Positive Health Online

Abstract

ROSCOE and co-workers, University of Rochester Cancer Center, Rochester, New York 14642, USA, have carried out a trial on the efficacy of acupressure and acustimulation wrist bands for the relief of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Background

Nausea and vomiting are common side-effects of chemotherapy undergone by cancer patients. This trial aimed to explore noninvasive adjuncts to standard anti-emetic drug therapy.

Methodology

In this randomized controlled trial, 739 cancer patients were randomly assigned to either acupressure bands, an acustimulation band, or no band.

Results

Patients with the acupressure band experienced less nausea and vomiting on the day of treatment compared to the controls (p = 0.05). Men in the acustimulation group experienced less nausea and vomiting over a longer period of time than those in the control group (p = 0.05). Apart from these two effects, no significant differences were observed between the different groups.

Conclusion

This trial found only small effects of both acupressure wrist bands and acustimulation wrist bands on chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting.

References

Roscoe JA, Morrow GR, Hickock JT, Bushunow P, Pierce HI, Flynn PJ, Kirshner JJ, Moore DF, Atkins JJN. The efficacy of acupressure and acustimulation wrist bands for the relief of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. A University of Rochester Cancer Center Community Clinical Oncology Program multicenter study. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 26 (2): 731-742, Aug 2003.