Acupuncture for Morning Sickness and Hyperemesis

Morning sickness is a condition many pregnant women experience up to the sixteenth or seventeenth week of pregnancy.  Women suffering from morning sickness may experience nausea, vomiting, aversions to food, and an unpleasant taste in their mouths.  Morning sickness is very common, and can occur at any time of the day.  Between 50% and 80% of pregnant women experience symptoms.  A small percentage of these women develop a worsening of the condition, called hyperemesis, that they need to be hospitalized for vomiting, dehydration or malnutrition.

While most morning sickness does not present a serious health threat, morning sickness can seriously compromise an expectant mother’s quality of life.  Traditional Chinese Medicine—both acupuncture and herbs—offers a safe and effective remedy for morning sickness symptoms.

Is acupuncture safe during pregnancy?

Morning sickness is caused by changes occurring in a pregnant woman’s body.  The primary source of morning sickness is hormonal fluctuations.  The sudden spike of progesterone in a pregnant woman’s body can strongly disrupt digestion and induce a sensation of nausea.

Morning sickness may also be due to a woman’s heightened sense of smell and taste during pregnancy.  Foods and food smells may seem more pungent or intense during fetal gestation.

Finally, a pregnant woman’s change in body temperature may also contribute to morning sickness symptoms.  Pregnant bodies have a higher body temperature, which can cause a woman to become extremely heat sensitive, and uncomfortable with temperature changes in her environment.

Most western doctors offer drug treatments to patients who suffer from morning sickness. These remedies are often expensive, and don’t necessarily always work.  Many patients who seek Western treatments for morning sickness turn to acupuncture as an alternative or complementary treatment to help them find relief.

One of the most attractive things about acupuncture during pregnancy is that it is all-natural.  No drugs will enter the mother or baby’s systems.  Acupuncture has shown to be extremely effective in managing morning sickness symptoms like nausea and vomiting.  Acupuncture for nausea is one of the most widely researched treatments; the U.S. Navy recognizes the benefit of using acupressure to relieve symptoms for naval personnel.

If a patient suffers from morning sickness, she will usually receive treatment two times a week until the nausea has abated.  Most women find relief from symptoms after the first treatment.  Acupuncture also provides the proven benefit of releasing endorphins into the bloodstream, which are the body’s natural pain-relieving hormones.  Receiving treatment can provide a feeling of overall relaxed well-being.

If a woman suffers from morning sickness, there are a few things she can do on her own to help herself feel better.  Ginger, mint or citrus teas can often calm a queasy stomach.  Health food stores may also sell acupressure wrist bands that stimulate the energy point that combats nausea.  Whether for morning sickness alone, or for any other reasons, acupuncture will help safely support health and happiness during pregnancy.

Learn more about safe acupuncture treatments during pregnancy