Managing nausea and vomiting in pregnancy

2 faculty at the University of California at San Francisco and the University of Utah reviewed the evidence and make recommendations for treatment.

Let’s focus on complementary options.

Herbals

• Ginger, chamomile, peppermint, and red raspberry leaf tea are most commonly recommended herbal treatments for “morning sickness.”
• Only ginger has research supporting it.
  • Ginger at least 1 gram per day (in divided doses) reduces symptoms of nausea and vomiting in pregnant women with nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy.
  • It’s not clear whether ginger is superior to pyridoxine (vitamin B6), but it’s at least equivalent.

Acupressure and acupuncture

• Evidence supporting acupressure or acupuncture to alleviate nausea and vomiting related to pregnancy is mixed.

Hypnosis, behavior modification, and psychotherapy

• These treatments have never been compared to placebo.
• It’s possible that in some women, vomiting becomes a conditioned or anticipatory response and would be amenable to hypnosis or other psychotherapeutic approaches.

12/1/09 21:31 JR