Chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting
Dibble SL, Luce J, Cooper BA, et al. Acupressure for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a randomized clinical trial. Oncology Nursing Forum. 34(4):813-20, 2007.
160 women who were beginning their second or third cycle of chemotherapy for breast cancer treatment and had moderate nausea intensity scores with their previous cycles were randomized to one of three groups: acupressure to P6 point (active), acupressure to SI3 point (placebo), or usual care only. Subjects in the acupressure group were taught to apply an acupressure wrist device. No significant differences were found in acute nausea or vomiting by treatment group. With delayed nausea and vomiting, the acupressure group had a statistically significant reduction in the amount of vomiting and the intensity of nausea over time when compared with the placebo and usual-care groups. Acupressure at the P6 point is a value-added technique in addition to pharmaceutical management for women undergoing treatment for breast cancer to reduce the amount and intensity of delayed nausea and vomiting.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Maa SH, Gauthier D, Turner M. “Acupressure as an adjunct to a pulmonary rehabilitation program.” Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation. 17(4):268-76, 1997.
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.

Glaucoma
Her JS, Liu PL, Cheng NC, et al. Intraocular pressure-lowering effect of auricular acupressure in patients with glaucoma: a prospective, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. J Altern Complement Med. 16(11):1177-84, 2010.
Thirty-three patients with glaucoma received either acupoint stimulator tapping and regular massage twice a day for 4 weeks or tapping at sham auricular acupoints
without massage stimulation (control). After the treatment and at the 8-week follow-up, intraocular pressure (IOP)and visual acuity improved significantly in the acupressure group when compared with pretreatment. The most significant IOP-lowering effect was seen at about 3-4 weeks after auricular acupressure. IOP returned to the initial level after acupressure had been discontinued for 4 weeks. Results suggest that auricular acupressure is an effective complementary therapy in improving intraocular pressure and visual acuity for patients with glaucoma.

Insomnia in the elderly
Sun JL, Sung MS, Huang MY, Cheng GC, Lin CC.Effectiveness of acupressure for residents of long-term care facilities with
insomnia: a randomized controlled trial.Int J Nurs Stud. 47(7):798-805, 2010.
This study evaluated the effectiveness of acupressure on the Shenmen point for residents of long-term care facilities with insomnia. Fifty residents with insomnia in long-term care facilities were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial, with 25 participants allocated to the experimental group and 25 participants to the control group. For a 5-week period, the experimental group received standard acupressure on the HT7 points of both wrists, whereas the control group received only light touch on the same places. The experimental group had significantly better scores than the control group, not only during the intervention period, but also extending after intervention. Offering acupressure on a regular basis has the potential to improve insomnia in residents of long-term care facilities. Acupressure on the HT7 point may improve insomnia for up to 2 weeks after the intervention.

Labor pain
Hjelmstedt A, Shenoy ST, Stener-Victorin E, et al. Acupressure to reduce labor pain: a randomized controlled trial. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 89(11):1453-9, 2010.
Seventy-one women were randomized to receive acupressure at acupuncture point spleen 6 (SP6) on both legs during contractions over a 30-minute period (acupressure group), 71 women to receive light touch at SP6 on both legs during the same period of time (touch group) and 70 women to receive standard care (standard care group). A reduction of in-labor pain was found in the acupressure group and was most noticeable immediately after treatment. Acupressure seems to reduce pain during the active phase of labor in women giving birth in a context in which social support and epidural analgesia were not available. However, the treatment effect is small which suggests that acupressure may be most effective during the initial phase of labor.

Low back pain
Suen LK, Wong TK, Chung JW, and Yip VY. Auriculotherapy on low back pain in the elderly. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 13(1):63-9, 2007.
This study examined the effectiveness of auriculotherapy using magnetic pellets for the elderly with low back pain. Sixty participants were randomly allocated to receive auriculotherapy on a 3-week basis using either control or magnetic pellets. Seven auricular acupoints that are believed to have an effect on low back pain were selected. The experimental group experienced a significant improvement in pain relief when compared with the control group; and the therapeutic effects were sustained at 2 and 4-week follow-up periods after the therapy. Findings of this study demonstrated that auriculotherapy using magnetic pellets significantly reduced the pain intensity level of the elderly suffering from non-specific low back pain.

Menstrual Symptoms
Wang MC. Hsu MC. Chien LW. Kao CH. Liu CF. Effects of auricular acupressure on menstrual symptoms and nitric oxide for women with primary dysmenorrhea. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine. 15(3):235-42, 2009.
This randomized clinical trial compared the effects of auricular acupressure by seed-pressure method and placebo adhesive patch. Thirty six college females were randomized to acupressure group, 35 to control group. In the acupressure group, the overall menstrual symptoms, menstrual pain and negative affects measures revealed that menstrual symptoms decreased significantly after auricular acupressure by the seed-pressure method. This offers a noninvasive complementary therapy for women with primary dysmenorrhea.

Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy
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.
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.

Post-operative nausea and vomiting
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.
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.

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.
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.

Post-operative pain
Felhendler D and Lisander B. “Pressure on acupoints decreases postoperative pain.” Clinical Journal of Pain. 12(4): 326-9, 1996.
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.

Schizophrenia
Lichtenberg P, Vass A, Ptaya H, et al. Shiatsu as an adjuvant therapy for schizophrenia: an open-label pilot study. Altern Ther Health Med. 15(5):44-6, 2009.
Twelve patients with chronic schizophrenia received eight 40-minute biweekly sessions of shiatsu treatment over 4 weeks. Patients were evaluated at baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks (end of treatment), and 12 weeks (follow-up). Assessment tools included the Clinical Global Impression, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and the Nurses’ Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation. Results suggest that shiatsu is effective in improving symptoms in patients with schizophrenia which was maintained at 12-week follow up. Further research is required due to small sample size.

Sleep
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.
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.

Content last modified on Jul 19, 2011