5 Natural Remedies to Manage Symptoms of Hyperemesis Gravidarum

What Is Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG)?

You've heard of morning sickness during pregnancy (that queasy, crackers by the bedside chapter) that most people associate with the first trimester. But what happens when the nausea and vomiting become so relentless that you're losing more than 5 percent of your body weight, you can't keep water down, and your body is running on fumes? And unlike typical morning sickness that usually wraps up around week 12 or 13, this can stretch 20 weeks into pregnancy or longer.

This is hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), and if you're going through it, someone offering you a saltine, some water, FOOD, or telling you "it's all in your head" might genuinely make you want to scream. Or cry. Or both. And as your virtual blogging doula, I’m here to tell you - you're not being dramatic.

HG is the most common reason for hospitalization during the first half of pregnancy, and it's second only to preterm labor as a cause of hospitalization during pregnancy overall. It disrupts everything: your ability to work, to care for other children, to nourish yourself, to feel like yourself. It touches your body, your mind, your relationships, and your spirit. I’ve witnessed the impact of HG with a number of my own birth doula clients and for too long, it's been minimized, misunderstood, and under-supported especially for those of us who already have to fight harder to be believed in medical spaces.

So let’s talk about what we can do from a holistic and practical place. As a doula, I’ve walked with people through this so I’ve seen what helps and I want to share an approach that draws from my observations, studying, research, and approaches guided by the brilliant works

of Dr. Laila Afrika (author of African Holistic Health), and information and resources from HER Foundation (the leading HG organization in the U.S, and my own experiences supporting pregnant people through some of the hardest days of their lives.

First, Let's Be Clear About Hyperemesis

HG is not a mindset problem. Researchers have identified that genetics, hormone sensitivity (particularly to hCG and GDF15), and even the body's detoxification pathways play a role. The HER Foundation has been instrumental in pushing that research forward and advocating for people with HG to be taken seriously.

So if you're reading this in survival mode, barely keeping down ice chips, lying on the bathroom floor at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday, or probably live from the hospital after hearing your diagnosis just know I see you. And there are things that can help, even a little.

5 Natural Remedies to Manage Symptoms of HG

1. Nourish Yourself When You Can While Navigating Hyperemesis Gravidarum

When you have HG, the idea of a "balanced meal" can feel laughable. You're not failing your baby if all you can manage today is a few spoonfuls of something bland. The goal right now is survival nourishment. It does not have to be Instagram worthy meals.

Eat small, frequent amounts rather than trying to sit down for two or three full meals. Think every 1–2 hours, just a few bites.

Lean toward simple, whole carbohydrates and easy proteins things like mashed sweet potato, plain rice, avocado, or a few bites of baked plantain. These tend to sit easier than heavy, greasy, or highly acidic foods.

Identify your triggers and remove them from your space. If the smell of garlic or the sight of meat sends you over the edge, that's your body talking giving you cues on what to remove (at least for now).

Dr. Afrika emphasized the importance of plant based whole foods for supporting the body's natural balance. If you can tolerate it, small sips of fresh coconut water, watermelon juice, or cucumber water can be gentle on the stomach while offering hydration and trace minerals. These aren't miracle cures but they work with your body rather than against it.

Smoothies and broths can be easier to keep down than solid food. A simple blend of banana, frozen berries, a little honey, and your choice of milk or coconut water, even if just a few sips, can deliver calories and some comfort.

IF NOTHING IS WORKING and if you cannot keep anything down and you're becoming dehydrated, please seek care immediately. IV fluids and early intervention can be lifesaving. Advocating for yourself in that ER or triage room matters. If you are too depleted to voice your symptoms and concerns then bring someone with you if you can, or have them on FaceTime or the phone, and don't let anyone minimize what you're going through. The HER Foundation offers resources and support for navigating medical care when you feel dismissed.

2. Prioritize Deep Rest and Protect Your Peace

HG is exhausting on every level. Your body is working overtime just to stay regulated, and the emotional toll, the isolation, the grief over what you imagined pregnancy would be, the fear is just as heavy.

Let me just say rest does not always equate to sleep, however, both are necessary. So, here’s what may help:

If you need to be in bed for days or weeks, that is your body telling you what it needs. Healing requires stillness so that the body repairs and recalibrates during deep rest. My invitation to you is to honor that.

Bright lights, strong smells, loud environments, and even scrolling on your phone can amplify nausea. Reducing stimulation is a game changer and I’ll all about creating a calm, dim, cool space to disconnect (these types of calming environments also help in labor!)

This is the time to call in your village whether that's a partner, a parent, a friend, a church member, or a birth doula who also supports during postpartum. Let people bring you groceries, watch your kids, feed the pets, wash your dishes. This is not the season for talking yourself out of help, please let people help you.

Talk to someone and let them know how you’re doing and so they can show up for you emotionally. Whether that's a therapist, a counselor, a trusted elder, or a support group through the HER Foundation's online community or our Motherhood Moon Circles, you need a space where you can say "this is awful" and be met with grace and compassion.

Journaling, prayer, meditation, or just sitting quietly with your hands on your belly (whatever connects you to your spirit) can help you feel less like you're drowning.

3. Ginger (For the most part)

Ginger is the remedy everyone will suggest first (I was and at times still am this person), and there is research supporting it for nausea particularly in mild to moderate cases. But  for some people with HG, ginger can actually make things worse. It can increase stomach acid and irritation for someone whose system is already in revolt.

How to approach it wisely (after years of herbalism and research):

Start very small. Don't go straight to ginger capsules. Try a thin slice of fresh ginger steeped in hot water, just a few sips. Or a drop of ginger essential oil on a tissue near your pillow (inhaled, not ingested).

