Acupuncture to Prevent Nausea & Vomiting

According to a 2009 evaluation from The Cochrane Collaboration, an international not-for-profit and independent medical organization, stimulation of the acupuncture point P-6 (Pericardium-6) significantly reduces the symptoms of nausea and vomiting as soon as surgery. The analysis was published in the second 2009 issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration. The review, led by Dr. Anna Lee of the Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, is an update of a former 2004 Cochrane review, which fostered uniform results.

The 2009 review examined 40 separate international studies which compared the effect of P-6 with a placebo in treating nausea and vomiting while surgery. The studies, which totaled 4,858 patients, used assorted methods of P-6 stimulation, as well as needle acupuncture, laser stimulation, transcutaneous nerve stimulation and acupressure wristbands.

The assessment found that in comparison with a placebo, rousing acupoint P-6 reduced nausea, vomiting and the want for conventional antiemetic (anti-nausea) drugs. It concluded, "The use of P-6 acupoint stimulation possibly will moderate the risk of nausea and vomiting when surgery, with minimal side effects."

"In head-to-head comparisons with antiemetics," commented Dr. Anne Lee, "P-6 stimulation was after agreeable at reducing the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting."

Based on the findings, Dr. Lee asserts that "P-6 acupoint stimulation could be used as a correct unconventional or an addition to antiemetic therapy before, during or once surgery."

Acupoint P-6

Acupoint P-6 is located on the inside of either forearm, almost 2 inches down from the crease of your wrist and between the tendons palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis. In order to find the point, make a fist and curl it inwards. You want be able to see the two tendons protruding from the inside of your forearm. To be accurate, the point is located one sixth of the way from your wrist crease to the crease on the inside of your elbow (cubital crease). To manually stimulate P-6, locate the point, relax your arm and then press your thumb between the tendons down into the point until it feels quite tender. Hold it down powerfully from 30 seconds to 2 minutes and then prospect the other arm.

Of all the acupoints on the human body, this point is a very general choice for investigate because of the mounting costs of traditional antiemetic drugs and the point's distinguished and internationally-affirmed history of treating the symptoms of nausea and vomiting.

The Cochrane Collaboration

This international not-for-profit and independent organization is dedicated to spreading cutting-edge and accurate information regarding all medical and healthcare findings. Taken care of to be the top source for up-to-date medical information, The Cochrane Collaboration currently has fifteen centres worldwide supporting fifty specialist Collaborative Assessment Groups (CRGs). Systematic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical process as soon as considering both the content and quality of existing trials on a topic.


Anant Joshi has a keen interest in helping people to improve their lives through sensible use of acupuncture. Visit http://acupuncture.best-alternative-medicine.com for more information on this subject.