Acupressure is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practice that involves treating blocked energy, or qi, by applying manual pressure to specific points on the body. It is similar to acupuncture, except that it uses fingertip pressure instead of needles.

By improving energy flow, acupressure is said to help with a range of conditions, from motion sickness to headache to muscle pain.Although some medical studies have suggested that acupressure may be effective at helping manage nausea and vomiting, insomnia, low back pain, migraines, constipation, among other things, such studies have been found to have a high likelihood of bias.There is no reliable evidence for the effectiveness of acupressure.

Benefits of Acupressure

Few studies have looked at the effectiveness of acupressure, but there is some evidence that suggests it may help.

In a 2017 study, researchers looked at the effects of acupressure on pain and anxiety. Subjects were athletes with a sports injury. On the day of the injury, researchers treated the subjects with one of the following or gave them no acupressure at all:

Three minutes of acupressure

Three minutes of a placebo treatment (sham acupressure applied to a false pressure point)

The study concluded that acupressure reduced pain compared to the sham treatment or no acupressure. There was no change in anxiety.4A 2017 review analyzed the results of three trials in chemotherapy patients. Researchers found that acupressure performed with fingers or an acupressure wristband decreased nausea, vomiting, and retching.5

While these are promising results, another 2017 review of 22 clinical trials on acupuncture or acupressure for the induction of labor found no clear benefit.

uses-Most people try acupressure to manage a condition, such as:

Insomnia

Stress management

Headache

Menstrual cramps

Motion sickness

Muscle tension and pain3

Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and morning sickness

Nausea and vomiting after surgery or chemotherapy

Cancer-related and other forms of fatigue