Even though it can be extremely uncomfortable Chinese medicine looks at morning sickness during early pregnancy as normal and a sign of health. Nausea and vomiting indicate reverse stomach qi flow caused by gestational activities. They indicate that qi and blood are strong and full in the mother. They indicate maternal health. Chinese medicine offers effective drug-free treatments for morning sickness that are safe for mother and child.

A recent JAMA article reports an association of nausea and vomiting during early pregnancy with reduced risk for pregnancy loss. One of its findings is that women with morning sickness symptoms tend to be 25 years old or younger. This generally agrees with the observation of Chinese medicine because qi and blood decline with age. The takeaway is that morning sickness indicates health, not sickness. On the other hand, women who don’t experience it shouldn’t worry. It does not mean that they will lose their pregnancy.