Nausea

Nausea is that queasy uncomfortable feeling in the stomach that can lead to vomiting and generally makes us miserable. If you are suffering from chronic nausea, acupuncture may be able to help you. There are many causes of chronic nausea including morning sickness, migraines, digestive issues, and chemotherapy. For acute nausea you should consult a physician.

Nausea is hard to live with and can make us very uncomfortable. It is our bodyÕs way of telling us something is wrong or a change is happening. During pregnancy, morning sickness is natural and up to 70% of women suffer from nausea during this time. The good news is that acupuncture is very safe, and has a long tradition of helping with these symptoms.

How Acupuncture Can Help
When your stomach is in a knot it is time to come in and see an acupuncturist. Acupuncture is a gentle and safe approach to many chronic digestive symptoms. Your acupuncturist will take your individual constitution into account when determining the right course of treatment. They will select specific points based on traditional concepts and modern research to relieve the nausea. Additional points may be selected to address any anxiety, aid your appetite, decrease pain and help with any other complaints you may have.

Scientific Evidence
There have been studies conducted all over the world verifying the efficacy of acupuncture for nausea in pregnancy and during cancer treatment. In Manchester, England a study concluded that acupuncture showed a statistically significant improvement over placebo for post chemotherapeutic nausea1. In Singapore patients were given acupuncture after their first round of chemotherapy and 26 out of 27 patients had significant decrease in nausea and vomiting2. In Morristown, New Jersey a study of 187 women concluded that acupuncture is effective in reducing nausea and vomiting in symptomatic women in the first trimester of pregnancy3. In Adelaide, Australia, researchers conducted a single blind study with 593 women and concluded that acupuncture is an effective treatment for women who experience nausea and dry retching in early pregnancy4. 1 Complement Ther Med. 2007 Mar;15(1):3-12. Epub 2006 Sep 27. 2 J Altern Complement Med. 2006 Dec;12(10):963-9. 3 Obstet Gynecol. 2003 Jul;102(1):129-35. 4 Complement Ther Med. 2002 Jun;10(2):78-83.