Morning Sickness & Acupuncture:

Why a Personalized Approach Matters

Morning sickness is often dismissed as “just part of pregnancy.” But if you’re living with daily nausea, vomiting, food aversions, or exhaustion, it can feel anything but minor.

What many people don’t realize is that not all morning sickness is the same — and treating it as if it were is one reason so many solutions fall short.

How Chinese Medicine Looks at Morning Sickness

In Western medicine, nausea is typically treated the same way regardless of the person experiencing it.

In Chinese medicine, the question is different: Why is this person nauseous?

I could see 10 pregnant patients with nausea and treat each one differently, because the underlying imbalance causing their symptoms may be completely different.

Some bodies need warming.

Some need cooling.

Some are depleted.

Some are overloaded.

When we treat the pattern, the symptom often resolves naturally. This pattern-based approach is one of the reasons Chinese medicine has been used effectively for thousands of years.

Treating the Pattern, Not Just the Symptom

Rather than suppressing nausea alone, Chinese medicine evaluates:

• Temperature balance (hot vs cold)

• Energy reserves (deficient vs excess)

• Digestive strength

• Stress and emotional load

  
  

This allows treatment to be tailored — not generic — and especially supportive during pregnancy.

A Personal Note from Dr. Morgan

Morning sickness is actually what led me to Chinese medicine.

During my first pregnancy, I was miserable. I was constantly nauseous, barely functioning, and we were getting close to going to the hospital because I couldn’t keep anything down. I spent weeks laying on the couch staring at the ceiling, or sitting in the bathtub trying not to throw up.

My husband finally urged me to try acupuncture.

After that session — and taking Chinese herbs daily — I never threw up again.

I remember thinking how different those weeks could have been if I had known about this option earlier. It would have saved me so much physical and emotional exhaustion.

That experience shaped my path and is a big part of why I do this work today.

A Clinical Pearl

If you crave ice water during pregnancy but notice you feel more nauseous or exhausted afterward, your digestion may need warming support, even if cold drinks feel temporarily soothing.

This is one of the most common patterns I see — and one that often improves quickly with the right care.

What Treatment Looks Like

• Gentle, pregnancy-specific acupuncture

• Optional Chinese herbal support when appropriate

• Food and hydration guidance tailored to your body

• Ongoing adjustments as your pregnancy evolves

  
  

Many patients notice improvement within just a few visits.

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Want to See If We’re a Good Fit?

I offer complimentary 15-minute calls so we can talk through your symptoms, your pregnancy, and whether working together feels aligned.

Ready to Book?

You can schedule an appointment here

📍 Serving patients throughout San Diego County

-Dr. Morgan Zapalac

DAcCHM, M.Ed., LAc, IFM