New Medical Study Finds Safe, Effective Relief for Morning Sickness

A new medical study offers good news for expectant mothers facing the difficult choice of treating the nausea and vomiting of early pregnancy with things like soda, crackers or crushed ice, which are only marginally helpful, or trying prescription or over-the-counter medications, which may have potential side effects.

The September/October issue of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine features results from a new randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, hospital based, human clinical study conducted by obstetricians Angela Keating, M.D. and Ronald Chez, M.D. which indicates that Ginger Honey Tonic^® is a safe and effective way to treat nausea and vomiting associated with morning sickness. Ginger Honey Tonic is made by New Chapter Inc. of Brattleboro, Vermont. In an article entitled, “Ginger Syrup as an Antiemetic in Early Pregnancy,” Drs. Keating and Chez summarize results of a study they conducted over a six-month period with 26 women ages 24-37 in their first 12 weeks of pregnancy. In the study, women were chosen at random to use New Chapter’s Ginger Honey Tonic or a “placebo” syrup. Neither group of women was aware of the use of the placebo product. They were asked to rate their symptoms and how they felt on a 10-point scale at regular intervals.

The study found significant reductions in both nausea and vomiting in the group using the Ginger Honey Tonic vs. the placebo-control group. For example, 77 percent of the Ginger Honey Tonic group experienced a dramatic four-point or greater improvement on the nausea scale within nine days. These findings led the researchers to conclude: “one g of ginger in syrup or capsules ingested daily in divided doses appears to be a reasonable and safe option in the treatment of nausea in early pregnancy.” Equally important, there were no adverse effects to the suggested use of New Chapter’s Ginger Honey Tonic during pregnancy.

Morning sickness is a common experience with an estimated 60-80 percent of all women experiencing nausea and/or vomiting during their first trimester of pregnancy. In addition to compromising an expectant mother’s daily functioning and quality of life, in more severe cases, morning sickness can also lead to weight loss, malnutrition or other more serious health complications for the mother and developing child. A total of 26 women were enrolled in the trial, with 14 in the study group and 12 in the placebo group. The study dosage was four tablespoons of New Chapter’s Ginger Honey Tonic.

Source: Alternative Therapies,
September/October 2002, Volume 8 No. 5 .