Five Element
Acupuncture for Pregnancy and Nausea Support
Understanding Nausea and Pregnancy Support
Morning sickness and pregnancy-related nausea are among the most common and challenging experiences of early pregnancy. Despite the name, “morning sickness” rarely limits itself to the morning. For many women, it can persist throughout the day, often fluctuating in intensity and lasting well into the second or even third trimester. Symptoms can range from mild queasiness and food aversions to severe nausea and vomiting that make it difficult to eat, sleep, or carry out daily routines. While often considered a normal part of pregnancy, persistent nausea can take a significant physical and emotional toll, affecting energy levels, mood, and overall wellbeing.
Acupuncture for Pregnancy and Nausea Support FAQs
Q: Is acupuncture safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Acupuncture is a safe and natural way to support pregnancy when performed by a qualified practitioner. It can help with nausea, fatigue, anxiety, and general wellbeing throughout each trimester.
Q: How does acupuncture ease morning sickness?
By targeting points that calm the stomach and rebalance energy flow, acupuncture helps settle nausea and reduce vomiting. Many women find relief within the first few treatments.
Q: Can acupuncture support me later in pregnancy too?
Definitely. Beyond early nausea, acupuncture can help with back pain, insomnia, swelling, and preparation for labour — keeping you comfortable and balanced through each stage.
Western Approach to treatment
Morning sickness and pregnancy-related nausea are among the most common challenges of early pregnancy. While the term “morning sickness”suggests a brief episode, for many women it can last throughout the day — sometimes well beyond the first trimester.
Western medicine tends to approach this through hydration, dietary advice, vitamin supplementation, and, in more severe cases, anti-nausea medication. These can be helpful, but they don’t always address the underlying imbalance, nor the exhaustion, anxiety, or emotional strain that can accompany persistent nausea.
The Five Element Acupuncture Lens
From a Five Element perspective, pregnancy is a time of profound transformation — physically, emotionally, and energetically. The body is constantly adapting, and when its balance is disrupted, symptoms such as nausea or fatigue can arise as signals that the system needs support.
Each treatment focuses on restoring the natural harmony between the Earth and Stomach energies, which are closely tied to nourishment, stability, and emotional calm. By balancing these elements, acupuncture helps the body find its natural rhythm again, allowing digestion, energy, and mood to settle.
Beyond physical relief, many patients describe their sessions as deeply grounding — a moment to pause, breathe, and reconnect with themselves and their growing baby.
How Acupuncture Can Help With Nausea and Support Pregnancy
Acupuncture can significantly ease nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, helping to stabilise digestion, reduce queasiness, and restore energy. Treatments are always tailored to each stage of pregnancy, and every point is chosen with care to ensure safety, comfort, and effectiveness.
Two points are particularly supportive in managing pregnancy nausea:
• Pericardium 6 (PC 6, Neiguan) — a point located on the inner wrist, well known for its ability to settle the stomach, calm nausea, and relax the mind. It works by harmonising the connection between the heart and stomach — soothing both the emotional and physical discomfort of nausea.
• Stomach 36 (ST 36, Zusanli) — a powerful strengthening point that helps rebuild energy, regulate digestion, and stabilise the system. It’s often used to help counter the depletion that can accompany ongoing nausea or reduced appetite.
Both points may also be supported with moxibustion, the gentle warming of acupuncture points using moxa, a refined mugwort leaf. The warmth penetrates deeply, relaxing the stomach area, boosting circulation, and gently reawakening the body’s digestive strength.
Moxa is especially valuable in pregnancy when warmth and nourishment are needed but stimulation must remain subtle. Patients often describe the sensation as “comforting from the inside out” — a calm, gentle heat that helps the body reset its balance.
