Many women have used ginger for morning sickness since it is one of the most commonly recommended natural remedies.  While their are claims of its effectiveness in fighting nausea and vomiting, there are also claims that it is not safe to use during pregnancy.

Ginger has been used for centuries as a way to fight nausea.  Some say it has an effect on the brain that reduces the message of nausea.  Others say it aids in digestion which reduces the feeling of nausea in the stomach.  Either way, for many people it seems to work.

But when used as a morning sickness remedy, there are definitely mixed messages.  Some healthcare professionals claim it is safe and others say it shouldn’t be used during pregnancy.  So, what are the reasons they say that it shouldn’t be used?

One of the first claims is that ginger may cause mutations.  However, the same “study” showed that ginger had properties to prevent mutations.  This can be very crucial for a newly forming embryo.  In the first trimester, when morning sickness is at its peak, the internal organs are forming and growing.

The second claim is that it can cause contractions of the uterus.  Contractions can cause premature labor and is obviously not a desired side effect due to the dangers to the unborn baby to be born early.

One of the last claims is that ginger interferes with testosterone binding in the unborn baby.  Apparently this can have life-long issues for the baby after it is born if the hormones levels are not correct.

Please make note that none of these claims have any solid research studies to support them.  It has been said that since there is no solid evidence to support the claims, that it is generally safe to use ginger for morning sickness, as long as it is used in small quantities.  It is up to each individual woman to speak with her doctor and decide if the possible side effects are worth the risk.