Research News from the Tisserand Institute

Lemon essential oil can help with “morning sickness”. A 2014 controlled, double blind randomized clinical trial aimed to determine the effect of inhaled Lemon essential oil on nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. 100 pregnant women (6-16 weeks) with moderate nausea and vomiting were divided into two equal groups. The intervention group placed two drops of distilled Lemon oil (diluted in almond oil) on a cotton ball and inhaled when they felt nauseous. The control group inhaled almond oil only. Participants completed a PUQE-24 (Pregnancy Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea) questionnaire every day for 4 days. The severity and frequency of nausea and vomiting decreased in both groups, however the difference was much more significant in the Lemon group. The researchers concluded that inhaled lemon essential oil can be effective in reducing nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. Traditionally, Peppermint and Ginger are recommended for nausea, and can be effective for post-operative nausea. However, one small study on inhaled peppermint showed no significant effect on nausea during pregnancy compared with saline control. Lemon essential oil therefore offers an interesting alternative, without resorting to anti-emetic drugs. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4005434/ For more, go to www.tisserandinstitute.org/infographics