Perhaps you've gotten this question from others or wondered yourself: "Do those bracelets really work? Is it just a placebo effect?" Today, we take a look at the scientific evidence for P6 acupressure.
I have to admit that the first time I heard about acupressure bands, it all sounded a bit woo-woo.
But since a very level-headed friend assured me they worked, when my morning sickness escalated during my first pregnancy, I figured I lost nothing by trying. To my great surprise, they made a big difference! On days I forgot to put them on, I would almost invariably end up getting sick. I became inseparable from them. Still, I wondered: is it just psychological? What did pressure on the wrists have to do with nausea?
I began to look at the scientific evidence, and I was pleased to discover I was not just imagining the relief I felt: many clinical studies in peer-reviewed journals have concluded that acupressure and acupuncture on the P6 point below the wrist provide significant relief for a variety of symptoms, and that this relief goes beyond what can be accounted for by a placebo effect. Here are some of the highlights:
I began to look at the scientific evidence, and I was pleased to discover I was not just imagining the relief I felt: many clinical studies in peer-reviewed journals have concluded that acupressure and acupuncture on the P6 point below the wrist provide significant relief for a variety of symptoms, and that this relief goes beyond what can be accounted for by a placebo effect. Here are some of the highlights:
"The efficacy of applying acupressure was demonstrated."
- Journal of Palliative & Supportive Care
Nausea & Vomiting
Pregnancy: This study, published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, found that "acupressure resulted in a significantly lower frequency of morning sickness compared with placebo treatment." Their unambiguous conclusion: "Acupressure on the Neiguan [P6] point relieves morning sickness."
Motion: If motion rather than pregnancy is the reason for your nausea, then you should look at this study in the journal General Anesthesia, which concluded that "P6 acupressure increased tolerance to experimental nauseogenic stimuli, and reduced the total number of symptoms reported."
Visually-Induced Nausea: This study, published in the journal Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, looked at whether P6 acupressure worked to decrease symptoms of visually-induced nausea (such as you might get playing VR games or on certain Disney rides). They found that "P6 acupressure reduces the severity of symptoms of visually-induced motion sickness...."
Post-Operative Nausea: This study in the British Journal of Anesthesia looked at P6 stimulation (in this case using lasers) on children who were undergoing eye surgery. It found that with P6 stimulation before and after the surgery, "the incidence of vomiting was significantly lower (25%) than that in the placebo group (85%)." Another one in the Journal of Perianesthesia Nursing, concluded that "P6 acupressure application was effective at preventing vomiting" and "its effect on nausea intensity was even better."
Chemotherapy Nausea: Patients fighting cancer often suffer as much from their treatments as from the disease itself, the effects of chemo on the body being particularly notorious. This study in the Journal of Palliative and Supportive Care found that "applying acupressure at the P6 point is effective in decreasing chemotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting, and anxiety in patients with breast cancer."
Anxiety
Encountering many studies like those above left little room for doubt about the real effectiveness of acupressure bands against nausea, but what I didn't know until later was that they could also help relieve other symptoms, including anxiety. This study of 120 soldiers, published in the journal Military Health, concluded that "acupressure can reduce soldiers' anxiety" and it recommends that "this simple and cost-effective intervention be used to relieve soldiers' anxiety in stressful situations."
Insomnia
Poor sleep can ruin not just your mood but your health. Therefore, I was delighted when I learned that acupressure bracelets are also helpful in improving sleep. The journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, for instance, published this study on adolescents with insomnia, concluding that "[a]cupressure is a noninvasive, safe, and effective method for the management of insomnia in adolescents, with good compliance and no adverse effects."
As these studies show, the evidence in favor of P6 acupressure is significant.
Whichever of these symptoms gets in the way of enjoying and making the most of your life, it is great to know that P6 acupressure is a safe and natural way to effectively relieve your discomfort. Thanks to Blisslets, you can get the relief you need discretely and in style!