Center for Health and Healing

<html><head> <title>The Center for Health & Healing</title> <link rel=stylesheet href="../chhstyle.css" type="text/css"> <meta name="keywords" content="acupressure,shiatsu,research,study,trial,clinical trial,pulmonary,pregnancy,nausea,vomiting,sleep,surgery"> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> </head> <body bgcolor="#ffffff" leftmargin="0" topmargin="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0"> <base target="_top"> <a name="head"></a> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="98%"> <tr> <td width="149" bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="149" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> <td width="95%" bgcolor="#95a920"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="500" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> <td width="5%" bgcolor="#95a920"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="60" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="149" bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" valign="top"><a name="top"></a><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="149" height="24" border="0" alt=""></td> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding:0px 0px 0px 5px"> <tr> <td bgcolor="#95a920" align="left" valign="top"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="274" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> <td align="right"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="123" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> </tr>  <tr> <td bgcolor="#95a920" width="274" align="left" valign="top" class="title">Research & Guidelines</td> <td align="right">  <form name="form1" method="post" action=""> <select name="menu1" onChange="MM_jumpMenu('top',this,0)"> <option value="#" selected="selected">Select One</option> <option value='gen_clinical.asp'>General</option> <option value='accu_clinical.asp'>Acupuncture</option> <option value='acupress_clinical.asp'>Acupressure/Shiatsu</option> <option value='alexander_clinical.asp'>Alexander Technique</option> <option value='aroma_clinical.asp'>Aromatherapy</option> <option value='art_clinical.asp'>Art Therapy</option> <option value='bio_clinical.asp'>Biofeedback</option> <option value='chiro_clinical.asp'>Chiropractic</option> <option value='cog_clinical.asp'>Cognitive Behavioral Therapy</option> <option value='cranio_clinical.asp'>Cranial Therapy</option> <option value='dance_clinical.asp'>Dance Therapy</option> <option value='exercise_clinical.asp'>Exercise</option> <option value='feldenkrais_clinical.asp'>Feldenkrais Method</option> <option value='herbal_clinical.asp'>Herbal Medicine</option> <option value='homeo_clinical.asp'>Homeopathy</option> <option value='hypnosis_clinical.asp'>Hypnosis</option> <option value='imagery_clinical.asp'>Imagery</option> <option value='massage_clinical.asp'>Massage Therapy</option> <option value='meditation_clinical.asp'>Meditation/Relaxation</option> <option value='music_clinical.asp'>Music Therapy</option> <option value='nutrition_clinical.asp'>Nutrition/Supplementation</option> <option value='osteo_clinical.asp'>Osteopathy</option> <option value='prayer_clinical.asp'>Prayer</option> <option value='xigong_clinical.asp'>Qigong</option> <option value='reiki_clinical.asp'>Reiki</option> <option value='rolfing_clinical.asp'>Rolfing</option> <option value='taichi_clinical.asp'>Tai Chi</option> <option value='tens_clinical.asp'>TENS</option> <option value='therap_clinical.asp'>Therapeutic Touch</option> <option value='trager_clinical.asp'>Trager Approach</option> <option value='yoga_clinical.asp'>Yoga</option> </select> </form> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td> </td> </tr>  <tr> <td valign="top" width="149" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <table width="120" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"> <tr> <td> <p><a class="leftNavOn" href="acupress_clinical.asp">Clinical Studies</a></p> <p><a class="leftNavOff" href="acupress_reviews.asp">Reviews of Clinical Studies</a></p> <p><a class="leftNavOff" href="acupress_resprog.asp">Research in Progress</a></p> <p><a class="leftNavOff" href="acupress_resissues2.asp">Research Issues</a></p> <p><a class="leftNavOff" href="acupress_recguide.asp">Recommendations & Guidelines</a></p> <p><a class="leftNavOff" href="acupress_rescentr.asp">Research at the Center</a></p> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">  <table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"> <tr> <td nowrap="nowrap" style="padding: 0px 0px 5px 0px;"> <p class="headline"><br> Acupressure/Shiatsu  Clinical Studies</p> </td> <td width="100%"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="95a920"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> <td width="100%" bgcolor="ffffff" height="1"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="ffffff" colspan="2"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="10" border="0" alt=""></td> </tr> </table>  <table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"> <tr> <td class='content'> <p><b>Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease</b><br /> Maa SH, Gauthier D, Turner M. Acupressure as an adjunct to a pulmonary rehabilitation program. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation. 17(4):268-76, 1997.