As much as 80 percent of pregnant women suffer from morning sickness
in their first trimester. However, expecting mothers need not fear,
for research may have discovered a natural way to help ease these
queasy, wrenching feelings: Ginger.
Ginger proved to be more effective in reducing nausea and vomiting
in pregnant women than a placebo, and worked just as well as vitamin
B6 (found to improve morning sickness symptoms in pregnant women),
according to studies. None of the women who took ginger had experienced
problems with their pregnancies.
Opting For Natural Alternatives to Cure
Morning Sickness
These findings most likely come as a relief to expecting mothers.
While there are numerous medications specifically designed to ease
symptoms of morning sickness, many soon-to-be mothers withdraw from
using drugs for fear of causing negative side effects in their unborn
children. Instead, they turn to alternative treatments:
- Vitamins
- Acupuncture
- Herbal products
- Homeopathic remedies
Yet among natural options, ginger has long been used to treat nausea.
In fact, ginger has become one of the top 20 best-selling herbal
supplements in the United States [text in blue]. Additional natural
products used to treat morning sickness include chamomile, peppermint
and raspberry leaf.
Obstetrics
& Gynecology April 2005;105(4):849-856
Reuters
April 4, 2005
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