Morning Sickness, Nausea and Vomiting during Pregnancy – Treatment at Gold Coast Acupuncture
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine may provide gentle, natural support for women experiencing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Our fully qualified acupuncturists have experience supporting women through pregnancy and can tailor treatments to individual symptoms, including morning sickness, digestive discomfort and fatigue.
We take a personalised approach, considering your stage of pregnancy, symptoms and overall wellbeing to help you feel more comfortable throughout this important time.
Acupuncture for Morning Sickness
Morning sickness is one of the most common symptoms of early pregnancy. Despite its name, it can happen at any time of the day and can range from mild nausea to frequent vomiting that makes it difficult to eat, drink, work or get through your normal daily routine.
For some women, morning sickness settles as pregnancy progresses. For others, symptoms can continue for longer or become severe enough to significantly affect their quality of life.
Acupuncture may be a helpful option for managing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. It can be used alongside other approaches, including dietary changes, lifestyle measures and medication recommended by your doctor or midwife.
How can Acupuncture help with morning sickness?
Acupuncture involves inserting very fine needles into specific points on the body. When used for pregnancy-related nausea, the treatment is designed to influence the nervous system and the body’s response to nausea and vomiting.
Research has found that acupuncture may help reduce nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. A 2024 review of 24 randomised controlled trials involving more than 2,300 women found that acupuncture combined with conventional medication was more effective at reducing symptoms than medication alone. [1] The research also suggested that Acupuncture may provide benefits when used on its own.
While research into exactly how acupuncture works is still developing, there are several ways it may help women experiencing morning sickness.
Supporting digestion
Pregnancy can bring changes to the digestive system, including bloating, indigestion, reflux, a feeling of fullness and changes in appetite. These symptoms can occur alongside nausea and may make eating and drinking more difficult.
Acupuncture may influence the nervous system pathways involved in digestion and nausea. Some women find that treatment helps them feel less uncomfortable after eating and better able to manage their normal meals and fluids.
Acupuncture points commonly used for nausea include points on the inner forearm and lower leg. Your practitioner will select points based on your symptoms and individual needs rather than using exactly the same treatment for everyone.
Helping to reduce nausea and vomiting
One of the main reasons women seek acupuncture during pregnancy is to help manage nausea itself.
Acupuncture has been studied specifically for pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, and research suggests that it can reduce the severity or frequency of symptoms for some women.
This doesn’t mean acupuncture will completely eliminate morning sickness, and everyone responds differently. However, reducing nausea even slightly can make a meaningful difference to everyday life — particularly when symptoms are making it difficult to eat, sleep, work or enjoy normal activities.
Reducing stress and helping you relax
Feeling sick throughout the day can be exhausting and frustrating. On top of the physical symptoms, pregnancy can bring its own worries and emotional challenges.
Stress can sometimes make nausea feel worse, creating a cycle where you feel sick, become anxious about feeling sick, and then feel even more uncomfortable.
Many people find acupuncture relaxing. Treatment may help calm the nervous system and provide a period of rest and relaxation. While acupuncture should not be considered a treatment for anxiety or depression, feeling more relaxed and comfortable may be beneficial when you’re dealing with ongoing morning sickness.
Acupuncture and medication can work together
Choosing acupuncture doesn’t necessarily mean you need to stop or avoid conventional treatment.
For women with moderate or persistent morning sickness, Acupuncture can be considered as a complementary treatment alongside advice and medication from their doctor or midwife.
Research suggests that combining Acupuncture with conventional medication may provide greater relief from nausea and vomiting than medication alone.
What happens during an Acupuncture treatment?
Your first appointment will usually involve a discussion about your pregnancy and the symptoms you’re experiencing.
Your practitioner may ask about:
- How often you feel nauseous
- How frequently you are vomiting
- Whether you can keep food and fluids down
- Which foods, smells or situations make your nausea worse
- Whether you are experiencing bloating, reflux or indigestion
- Your energy levels, sleep and general wellbeing
Very fine needles are then inserted into selected acupuncture points. The needles are much thinner than those used for injections, and most people find the treatment comfortable.
You may feel a mild sensation when a needle is inserted, but Acupuncture shouldn’t be painful. Many people find the treatment calming and may feel relaxed during the session.
The number and frequency of treatments will depend on your symptoms and how you respond to treatment.
An insight into PC6 (Neiguan)
PC6 (Pericardium 6) also known as Neiguan, is one of the most commonly used acupuncture points for nausea and vomiting. It is located on the inner forearm, a few centimetres above the wrist crease, between two tendons.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, PC6 is traditionally used to help regulate the stomach and relieve nausea, vomiting and digestive discomfort. It has also been widely researched for nausea, including morning sickness during pregnancy.
As part of your treatment, your acupuncturist may sometimes place a very small intradermal needle at PC6 after the main treatment. This tiny needle sits just beneath the surface of the skin and can remain in place for several days, providing gentle ongoing stimulation between treatments. These needles are very small and are designed to be comfortable and unobtrusive. Your practitioner will explain how to care for the area and when it should be removed.
Is Acupuncture safe during pregnancy?
Acupuncture can be used during pregnancy when it is provided by an appropriately qualified practitioner who has experience treating pregnant women.
Our Practitioners
Dr. Peter Gospos
Senior Practitioner and Clinic Founder, Registered Acupuncturist – BHSc (Acu)
Peter Gospos has been practicing Acupuncture for 20 years. He is passionate about achieving optimal health for all of his clients.
Peter prefers to use Ultra-Smooth Japanese style needles to ensure complete patient comfort. All needles are sterile single-use Acupuncture needles. Peter prefers to use a minimal amount of needles during your treatment to achieve maximum effect.
Peter has a special interest in both acute and chronic musculo-skeletal pain. This includes low back pain, shoulder pain and knee pain. He also provides support for a wide range of general conditions such as headaches, migraines and digestive problems. He also supports clients to achieve mental well-being through the reduction of stress and anxiety.
Peter also offers support for women’s health (menstrual and menopausal issues, pregnancy health, induction of labour, fertility and IVF).
Peter has been registered with the Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association (AACMA) since 2004. He is also government registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Appointment Preparation
Bookings are strictly by appointment only. We do not offer walk in appointments under any circumstances.
Please make sure you book your appointment in advance. Whilst not necessary, please bring any relevant paperwork with regards to any other appointments/results.
Private Health Fund Rebates
We are able to provide you with a health fund rebate using our HICAPS system. Some of the health funds that are claimable through our HICAPS machine for Acupuncture are as follows.
Pregnancy Acupuncture Gold Coast Location
The Gold Coast Acupuncture Clinic is located in the Albert Centre at 5/18 Ferry Street, Nerang.
This is also a great location for our customers in the surrounding suburbs of Nerang including Gilston, Highland Park, Mount Nathan, Carrara, Ashmore, Gaven, Molendinar, Worongary, Helensvale, Coomera, Hope Island, Oxenford, Upper Coomera, Pimpama, Ormeau, Maudsland, Willowvale and Tamborine Mountain.
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You may call us at our Nerang clinic directly.
Phone: (07) 5573 6601
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References
[1] Bao Jin et al. (2024) Acupuncture for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Medicine Volume 85, October 2024, 103079
[2] Caroline Smith 1 , Caroline Crowther, Justin Beilby (2002) Acupuncture to treat nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial. Birth . 2002 Mar;29(1):1-9. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-536x.2002.00149.x.