like peppermint and ginger, chamomile is another popular herb for many types of digestive upsets. It is in the same botanical family as ragweed, so people with ragweed allergies should avoid this herb, especially during pregnancy.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy may also be helpful in managing the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Homeopathy is a form of energy medicine that gives the body a gentle push towards balance– when the indicated remedy is given. Each homeopathic remedy is made from a different plant, animal, or mineral. The energy of the specific substance is divorced from its material aspect via a series of dilutions. It is therefore very safe during pregnancy.

Finding the indicated remedy is the tricky part of homeopathy. You may have seen the different tubes of homeopathic remedies in the health food store, with a printed indication on each different remedy. This is not a good way to choose your remedy, as this labeling is merely printed as an FDA requirement. The absolute best way is to see a provider trained in the use of homeopathy, or at least consult a good homeopathy handbook. Although an incorrect remedy is likely to have no effect, either positive or negative, taking various remedies may make it more difficult for a trained practitioner to find the correct one.

Chinese Medicine

Lastly, acupuncture and Chinese herbs may also be helpful for managing nausea. Although Chinese medicine is safe during a healthy pregnancy, some practitioners will not use acupuncture needles during the first trimester, and some medical doctors may advise against it. Spontaneous abortions or miscarriages are most common during the first trimester and many practitioners prefer to avoid even the question that a treatment may have led to a miscarriage. A well-trained, licensed Chinese medicine practitioner will know which acupuncture points to avoid using during pregnancy. Other methods of stimulating acupuncture points such as acupressure may be used instead of acupuncture needles.

Although nausea and vomiting are a normal part of pregnancy, there are several ways to help prevent and alleviate these symptoms. The beauty of complimentary and alternative medicine is that there are many safe and effective options for pregnant women from which to choose.

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About the Author:

Vanessa Fritz, ND, LAc.

Dr. Vanessa Fritz, ND, LAc., is a graduate of the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR, where she received degrees in both Naturopathic and Chinese Medicine. She currently has a private practice, Austin Natural Family Medicine (part of Soma Vida Austin), where she sees patients with a wide variety of health complaints. Her multicultural background enables her to see both English and Spanish-speaking patients. Dr. Fritz also teaches Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin and volunteers at Remedy’s Community Clinic as well as at the Austin State Hospital with her therapy dog. www.austinnaturalfamilymedicine.com