Howstuffworks "20 Home Remedies for Morning Sickness"

The nausea and vomiting of early pregnancy were written about as early as 2000 B.C. Unfortunately, the ancient Egyptians didn't have a cure for the condition, either.

More than half of American women will suffer from nausea, vomiting, or both during the first three months (also known as the first trimester) of pregnancy, according to the March of Dimes. The severity and occurrence, however, vary not only from woman to woman, but from pregnancy to pregnancy in the same individual.

Some women never have even the slightest touch of queasiness. Some are ill in the morning and recover by lunch. And some stay sick all day for days on end, wondering why it's called "morning sickness" when it lasts 24 hours.

No one knows what causes morning sickness. It is less common among Eskimos and native African tribes than in Western civilizations. But today's doctors emphasize it's not psychological, as was once believed.

Since hormones run amok during early pregnancy, researchers theorize that they somehow contribute to the existence of morning sickness. A suspected culprit is human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), the hormone tested for in home pregnancy kits, which hits an all-time high in those first months. But other hormones may play a role as well. High levels of progesterone, for example, result in smooth-muscle relaxation, slowing down the digestive process.

If you're suffering from morning sickness, you probably don't care what causes it. You just want relief. Time will eventually take care of it; the condition usually subsides after the third month. (Scant words of comfort.) While you're waiting for the second trimester to arrive, however, the next section has home remedies you can try for relief.

For more information about pregnancy and related topics, try the following links:

To see all of our home remedies and the conditions they treat, go to our main Home Remedies page.
How Pregnancy Works provides an easy-to-understand overview of pregnancy.
For advice on how to exercise safely while pregnant, read How to Exercise During Pregnancy.
To make sure you and your baby receive proper nutrition, see Pregnancy Nutrition Guidelines.

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.

Home Remedy Treatments for Morning Sickness

While there is no cure for nausea, there are ways to take the edge off that unpleasant feeling. Experiment with a few of these home remedies and find out what works best for you.

Many frequent meals may stave off the hunger pangs that my cause nausea.

Graze. Eat frequent, small meals. You may want to eat five to six times a day rather than having three big meals. Sometimes, hunger pangs bring on the feelings of nausea. That's because acids in the stomach have nothing to digest when there's no food around.

Don't drink and eat at the same time. In other words, drink your fluids between meals, instead of during meals, to avoid too much bulk in the stomach.

Go for a liquid diet. You may find it easier on your stomach to emphasize liquids over solids when morning sickness is at its worst. Get your nutrients from bouillon, juices, and other liquids. (Confirm that this approach is okay with your obstetrician first.)

Stick to bland foods. This isn't the time to try that new Thai restaurant. Spicy foods just don't cut it right now.

Choose complex carbohydrates. Pasta, bread, potatoes -- the foods you think of as starches -- are easier to digest and they're soothing.

Don't sniff. Certain odors often trigger the feelings of nausea, so try to identify any scents that have that effect on you and avoid them as much as possible.

Avoid sudden moves. Don't change your posture quickly, as you do when you get out of bed quickly.

Take a walk. Exercise can sometimes help alleviate symptoms. Plus, it's good for your body. Be sure to check with your doctor before trying anything more strenuous than a walk, however.

Don't forget to brush. If you do succumb to vomiting, take good care of your teeth by brushing afterward (at least rinse your mouth if you can't brush right away). Otherwise, the frequent contact with the harsh acids in your vomit can eat away at tooth enamel.

If morning sickness persists past the third month or you find yourself so ill you're losing weight, see your physician. Watch out, too, for becoming dehydrated; you'll feel dizzy when you stand and/or your urine output will be scant and dark colored.

Certain foods and herbs can also alleviate morning sickness. Read the next section to learn more about these handy home remedies.

For more information about pregnancy and related topics, try the following links:

To see all of our home remedies and the conditions they treat, go to our main Home Remedies page.
How Pregnancy Works provides an easy-to-understand overview of pregnancy.
For advice on how to exercise safely while pregnant, read How to Exercise During Pregnancy.
To make sure you and your baby receive proper nutrition, see Pregnancy Nutrition Guidelines.

Natural Home Remedies for Morning Sickness

You can also treat the nausea and vomiting of morning sickness with food and other items from your kitchen. For more on these home remedies, read on.

Home Remedies From the Cupboard

Crackers. Crackers are a pregnant woman's prize possession (food-wise). They are portable, easy to digest, and inexpensive, and in many cases, they nip nausea in the bud. Plain, whole-wheat crackers, pretzels, plain popcorn, or low-salt soda crackers are your best bets. Nibble on them throughout the day and before going to bed. If morning sickness hits full force in the A.M., feed your mouth before your feet touch the cold floor. Better yet, stay in bed nibbling on crackers for several minutes. Sudden transitions from the horizontal to the vertical often trigger nausea, so go easy in the morning.

Potato chips. Perhaps pregnancy is the only time in a woman's life when potato chips offer a cure...and can be consumed without guilt. For many women, munching on a few chips (note the word "few") at the first sign of nausea helps dissipate it. If this cure is for you, stick to regular potato chips and stay away from the fat-free varieties that contain Olestra, the fat substitute. Olestra robs yours body of important nutrients, and it is known to cause diarrhea.

