By
on 05/12/2022
Acupuncture For Treating Vomiting
Vomiting is an involuntary reflex where contents of the stomach exit via the mouth. Acupuncturists can help calm this reflex to decrease nausea and vomiting.
Pregnant women with morning sickness often report feeling better after acupuncture.
Vertigo patients and those dealing with motion sickness regularly find that acupuncture helps reduce vomiting and nausea.
Acupuncture can reduce vomiting related to gastroenteritis and food poisoning too.
Vomiting that occurs after surgery may also improve after acupuncture sessions.
**Important: Seek medical advice from your GP if vomiting happens regularly or lasts longer than 24 hours. They’ll order tests, provide a diagnosis, and rule out serious health issues.
What Are The Benefits of Acupuncture for Vomiting?
Acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine. It involves inserting tiny needles into the surface of the skin along meridian points. This stimulates the flow of energy, nutrients and chemicals around the body.
You can decrease the vomiting reflex and relieve nausea by stimulating specific acu-points. This is because needles trigger the release of 2 chemicals:
- beta-endorphins
- adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).
- reduce pain sensitivity
- decrease stress reactions
- relax irritated nerve endings that ‘awaken’ the vomiting centre in the brain.
Acupuncture also has a positive impact on the gut. It helps decrease the over-secretion of stomach acids, which helps reduce that icky nauseous feeling you get in your tummy, mouth and cheeks.
How Does The Treatment Work?
Acupuncture treatment for vomiting usually involves a point on the inner wrist called P6 (or Nei Guan).
This popular point, according to the Australian Natural Therapists Association, helps regulate the pericardium meridian. It’s used to assist vomiting, nausea, spasms and heart palpitations.
A study titled, Understanding vomiting from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, further explains the value of this P6 point:
“It has the therapeutic effects of channelling the yin and maintaining pulse and is particularly effective at curing stomach diseases because it can harmonise the stomach, reduce qi counter flow, relieve spasms, and stop vomiting… It is the clinically preferred treatment site for vomiting.”
The same study tells of how the P6 acupuncture point was used to treat 13 patients with nervous vomiting.
The patients received acupuncture treatment 2-3 times per day. Results showed 11 patients stopped vomiting after their first treatment, with the other 2 only having slight nausea. A 6-month follow up showed that none of the patients had experienced nervous vomiting since.
Can Acupuncture Prevent Vomiting?
Acupuncture can help prevent vomiting in some instances.
Most notably, acupuncturists can help prevent nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. The P6 point described above is usually used, in conjunction with other points. Together, they help regulate hormones, stimulate the release of feel-good chemicals and support the digestive system. Holistically, this makes nausea and vomiting less likely.
Studies are currently investigating whether acupuncture is useful for preventing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. It’s too early to say whether acupuncture prevents symptoms in this instance, but it’s clear it can ease vomiting if it begins.
Acupressure is often used to prevent vomiting. It involves stimulating acupuncture points using manual pressure (no needles). This helps improve the flow of energy around the body.
Once again, the P6 point is often used in acupressure. You’ll often see those prone to seasickness or car sickness holding these points as a preventative measure.
Some Bonus Tips
In addition to using acu treatment for vomiting, you may also find relief by:
- Eating bland foods when you feel nauseous
- Sipping fruit juices to reduce feelings of nausea and vomiting
- Drinking herbal teas that calm an upset stomach, e.g. chamomile, peppermint, ginger
- Booking your acupuncture appointment using Avaana.
Avaana is the easiest way to search, compare and book a trusted Acupuncturist near you. It also eliminates the frustrating and time-consuming process of Googling ‘acupuncture treatment for vomiting near me’… because we’ve done the hard work for you!
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