From a Chinese medical perspective, morning sickness and nausea are seen as Stomach energy going in the wrong direction – it’s flowing upwards instead of down. It is said that the extra energy and blood that you don’t lose because you no longer have your period increases and increases to help your body make breast milk. However, there can be too much of it and that’s when it over flows causing you to feel sick.
The root cause is often from hormonal changes when you are pregnant.
Diet, stress and fatigue can also play a critical role. Educating yourself about regular eating of protein and low GI carbohydrates will often help to take the edge off, as your belly will feel fuller for longer. Sometimes you really need to work hard at this as many pregnant women find they mainly crave carbohydrates, but we have found clinically it does make a significant impact and so is worth persisting with.
Consider having nut bars to have in your hand bag for when you get hungry. It’s a good idea to have some form of protein for breakfast such as eggs, baked beans, sardines, although some of this can be tricky in the early stages. Bone broths that someone else has made for you from scratch (preferably free-range and organic) would be good as they are light and full of nutrients. Nuts and seeds at breakfast time in the form of spreads can also help such as ABC spread (almond, brazil and cashew nut), Tahini (seseme spread) and hummos (chickpeas).
It’s important to rest when you are feeling tired and find ways to make time for stress-reducing exercises such as meditation and yoga.
Using acupressure on PC-6 throughout the day will help to keep nausea at bay and calm your mind. This can be extremely useful in the first trimester when nobody knows you are pregnant and you are trying to keep it together.
Let’s look at this amazing point now.
You can find this point by coming two of her finger widths up from the crease on your inner wrist. The point lies between the two tendons, Palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis. You can find these tendons more easily if you make a fist and curl it inwards towards yourself. When you do this they will pop up. Then relax the fist to press the point. Press firmly for as long as you need to help diminish the symptoms. Use the spot that feels the most sensitive, as that will be the most effective.
You can use this point as often as you need to. It’s very safe to use during pregnancy.
If you’re not pregnant and feel nauseous when a passenger in a car or on a boat for example, you’ll find it works very well then too.
If you are experiencing nausea and would like to have your pregnancy back – give me a call here at the Red Tent as acupuncture can work wonders. I’ve had very good results with clients and would like to help you too. I’m Rebecca and I run the Red Tent. Book online today.