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on 09/12/2022 Did you know acupuncture can help treat nausea?
While nausea isn’t usually a sign of anything serious, feeling like you’re going to vomit is horrible. And if it happens frequently, you may want a natural solution that doesn’t involve medication.
Acupuncture is a safe and drug-free option that helps men and women deal with nausea. If you’re keen to know if acupuncture treatment for nausea is right for you, this article will help you decide.
What Is Nausea?
Nausea, or hyperemesis gravidarum, is the sensation you get when you think you’re going to vomit.
It’s not an illness itself, but a symptom that leaves you feeling queasy in the tummy. While it may stop there, nausea can also lead to dry retching (when you heave as if you’re going to vomit, but no contents leave your stomach).
Nausea is thought to occur when nerve endings in certain parts of the body become irritated. This causes signals to be sent to the vomiting reflex part of the brain. If the nerve irritation becomes extreme, you may move beyond nausea and into the vomiting stage.
Pregnant women often experience nausea during their first trimester.
Some medications come with a range of side effects, including feelings of nausea.
One of the little-known signs of dehydration is nausea. So if you work in the hot Aussie sun, be sure to stay hydrated if you don’t want to feel nauseated.
Other common causes of nausea include:
- gastroenteritis (food poisoning)
- migraines
- motion sickness
- drinking too much alcohol
- gut problems.
What Can Acupuncture Do For Nausea?
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine that uses tiny needles to stimulate the flow of energy (Qi) around the body. Using acupuncture treatment for nausea has been studied for decades, and the results are overwhelmingly positive.
One study reviewed more than 40 controlled trials. They concluded there’s good evidence acupuncture can help prevent or reduce nausea post-surgery and when using chemotherapy drugs.
Research also supports acupuncture for morning sickness-related nausea. This Adelaide trial recommends acupuncture for nausea treatment in Australia:
“[Pregnant] women receiving traditional acupuncture reported less nausea throughout the trial and less dry retching from the second week, compared with women in the no acupuncture control group”.
What these studies tell us is that acupuncture has the potential to reduce nausea and boost feelings of wellbeing in a wide range of situations.
How Is Nausea Treated Through Acupuncture?
Acupuncture can effectively treat feelings of nausea.
It’s a 2,500 year old therapy that involves inserting tiny needles into the surface of the skin along specialised acupuncture points (meridians). This helps move energy and nutrients/chemicals around the body to invoke feelings of wellbeing.
When you use acupuncture treatment for nausea, the following happens:
- Beta-endorphins and ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) increase
- The brain’s vomiting centre becomes less active
- The gut’s secretion of acid regulates.
Synergistically, this helps to block the sensation of pain, improve stress responses and relax nerve endings.
It’s also why you’ll likely leave the Acupuncture clinic feeling at least a little better.
Can Nausea Be Prevented Through Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient healing system that can help treat and prevent nausea.
If you know you’re going to be in a situation that makes your nausea worse, it helps to know that of all the nausea remedies, acupressure is an easy DIY option.
Acupressure is a simplified form of acupuncture that doesn’t use needles. Instead, you can do it yourself by applying manual pressure to specific points along meridian pathways.
Pressure Point P-6 is the most common acupressure point used to help prevent and relieve nausea. It’s located on your arm and here’s how to find it:
- Lay one arm in front of you with your palm facing up
- Using your other hand, stretch out the first 3 fingers
- Place these 3 fingers over the wrist of the outstretched arm, beginning at the wrist crease
- Place your thumb just below the index finger between the tendons, then remove your fingers
- The space between these tendons is acupressure point P-6. Using firm pressure (but not painful), gently rub this area using small circular motions for 2-3 minutes.
- Repeat this process on the other arm.
Here’s a video showing you how to find P-6:
It’s important to note that while acupressure may help prevent nausea, using acupuncture for nausea treatment In Australia is more common.
If you’re ready to give it a go yourself, Avaana can help you search, compare and book Acupuncturists near you.
We value your time and prioritise your wellbeing, which means there’s no need to Google ‘acupuncture treatment for nausea near me’. You’re already in the best place to find Acupuncturists in your area who are ready to confirm your booking today.
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