Nausea and Vomiting Recommended Remedies
(heymrleej, Fresh Ginger, flickr. CC: BY-SA 2.0.)
Eat small meals often, keep healthy snacks handy, avoid strong smells and foods, sip liquids.
Ginger root (zingiber officinale) is the most extensively studied botanical for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
A systematic review of 6 published clinical trials found that ginger root, at doses of 1.0 to 1.5 g, is effective for reducing nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (Borrelli, 2005).
Four of the 6 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (n=246) showed superiority of ginger over placebo.
The other 2 RCTs (n=429) found ginger as effective as vitamin B6 in relieving the severity of nausea and vomiting episodes.
Vitamin B6, or vitamin B6 plus doxylamine, is safe and effective and should be considered first-line pharmacotherapy.
Vitamin B6 (10-25 mg 3 times daily).
A single 25-mg dose of the antihistamine doxylamine (Unisom) tablet taken at night for patients who don't respond to B6 alone.
Eating Vitamin B rich foods may also be helpful.
Acupuncture has been endorsed by an NIH consensus panel as an effective treatment for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
Acupressure was found, in 6 of 7 randomized trials, to be effective for relieving morning sickness (Fugh-Berman, 1999). Acupressure wristbands (sea bands) are readily available over the counter, and many women find them a less expensive alternative to acupuncture.
Other commonly used therapies include massage, craniosacral therapy, chamomile tea, red raspberry leaf tea and peppermint tea. However, there is limited conclusive evidence.