Acupressure Eases Morning Sickness

Two separate studies reported in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine find that Acupressure can ease the symptoms of morning sickness in pregnant women.

Acupressure is based on an ancient Japanese therapy where pressure is applied to 'acupoints' (the same points used in acupuncture) with the thumbs, hands and elbows. Treatment usually lasts between 5 and 20 minutes.

Both studies used a wrist strap that applied pressure to a specific point on the inside of the wrist that is associated with nausea. A similar device is already sold commercially to ease travel sickness.

In one of the studies at Lund University in Sweden, some respondents wore a band on a placebo point and found that symptoms returned after 6 days of relief. Respondents wearing a band on the correct point experienced 14 days of continuous relief.

The other study carried out at Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk had similar findings.

Thursday, 1 November 2001