Morning sickness during pregnancy is caused by hormonal changes, vitamin deficiency, low blood sugar, strong smells, foul odours, lack of exercise, fatigue, stress, constipation, anxiety and worry about pregnancy. Morning sickness is very normal and there is nothing to worry about. You can combat the nausea and vomiting with some simple, natural treatments.
Here are the top home remedies for morning sickness:
CURRY LEAVES
Juice extracted from curry leaves, when combined with lime juice and sugar, can be used as an Ayurvedic medicine to treat nausea and vomiting due to morning sickness.
How to use: Press 15 to 20 curry leaves on a sieve to extract the juice. Add two teaspoons of fresh lemon juice and one teaspoon of honey or sugar and mix it well. Drink this two or three times a day.
LEMON
The natural calming effect of lemon is a great way to reduce nausea.
Remedy 1: Squeeze a fresh lemon and mix the juice with a glass of water. Drink it every morning to prevent nausea.
Remedy 2: Mix one teaspoon each of lemon juice and mint juice with one-half teaspoon of ginger juice and one tablespoon of honey. Have this mixture two to three times a day.
FENNEL SEEDS
The aromatic and liquorice-tasting fennel seeds can also be used to calm the stomach and give fast relief from morning sickness.
Remedy 1: Add one teaspoon of crushed fennel seeds to a cup of boiling water. Let it steep for a few minutes before straining. Add a few drops of fresh lemon juice and one teaspoon of honey before sipping it.
Remedy 2: Chew on one teaspoon of fennel seeds after meals to help in the digestion process.
BAEL FRUIT (WOOD APPLE)
The juice of bael fruit (wood apple) can help relieve morning sickness, and also is good for digestion and preventing constipation.
How to use: Extract the juice of one bael fruit and add two to four tablespoons of it to cooked rice. Eat this once daily for mild symptoms or up to three times a day for severe morning sickness.
GINGER
Ginger root contains chemicals called gingerols and shogaols that can give relief from nausea and vomiting.
Remedy 1: You can make ginger tea by adding one-half teaspoon of powdered ginger to a cup of boiling water. Let it steep for 10 minutes and then strain it. Sip the tea slowly. Pregnant women must not drink this tea more than three times daily.
Remedy 2: Add five to six drops of ginger juice in a teaspoon of honey. Consume this mixture slowly when you wake up in the morning.
ADDITIONAL TIPS:
- Some women reportedly feel good when they wake up and immediately eat a small snack. Keep some biscuits next to your bed, so that you can reach out to them as soon as you wake up.
- Another simple solution is to drink a glass of water every hour. Even if you wake up during the night to visit the bathroom, have a glass of water. This will keep you hydrated. When your urine is clear, it means you are having enough water.
- Avoid eating three large meals everyday. Instead, eat several small meals throughout the day. Smaller meals are easier to keep down and easier to digest.
- Keep apple juice by the bed and sip thru the night. This will help keep blood sugar stable.
- Try to get a lot of rest! Being over tired makes morning sickness worse.