Acupressure for nausea: the P6 point and what it can do

Where the P6 point is

1. Turn your palm upwards.
2. Lay the index, middle and ring fingers of your other hand across your forearm, with the ring finger on the wrist crease.
3. The point lies at the edge of your index finger that faces the elbow, in the middle of the arm.
4. Make a fist and bend your wrist slightly. Two tendons now stand out. P6 sits in the groove between them.

Three finger widths means your own fingers, not someone else's. That way the measurement matches the size of your arm. More points are covered in Acupressure: the most important points and what they do.

How to press it properly

Press straight down into the groove with the pad of your thumb, firmly enough to feel a clear, dull pressure. Hold the pressure or circle slowly on the spot for two to three minutes. Then switch arms. Repeat after an hour if needed.

Position matters more than force. If you press a few millimetres off the groove onto a tendon, you mainly feel pain. A spiky finger ring does not reach the point, by the way. The reason is in Acupressure ring: what it can and cannot do. How finger-pressure methods such as shiatsu differ from other types of massage is explained in the overview of massage types.

What the studies show

After surgery

This is where the evidence is best. A Cochrane review analysed 59 studies with 7,667 participants in which P6 was stimulated with pressure, needles or a weak electrical current. Compared with a sham point, nausea occurred about a third less often. Compared with anti-sickness medication, there was no clear difference. The authors rate the quality of the evidence as low to moderate. Side effects were minor, such as irritated or reddened skin.

During chemotherapy

Another Cochrane review found that self-administered acupressure eased acute nausea somewhat. All participants also received medication. Here acupressure is an addition that you agree with your treatment team, never a replacement.

In pregnancy

For early pregnancy, Cochrane examined 41 studies with 5,449 women. The evidence for P6 acupressure was limited. That does not mean it does not work, only that there is no firm proof. Gentle pressure is not expected to cause harm, so many pregnant women give it a try.

For travel sickness

Here the result is clear. In a trial with 77 people in a rotating drum, neither a pressure wristband nor an electrical stimulation wristband prevented motion sickness, even when it was positioned correctly. One detail: of the participants who put on the pressure band only by following the package leaflet, not one had it in the right place.

Acupressure bands: what to look out for

These elastic bands carry a small plastic stud that is meant to press on P6. After putting one on, check with the three-finger method that the stud really sits in the groove between the tendons. The band should be snug, but your fingers must not tingle or turn pale. Based on the data above, bands are most worth a try for nausea after surgery, and less so for travel sickness.

When you need medical help

Get help straight away or call the emergency number 112 if you have:

• nausea with chest pain, shortness of breath or a cold sweat
• vomiting after a fall or a blow to the head
• blood or material like coffee grounds in your vomit
• severe abdominal pain, fever with a stiff neck, or confusion

Have it checked soon if you cannot keep anything down, are barely passing urine, your urine is dark or you feel dizzy when you stand up. These are signs that your body is becoming dehydrated. This applies especially in pregnancy, and also if you are losing weight. Babies, young children and older people dehydrate faster.

If nausea comes with a headache, migraine may be behind it. More on this in Can massages trigger migraines?

Frequently asked questions

How quickly does acupressure work for nausea?

If you feel an effect, you usually notice it within a few minutes. If nothing happens after two or three rounds, more pressure will not help either.

Can I use acupressure during pregnancy?

Gentle pressure on P6 is considered safe. Still, mention it at your antenatal check-up. You can read more about massagers during this time in Foot massagers in pregnancy.

Can a massager press the P6 point?

Not with any precision. The point is small, and massagers are built for the muscles of the neck, back and feet. For nausea, your thumb is the better tool. For muscle tension, you will find devices under Massagers. You can try a massage chair for the whole back at the NAIPO Relax Lounge in Hamburg; appointments are booked online.

Sources

• Lee A, Chan SK, Fan LT (2015): Stimulation of the wrist acupuncture point PC6 for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003281.pub4
• Ezzo JM, Richardson MA, Vickers A et al. (2006): Acupuncture-point stimulation for chemotherapy-induced nausea or vomiting. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002285.pub2
• Matthews A, Haas DM, O'Mathúna DP, Dowswell T (2015): Interventions for nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007575.pub4
• Miller KE, Muth ER (2004): Efficacy of acupressure and acustimulation bands for the prevention of motion sickness. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. PubMed 15018290

This article does not replace medical advice.