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TM Goodwin, MD USA

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Home | For Mothers | Treatments | Complementary & Alternative Medications | Overview

Complementary & Alternative Medicine

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) can be helpful in treating less severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. While it may not completely alleviate the symptoms, it often provides some relief and may be used in conjunction with antiemetics for an enhanced response. The following treatments may alleviate some of the nausea at different times during a pregnancy. It is typically a process of trial and error based on individual symptomology and response.

Chiropractic & Massage
Herbs
Other Nutrients & Supplements
Vitamins
Homeopathy
Traditional Chinese Medicine (Including Herbal Therapy)
Acupressure & Acupuncture
Light Therapy
Hypnosis

Offsite Resources:

Referral Database for Alternative Practitioners
Alternative and Non-Traditional Treatments for Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy by Midwives
Health World Online:
Comprehensive database of information on health, wellness, alternative medical care

Alternative & Complementary Medicine Links:

Offsite Research:

The use of CAM by women suffering from nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
Taras Hollyer, Heather Boon, Alexia Georgousis, Michael Smith and Adrienne Einarson
Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy: State of the Art 2000 Conference

The use of CAM by women suffering from nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
Hollyer T, Boon H, Georgousis A, Smith M, Einarson A.
The Motherisk Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada. (e-mail: einarson@sickkids.on.ca)
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2002 May 17;2(1):5

Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) affects two-thirds of pregnant women to varying degrees and over the years many modalities have been used to try to alleviate this often debilitating condition. There is a paucity of information in the literature about the use or efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for the treatment of this condition that affects so many women. RESULTS: Seventy women completed the questionnaire. 61% reported using CAM therapies, of which the three most popular were: ginger, vitamin B6 and acupressure. 21% of those who reported using CAM, had consulted CAM practitioners, 8% their physicians or pharmacists and 71% discussed the usage with family, friends and other allied health professionals. Women who did not use CAM stated they would probably use these modalities if there was more information about the safety in pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with NVP are mirroring the trend in the general population of the use of CAM. They are also using CAM therapies with little supervision from practitioners experienced in the use of these modalities.

Updated on: Mar. 24, 2010