Are you looking for a natural remedy to help give morning sickness or should I say all day sickness (am I right ladies) the boot? Well look no further, ginger may be the solution for you!
Ginger has been used for thousands of years and has now been extensively researched for its therapeutic action in preventing and relieving nausea and vomiting. Ginger, amongst many other things, is classified as a carminative which is defined as a substance that relieves flatulence and soothes intestinal spasm and pain by relaxing intestinal muscle and sphincters.
This carminative action aids in breaking up and expelling intestinal gas which is thought to be one of the reasons why ginger is beneficial as an anti-emetic.
A randomised, double-masked design, placebo-controlled trial investigated the efficacy of ginger in 70 women who were in their 17th week gestation period and who were experiencing nausea and vomiting. These participants were randomised to receive either a placebo or 1g (1000mg) of ginger per day over a four day period.
Participants graded the severity of their nausea by using visual analogue scales and recorded the number of vomiting episodes that were experienced 24 hours before treatment and throughout the four day treatment period. Participants who received ginger concluded that they experienced decreased visual analogue scores, less vomiting episodes and an improvement in nausea symptoms compared to the placebo group.
This study provides evidence and supports the traditional use of ginger for nausea and being an anti-emetic. So if you are struggling with pregnancy related nausea and vomiting, why not try ginger and see how it can help you.
N.B. Please consult with your healthcare practitioner to see if ginger is suitable for you to take during pregnancy.