<br /> In this single-blind, cross-over design study, thirty-one patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: group 1 were taught self-acupressure and practiced it daily at home for 6 weeks, then sham acupressure for the following 6 weeks; in group 2 the order was reversed. Real acupressure was more effective than sham acupressure for reducing dyspnea and was minimally effective fore relieving decathexis.</p> <p><b>Dyspnea (shortness of breath)</b><br /> McKeever TM, Scrivener S, Broadfield E, et al. Prospective study of diet and decline in lung function in a general population. <i>American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine.</i> 165(9):1299-303, 2002 May 1.<br /> This study investigated the relationship between decline in lung function and dietary intakes of magnesium, vitamin C, and other antioxidant vitamins in a general population cohort in Nottingham, United Kingdom. In 1991, measurements were made of dietary intake by food frequency questionnaire, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and respiratory symptoms in a cross-sectional survey of 2,633 adults aged 18-70. Nine years later these measures were repeated in 1,346 of these individuals. After adjustment for smoking and other confounders, higher intakes of vitamin C and magnesium, but not vitamins A or E, were associated with higher levels of FEV1 in both 1991 and 2000. Decline in FEV1 between 1991 and 2000 was lower among those with higher average vitamin C intake by 50.8 ml per 100 mg of vitamin C per day, but was unrelated to magnesium intake. There was no relationship between decline in FEV1 and intake of vitamins A or E. This study suggests that a high dietary intake of vitamin C, or of foods rich in this vitamin, may reduce the rate of loss of lung function in adults and thereby help to prevent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.</p> <p><b>Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy</b><br /> Steele NM, French J, Gatherer-Boyles J, et al. Effect of acupressure by Sea-Bands on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing. 30(1): 61-70, 2001.<br /> First trimester healthy pregnant women were randomized to a treatment group (SeaBands with acupressure buttons to both wrists for 4 days) and a placebo group (SeaBands without acupressure buttons on both wrists on the same time schedule). The acupressure group had significantly less frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting while wearing the Sea-Bands than the placebo group. </p> <p><b>Post-operative nausea and vomiting</b><br /> Harmon D, Ryan M, Kelly A, et al. Acupressure and prevention of nausea and vomiting during and after spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section. British Journal of Anaesthesia. 84(4): 463-7, 2000.<br /> This double blind, randomized controlled clinical trial compared the use of acupressure (P6 point) or placebo to control post-operative nausea and vomiting in 94 patients undergoing Caesarean section. The use of acupressure reduced the incidence of nausea or vomiting from 53%to 36% compared with placebo during the operation and from 66% to 36% after the operation.</p> <p>Harmon D, Gardiner J, Harrison R, et al. Acupressure and the prevention of nausea and vomiting after laparoscopy. British Journal of Anaesthesia. 82(3): 387-90, 1999.<br /> In this double blind, randomized controlled clinical trial, the efficacy of acupressure at the P6 point was compared to placebo in 104 patients undergoing laparoscopy. The use of acupressure reduced the occurrence of nausea and vomiting from 42% to 19% compared with placebo within the first 24 hours after anaesthesia. </p> <p><b>Post-operative pain</b><br /> Felhendler D and Lisander B. Pressure on acupoints decreases postoperative pain. Clinical Journal of Pain. 12(4): 326-9, 1996.<br /> Forty patients undergoing knee arthroscopy were randomized to receive either acupressure or placebo stimulation 30 minutes after awakening from anesthesia. Pain was assessed before stimulation, after 30 and 60 minutes, and after 24 hours and a number of physiological measurements were recorded. Sixty minutes and 24 hours after stimulation, pain scores were lower in the acupressure group than in the placebo group, although there were no significant changes in physiological variables. Results indicated that acupressure can decrease postoperative pain.</p> <p><b>Sleep</b><br /> Chen ML, Lin LC, Wu SC, et al. The effectiveness of acupressure in improving the quality of sleep of institutionalized residents. Journal of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences & medical Sciences. 54(8): M389-94, 1999.<br /> Eighty four subjects with sleep disturbance as measured on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire were randomly assigned to an acupressure group, a sham acupressure group, and a control group (conversation only). The study confirmed the effectiveness of acupressure in improving the quality of sleep of elderly people including frequency of nocturnal awakening and night wakeful time, sleep duration, and latency.</p> </p> <a href='#head' target='_self' class='disclaimer'>Top</a> <p class="timestamp">Content last modified on May 26, 2004</p> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="../images/bg_curve.gif" width="60" height="300" align="right" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> <td bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> <td bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="200" border="0" alt=""></td> </tr>  <tr> <td width="149" bgcolor="ffffff"> </td> <td colspan="2" bgcolor="ffffff"> <p> </p> <p class="copyright">©2002 Center for Health and Healing</p> </td> </tr> </table> </body> </html>