Therapies Acupressure Research

Acupressure reduces nausea and vomiting after Caesarian section

Yet another report reveals the efficacy of acupressure in relieving nausea and vomiting following surgery. A study conducted at the Department of Anaesthesia, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. found that acupressure at the P6 point helps prevent nausea and vomiting during and after Caesarean section. A double-blind, randomised controlled study of acupressure vs placebo was carried out involving ninety-four patients scheduled for Caesarean section. The anaesthetic technique and postoperative analgesia were standardised. The use of acupressure reduced the incidence of nausea or vomiting from 53 percent to 23 percent compared with placebo (95 percent confidence interval (CI) 0.34-0.25; P = 0.002) during the operation and from 66 percent to 36 percent compared with placebo (95 percent CI 0.34-0.19; P = 0.003) after the operation. Other variables were similar between the groups.

Acupressure and prevention of nausea and vomiting during and after spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section. Harmon D, Ryan M, Kelly A, Bowen M Br J Anaesth 2000 Apr;84(4):463-7

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