Sometimes pregnancy brings about an over-production of saliva, which can make the mother-to-be sick to her stomach. Nibbling on a handful of salt-and-vinegar chips helps dry up the saliva.

As with any junk food, don't pig out on chips, even if they are a cure. Nibble only when needed. Some women in fact may find this remedy distasteful since fat is hard to digest and can cause increased stomach upset.

Potato chips, in moderation, are a natural way to treat morning sickness.

Nuts and peanut butter. High-protein foods like nuts, peanut butter, and dairy products may help ease morning sickness.

Home Remedies From the Refrigerator

Citrus fruit. A small slice of lemon, lime, or orange added to your water or herbal tea can help ease nausea.

Fruits and vegetables. Water consumption is very important during pregnancy, but all your water doesn't have to come from the tap. Foods high in water content work double time at preventing dehydration and its partner constipation, both of which aggravate nausea. Try snacking on melons, carrots, celery, grapes, apples, pears, and frozen fruit bars.

Home Remedies From the Sink

Water. Dehydration can bring about nausea. Expectant mothers must drink 8 glasses of water a day.

Home Remedies From the Spice Rack

Fennel. Fennel seed is a nausea remedy from Chinese folk medicine. As with mint, fennel seed contains anesthetic constituents that may reduce queasiness. Crush 1 tablespoon fennel seeds into a coffee grinder. Place the crushed seeds in a cup and fill with boiling water. Cover and let steep for ten minutes. Drink the tea in sips to treat nausea.

Ginger. Ginger has a well-established track record as a morning sickness remedy, especially in the folk medicine of New England and the Pacific Northwest. The root of this plant contains chemicals called gingerols and shogaols that relax the intestinal tract, relieving nausea and vomiting. The easiest way to get your ginger is through real ginger ale (non-caffeinated) or ginger tea. For the tea, place 1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger spice into a cup and fill with boiling water. Cover and let stand ten minutes. Strain and sip. Don't take more than three times daily. If needed, sweeten with just a little honey. You can also try ginger candy.

Warning! Some experts frown upon using ginger during pregnancy but others say it is OK. Should you have any doubts, consult your doctor.

Lavender and thyme. Smells become more pronounced during pregnancy. Odors that didn't bother you before, like dirty laundry, can now have you reaching for a bucket. Battle smells of any sort by arming yourself with a small satchel stuffed with dried herbs. Lavender and thyme are particularly appealing since both have soothing reputations. A handkerchief scented with fresh-squeezed lemon also makes a handy remedy. Keep the satchel or hanky near the nose and breathe in deeply when odors turn your stomach sour.

Mint. The anesthetic constituents in mint work to minimize nausea by reducing the stomach's gag reflex. Make a cup of mint tea any time you feel a wave of nausea about to crash ashore. Place 1 tablespoon mint leaves in a 1-pint jar of boiling water. Let stand 20 to 30 minutes, shaking occasionally. Strain and sip as needed.

Home Remedies from the Supplement Shelf

Vitamin B6. A number of physicians recommend taking a supplement of this vitamin -- the usual dose is 10 to 25 milligrams three times a day -- to combat the nausea of morning sickness. Talk to your doctor before trying a supplement, however, and be sure not to exceed 75 milligrams of the vitamin each day.

Luckily, relief from morning sickness is just a few months away, since symptoms typically subside after the first trimester. In the meantime, you don't need to sit and suffer. Try these handy home remedies the next time nausea strikes.

For more information about pregnancy and related topics, try the following links:

To see all of our home remedies and the conditions they treat, go to our main Home Remedies page.
How Pregnancy Works provides an easy-to-understand overview of pregnancy.

For advice on how to exercise safely while pregnant, read How to Exercise During Pregnancy.

To make sure you and your baby receive proper nutrition, see Pregnancy Nutrition Guidelines.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Timothy Gower is a freelance writer and editor whose work has appeared in many publications, including Reader's Digest, Prevention, Men's Health, Better Homes and Gardens, The New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times. The author of four books, Gower is also a contributing editor for Health magazine.

Alice Lesch Kelly is a health writer based in Boston. Her work has been published in magazines such as Shape, Fit Pregnancy, Woman's Day, Reader's Digest, Eating Well, and Health. She is the co-author of three books on women's health.

Linnea Lundgren has more than 12 years experience researching, writing, and editing for newspapers and magazines. She is the author of four books, including Living Well With Allergies.

Michele Price Mann is a freelance writer who has written for such publications as Weight Watchers and Southern Living magazines. Formerly assistant health and fitness editor at Cooking Light magazine, her professional passion is learning and writing about health.

ABOUT THE CONSULTANTS:

Ivan Oransky, M.D., is the deputy editor of The Scientist. He is author or co-author of four books, including The Common Symptom Answer Guide, and has written for publications including the Boston Globe, The Lancet, and USA Today. He holds appointments as a clinical assistant professor of medicine and as adjunct professor of journalism at New York University.

David J. Hufford, Ph.D., is university professor and chair of the Medical Humanities Department at Pennsylvania State University's College of Medicine. He also is a professor in the departments of Neural and Behavioral Sciences and Family and Community Medicine. Dr. Hufford serves on the editorial boards of several journals, including Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine and Explore.

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.