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Ginger, acupressure, and lemon essential oil are home remedy tips for motion sickness in pregnancy. Check out the full list

Edited and resized image by Alexandra Gorn is available on Unsplash

Seasickness is something most people are familiar with. Pregnancy sickness, specifically, affects 70% to 80% of women. Although for most of them this sensation ends at the end of the third month of pregnancy, some present nausea and vomiting until the day of delivery.

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If you are pregnant and have nausea , check out some tips on how to alleviate this discomfort with a home remedy . But, before ingesting any substance that you don't know is safe, talk to your doctor, as some cases of nausea in pregnancy can be caused by hyperemesis gravidarum, a disease that, if left untreated, can be fatal. Also, even if they are natural, some types of home remedies may not be suitable for you, so always seek medical help.

1. Ginger

Ginger is a commonly used natural remedy to treat seasickness. How it works is not fully understood. However, experts in the field believe that ginger compounds may work similarly to conventional seasickness remedies. A study published by the platform PubMed showed that ginger can be effective in treating nausea in pregnancy. Another study published by the same platform showed that ginger could be a home remedy for nausea in people undergoing chemotherapy.

A study that analyzed a compilation of studies on the effectiveness and safety of using ginger as a home remedy for motion sickness in pregnancy concluded that consuming ginger can be an effective way to reduce motion sickness during the first few months of pregnancy. However, uncertainty remains regarding the maximum safe dose of ginger, the appropriate duration of treatment, the consequences of overdose, and possible drug and herbal interactions; they are all important areas for future research.

In addition to this evidence, ginger is the only non-pharmacological intervention recommended by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. It is believed to stimulate the motility of the gastrointestinal tract and the flow of saliva, bile, and gastric secretions.

In one study, 70% of women treated with 250 mg of ginger four times a day experienced an improvement in feeling sick. Similarly, another trial of 70 pregnant women at 17 weeks' gestation who took the same amount of ginger during the same period as the first study showed significant improvement in motion sickness compared to women who took placebo.

Regarding the use of ginger to treat nausea in pregnancy, a study of 187 pregnant women found no increase in the rate of malformations with use in the first trimester. A risk of bleeding, however, exists as ginger inhibits platelet function. Thus, the concomitant use of anticoagulants with ginger is not recommended (see the study about it here: 1).

2. Acupuncture or acupressure

Acupuncture and acupressure are two techniques commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat nausea and vomiting. During acupuncture, fine needles are inserted into specific points on the body. Acupressure aims to stimulate the same points on the body, but uses pressure instead of needles.

Both techniques stimulate nerve fibers, which transmit signals to the brain and spinal cord. These signs are believed to have the ability to decrease seasickness.

Two reviews concluded that acupuncture and acupressure reduce the risk of developing motion sickness after an operation by 28 to 75%. Furthermore, studies show that both forms are as effective as the conventional seasickness medicine, with virtually no negative side effects.

Likewise, two other reviews concluded that acupressure decreases the severity of motion sickness and the risk of developing it after chemotherapy.

There is also some evidence that acupuncture can reduce motion sickness in pregnancy. Most studies that reported benefits of acupressure stimulated the Neiguan acupuncture point, also known as P6.

You can stimulate this nerve on your own by simply placing your thumb two to three fingers away from the inner wrist, between the two prominent tendons.

After locating it, press it with your thumb for about a minute before repeating the same procedure on the other arm. Repeat if necessary.

According to another study, pressing the Neiguan point decreases motion sickness in patients with chemotherapy-induced and postoperative motion sickness. Acupuncture is not much studied, but a controlled, randomized, double-blind study of 593 women less than 14 weeks' gestation showed that there was less nausea and vomiting in women treated weekly with acupuncture for four weeks.

3. Slice a lemon or inhale its essential oil

Citrus scents, such as fresh-cut lemon, can help reduce pregnancy sickness.

In one study, a group of 100 pregnant women were instructed to inhale essential oils of lemon or almonds as soon as they felt sick.

At the end of the four-day study, those in the lemon group felt that nausea had reduced by up to 9% than those who received the almond oil placebo.

Slicing a lemon or simply the peel can work in a similar way as it helps release its essential oils into the air. A bottle of lemon essential oil can be a practical alternative to use when you are away from home.

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4. Take a vitamin B6 supplement

Vitamin B6 is increasingly recommended as an alternative treatment for pregnant women who prefer to avoid the conventional seasickness remedy.

Several studies report that vitamin B6 supplements, also known as pyridoxine, successfully reduce motion sickness in pregnancy (see studies here: 1, 2, 3, 4).

For this reason, several experts suggest taking vitamin B6 supplements during pregnancy as a remedy for seasickness.

Doses of vitamin B6 up to 200 mg per day are generally considered safe during pregnancy and have virtually no side effects. So this alternative remedy might be worth it.

However, there have not been many studies on this subject, and some have reported no effect on seasickness.

For pregnant women who are having motion sickness, vitamin B6 is a safe and potentially effective alternative as a motion sickness remedy.

5. Avoid big meals

Women who experience nausea during pregnancy should avoid large meals and eat several small portions throughout the day that are low in fat, as fatty foods can slow down digestion. Eating more protein than carbohydrates and drinking more fluids than solids can also reduce seasickness, according to the study. Another study concluded that small doses of liquids with salts, such as sports drinks with electrolyte replacement, are advisable, and if the smell of hot food is harmful, prefer cold meals.

The strong smell of perfume, paints, among others, in addition to being, in many cases, harmful to health, can aggravate nausea, especially in pregnancy.

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6. Avoid iron supplements

According to a study published by the platform PubMed, pregnant women with normal iron levels should avoid taking iron supplements during the first trimester because nausea may worsen .

7. Seek emotional support

According to a study, psychotherapy, behavioral therapy and hypnotherapy may be beneficial for women with severe symptoms and/or for those in which personality characteristics, marital or family conflicts are relevant. The aim of psychotherapy is not to delve into the psychological cause that may be contributing to the nausea, but rather to encourage, explain, calm and allow the patient to express stress, according to a study.

8. Control your breathing

Breathing slowly and deeply can work as a remedy for seasickness.

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In one study, researchers tried to determine which essential oil was most effective in reducing motion sickness after surgery. They instructed the participants to slowly inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth three times while exposed to various odors.

All participants, including those in the placebo group, reported a decrease in motion sickness. This led researchers to suspect that controlled breathing might have been responsible for improving nausea.

In a second study, researchers confirmed that aromatherapy and controlled breathing work independently as a nausea remedy. In that study, controlled breathing was reduced in 62% of cases. The study's breathing pattern required participants to inhale through the nose at a count of three, hold their breath at a count of three, and exhale at a count of three.