Acupressure—the application of pressure to specific points along the body’s meridians—is frequently utilized by massage therapists.
New research shows acupressure may be effective in reducing chemotherapy-related nausea and may decrease the use of drugs to control vomiting after chemotherapy.
The study consisted of 34 patients with gynecologic cancer. The acupressure was applied to the pericardium 6 (P6 or Neiguan) acupuncture point with a wristband, according to an abstract published on www.pubmed.gov.
“We found a significant decrease in the patients’ mean scores of nausea and the use of antiemetic [anti-vomiting] medications following acupressure applied to the patients with a wristband, when compared with their mean scores of nausea and the use of antiemetic medications prior to the application,” the researchers noted.
The research was reported in the European Journal of Oncology Nursing.
Previous research reported by MASSAGE Magazine showed acupressure and meridian massage applied three times per day for 10 days resulted in significant weight gain among premature infants; acupressure may reduce sleepiness and help keep students awake during class; and acupressure was effective in reducing low-back pain, with effects lasting for six months.