Acupressure Points in Chinese Medicine: Tradition and Evidence
How Chinese medicine explains acupressure points, and what trials and reviews found for nausea, labor pain, cancer pain and sleep, with safety limits and who should check first.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What acupressure is, and where "points" come from
Acupressure means pressing on parts of the body, usually with fingers, thumbs or a wrist band, instead of using needles. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the places that are pressed are called acupuncture points or acupoints. Practitioners describe them as lying along channels, often called meridians, through which qi is said to move. Those are traditional frameworks: they are how the tradition explains the practice, not measured structures in the body. See qi, meridians and other traditional concepts and traditional frameworks vs biomedical explanations.This page covers the Chinese-medicine side of acupressure. The main guide to the technique and its research is Acupressure: What It Is and What Research Shows, and Acupuncture vs Acupressure compares the two. A review of Shiatsu and acupressure describes both as finger pressure applied along the meridians of TCM. [1]
What research measured
Trials do not test meridians. They test a specific press, band or technique at a named point, against sham treatment, usual care or medicine, and measure outcomes such as nausea or pain.| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Nausea and vomiting after surgery | A 2025 Cochrane network meta-analysis (77 trials, 9,847 people) of stimulating the PC6 point on the inner wrist, by needle or non-invasive means such as wristbands, found that non-invasive PC6 stimulation may reduce nausea compared with sham (RR 0.67) and vomiting (RR 0.58), with low confidence. [2] | Promising but limited: low confidence |
| Nausea in early pregnancy | The NHS says there is some evidence that pressure on the wrist, a band or finger pressure may relieve symptoms. [3] | Promising but limited |
| Chemotherapy nausea | A review of 14 studies (10 trials, 4 reviews) of P6 and ear acupressure judged it an effective add-on, and said standard guidelines were still needed. [4] | Promising but limited |
| Labor pain | A review of 13 trials (1,586 women) found less pain with acupressure than with sham or usual care alone and, against untreated groups, a shorter first and second stage of labor. The authors called the evidence moderate and asked for better trials. [5] | Promising but limited |
| Cancer pain | A meta-analysis of 17 trials found acupuncture and/or acupressure was linked to less pain and less analgesic use, at moderate evidence level. It combines needles and pressure, so it cannot isolate acupressure. [6] | Promising but limited |
| Sleep, stress, other conditions | A broader review found acupressure may help pain, nausea and sleep (for example in older people in care homes). Evidence for stress, anxiety and others was variable or poor. [1] | Mixed to insufficient |
Finding a trained practitioner
Pressure points are used by acupuncturists, TCM practitioners, massage therapists and Shiatsu practitioners, and rules differ by country. In England, the NHS says other complementary therapists do not need to be registered by law and advises choosing someone registered with a professional body accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. [7] For the US, see NCCAOM certification and state licensing and how to choose a TCM practitioner. This page does not list practitioners.Related pages
TCM for nausea and chemotherapy side effects, TCM evidence by use, Tui Na and Shiatsu and related bodywork.Frequently asked questions
Is acupressure the same as acupuncture?
No. Acupuncture uses needles; acupressure uses pressure from fingers, thumbs or devices such as wristbands. The Cochrane review above pooled both when it tested the PC6 point, so its result is not for acupressure alone. [2]
Does acupressure work for nausea?
It may help some people. The Cochrane review found that non-invasive PC6 stimulation may reduce post-surgery nausea compared with sham treatment, but with low confidence. [2] The NHS says there is some evidence for morning sickness. [3]
Do acupressure points and meridians physically exist?
Meridians are a traditional way of describing the body and have not been shown to be separate structures. Trials test whether pressing at a chosen place changes symptoms, not whether meridians exist.
Is acupressure safe in pregnancy?
The NHS lists it as something to try for morning sickness, but pregnancy is a reason to talk with your midwife or doctor first. [3] Labor trials reported no adverse events, though few studies measured them. [5]
Can acupressure replace my medicine?
No. Do not stop or change prescribed medicine for nausea, pain or cancer care. Studies tested acupressure as an add-on or against sham, not as a replacement. [6]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
How to read these results
Safety
Check with a clinician or midwife first if you are pregnant, have a bleeding disorder, take blood-thinning medicine, or have broken, infected or fragile skin. The NHS lists blood thinners and skin conditions among the reasons acupuncture may not be safe, and a practitioner should ask the same questions before pressing. [7] Do not delay care for severe vomiting, dehydration, severe pain or labor concerns: the NHS lists signs such as being unable to keep fluids down for 24 hours. [3]
References
- Robinson N et al. The evidence for Shiatsu: a systematic review of Shiatsu and acupressure. BMC Complement Altern Med (2011). PubMed record. Read 2026-10-22.
- Lee A et al. Stimulation of the wrist acupuncture point PC6 for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting: a network meta-analysis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2025). PubMed record. Read 2026-10-22.
- NHS. Vomiting and morning sickness. Read 2026-10-22.
- Alhusamiah B et al. The Effectiveness of P6 and Auricular Acupressure as a Complimentary Therapy in Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting Among Patients With Cancer: Systematic Review. Integr Cancer Ther (2024). PubMed record. Read 2026-10-22.
- Chen Y et al. Acupressure for labor pain management: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Acupunct Med (2021). PubMed record. Read 2026-10-22.
- He Y et al. Clinical Evidence for Association of Acupuncture and Acupressure With Improved Cancer Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Oncol (2020). PubMed record. Read 2026-10-22.
- NHS. Herbal medicines and complementary therapies. Read 2026-10-22.