Can Acupuncture Help Morning Sickness?

How can acupuncture help morning sickness?

Morning sickness is a very common ailment during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. Health professionals prefer to call the condition “nausea and vomiting in pregnancy”. This is because it can affect women at any time of the day or night. Whereas some women may feel sick all day long. Traditional remedies include making modifications to diet, resting and even wearing loose-fitting clothes. However, in this post we pose the following question. Can acupuncture help morning sickness? And, if so, how?

What is morning sickness?

Nausea and vomiting are commonly experienced by women in early pregnancy. The prevalence rates are 50-80% for nausea, and 50% for vomiting and retching. The symptoms are most common in the first trimester, between 6 and 12 weeks. However, it can continue to 20 weeks. In approximately 20% of women, morning sickness may last even longer. If vomiting is persistent, it can lead to weight loss, dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Ultimately, in severe cases, it may lead to hospitalisation.

What are the causes of morning sickness?

The symptoms of morning sickness are thought to be associated with rising levels of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) or oestrogens. Women experiencing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy can suffer considerable physical and psychological effects. The symptoms can affect daily activities and relationships, and result in lost productivity.

The new set of guidelines published by the NHS says that ginger and acupuncture can play a useful role in treating nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.

Can acupuncture help morning sickness?

With regard to the use of acupuncture to treat morning sickness, the British Acupuncture Council offers the following guidance. “During the early stage of pregnancy, huge energetic changes are going on in the body. Acupuncture can help at that energetic level so that nausea subsides. Also vomiting, if there is any, and belching fades away. The sense of smell becomes manageable and energy and emotions return to balance. This enables the mum-to-be to enjoy her pregnancy. The treatment is entirely safe to the pregnancy and generally the sickness will clear up.

Appointments

If you are suffering from morning sickness, why not make an appointment at The Putney Clinic of Physical Therapy. To book an appointment, call 020 8789 3881 or info@putneyclinic.co.uk.