Give it a 3–4 day trial. If it's helping even slightly, continue. If it's making you more nauseous, stop. Your body is the authority here.

Ginger as a warming, circulation promoting root with deep roots in African and diasporic healing traditions. But also there is no single herb that works for every body. I encourage you to pay attention to your body's response.

4. Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine). A Quiet Powerhouse

This one has solid evidence behind it. Multiple studies show that vitamin B6 can reduce the severity of nausea and vomiting, especially at consistent doses.

What can help:

A common approach is 25 milligrams of vitamin B6, taken three times daily (morning, afternoon, evening). This is widely recognized as a first line natural intervention for pregnancy-related nausea.

Whole food sources of B6 include bananas, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, and sunflower seeds (if you can tolerate any of these, even in small amounts, they're doing double duty).

Dr. Afrika, my absolute favorite holistic naturopathic doctor, was a strong advocate for getting nutrients from whole foods and high quality, plant-based supplementation rather than synthetic vitamins whenever possible. Look for B6 in its active form (pyridoxal-5-phosphate or P5P) if you're supplementing as it's gentler and more bioavailable.

Important: Before taking higher doses, have a conversation with your midwife or provider. B6 is generally considered safe at these levels during pregnancy, but you want someone in your corner who knows your full health picture.

HONORABLE MENTION 

✨Thiamine (Vitamin B1)

Don't Sleep on This One!

Prolonged vomiting can seriously deplete your thiamine stores, and since B vitamins work together as a family, the entire B-complex can take a hit when your body is under the kind of extreme stress HG brings so a good quality B-complex (prenatal or standalone) and whole food sources like oats, black beans, lentils, and sunflower seeds can support your nervous system, energy, and resilience. If you can't keep anything down, thiamine may need to be given intravenously, and that's okay the recommended intake during pregnancy is at least 1.5 milligrams per day, and getting it however you can is what matters.

5. Hydration

Dehydration is one of the most immediate dangers of HG, and it can creep up fast. But chugging water when you're nauseous is a setup for failure.

Sip, don't gulp. Tiny sips throughout the day even if it's just a tablespoon every few minutes are more effective than trying to drink a full glass.

Coconut water, watermelon, and cucumber are naturally hydrating and mineral-rich. Healthcare providers frequently recommend coconut water as a natural electrolyte replenisher and it's gentle on the stomach. Side note: Frozen fruit pops made from real fruit juice, frozen coconut water cubes, or even just plain ice chips can be easier to tolerate than room-temperature liquids.

Herbal infusions (cool or at room temperature) like red raspberry leaf or peppermint can sometimes be tolerated in small sips. Peppermint in particular can calm the digestive tract, try it cooled rather than hot if heat triggers your nausea.

If you cannot keep fluids down for 12–24 hours, seek IV hydration. This is not defeat. This is smart, proactive care. Some communities have IV hydration clinics or mobile services and some midwifery practices offer subcutaneous or IV fluids. Ask about your options before you're in crisis.

🌀Additional Natural Remedies That Have Provided Relief

Beyond nutrition and supplementation, there are two more hands-on and mind-body practices that have brought real relief to many people navigating HG and they're worth exploring to see what resonates with your body.

1. When HG has you bedridden for days or weeks, your muscles weaken, your joints stiffen, and you can start to feel completely disconnected from your own body. Gentle prenatal massage and chiropractic care can ease that tension, improve circulation, and honestly just remind you that your body is still yours even when it doesn't feel like it.

2. Hypnotherapy. Before you scroll past this one, just know that multiple studies on hypnotherapy for HG have all reported encouraging positive outcomes. Think of it less like a stage trick and more like a deep guided meditation giving your nervous system permission to stop bracing, even for 20 minutes. There are prenatal hypnotherapy recordings and apps you can listen to right from your bed with headphones, no appointment needed!

Let's Stay Connected 💛

If any of this resonated with you, I'd love to keep the conversation going. Come find me on Instagram where I share all things birthwork, community support, herbal wisdom, and the unfiltered side of pregnancy and postpartum life, because community is everything, especially in seasons like this!

And if you're looking for products that actually do something not just cute for the sake of cute but truly beneficial then check out my Amazon storefront where I keep an updated collection of herbs, tinctures, books, eco-friendly and skin-safe baby products, along with a full pregnancy and postpartum must-haves registry. I'm not talking buy just to buy. I'm talking minimalist, intentional, actually helpful products that have been continuously voted number one by my email community of hundreds of mothers who don't have time or energy to waste on things that don't work.

Everything I recommend, I stand behind. Everything I share, I share because it made a real difference for someone! 💛

Final Thoughts

• Approximately 0.3–2 percent of pregnant women suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition that’s characterized by severe nausea and vomiting.

• Hyperemesis gravidarum can be an extremely debilitating condition for pregnant women, often leading to hospitalization. If it’s not managed adequately, it can lead to major health issues for both the mother and baby.

• Symptoms of hyperemesis usually begin 4–6 weeks into pregnancy, peak at 9 weeks and subside by around 20 weeks.

• The cause of hyperemesis gravidarum still isn’t exactly known, but new research suggests that two genes are associated with the condition.

• Dietary and lifestyle changes are the first line of defense for hyperesmesis. When these changes don’t improve symptoms, many patients turn to antiemetics to relieve nausea.

• Natural remedies for hyperemesis gravidarum symptoms include dietary changes, reducing stress and getting rest, chiropractic care and massage therapy, physical therapy, ginger, vitamin B6, thiamine, acupressure and acupunture and hypnotherapy.

To get hyperemesis gravidarum support, you can visit the Hyperemesis Education & Research (HER Foundation). This very helpful website has support forums, blogs, information and research about this unrelenting condition.