Try herbal tea

7 natural remedies for morning sickness

Help combat the queasiness associated with pregnancy with these natural treatments for morning sickness

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Try herbal tea

• Nothing beats morning sickness like a cup of ginger tea. The same spicy herb is used to counter motion sickness. To make ginger tea, boil 30 grams dried root (available in health-food stores) in 1 cup water for 15 to 20 minutes, strain, and sip.

• Herbal teas made with chamomile, lemon balm, and peppermint are also known to reduce nausea. Use 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried herb per cup of hot water. Avoid peppermint tea if you have heartburn, however.

• Brew yourself a cup of red raspberry-leaf tea. The herb is popular for a number of pregnancy problems, including morning sickness, and has been shown to relax the smooth muscles of the uterus. Use 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried herb per cup of hot water. But with this remedy in particular, check with your doctor before taking it. There is some evidence that raspberry leaf can cause uterine contractions, so your doctor might advise against taking it later in the pregnancy or if you’re at increased risk for miscarriage.

And if you're worried about drinking other herbal teas during pregnancy, don't be. Tara Anchel, a registered naturopathic doctor based in Ottawa and member of the Naturopathic Doctor's Association of Canada, says peppermint, chamomile, lemon-balm and ginger tea are safe to drink while pregnant and she recommends them to her patients to relieve the symptoms of morning sickness. She explains it this way:

"The essential oil of some of these herbs is contraindicated during pregnancy, but there is a very low concentration of these oils in tea. The concentration is so low that it is safe. When you soak an herb in hot water, you're only extracting the water-soluble components of the plant. As well, essential oils evaporate very quickly. When you have a steaming cup of tea, the first thing to evaporate is the essential oil." These two facts combined mean that it's safe for naturopathic doctors to recommend these herbal teas to pregnant women. As with anything you plan to eat or drink during pregnancy, it's best to check with your own healthcare provider to determine what's best for you and your baby.