Acupuncture for Postoperative Nausea and Other Uses
Evidence for acupuncture and wrist-point stimulation for postoperative nausea, plus a plain check of claims for anxiety, sleep, fertility, weight loss and allergies.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
How to read this page
Acupuncture has been studied for at least 50 health problems besides pain. [1] Strength of evidence differs a lot between them, so each use is labeled separately. See what is acupuncture for how sham-controlled trials are read.Postoperative nausea and vomiting
A Cochrane review of 59 trials (7,667 people) tested stimulation of the wrist point called PC6 to prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery. Methods included acupuncture, electroacupuncture, acupressure, devices and laser. [2]- Compared with sham, nausea fell (risk ratio 0.68) and vomiting fell (0.60). The review rated this evidence low quality, mainly because trials varied and had limitations.
- Compared with six anti-sickness drugs, there was no difference (moderate-quality evidence).
- Side effects were minor and short-lived, such as skin irritation and redness.
Label: promising but limited. MedlinePlus states that research has shown acupuncture reduces nausea and vomiting after surgery and chemotherapy. [3] For chemotherapy nausea, NCCIH adds that agreement rests largely on research done before current anti-sickness treatment, so it is uncertain whether acupuncture helps on top of today's standard care. [1] Do not skip prescribed anti-sickness medicine. For pregnancy nausea, see the FAQ below and acupressure for wrist pressure.
Other uses
| Use | What the sources found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Seasonal allergies | A 2015 review of 13 studies (2,365 people) found acupuncture may relieve nasal symptoms | Promising but limited [1] |
| Anxiety (generalized anxiety disorder) | A review of 20 trials found a benefit over controls, but 18 were published in Chinese and the authors asked for better trials | Insufficient evidence [4] |
| Sleep (insomnia) | 24 trials compared acupuncture with drugs or sham; the pooled comparison with drugs showed improvement after 3 or more weeks | Insufficient evidence; drug comparison only [5] |
| Fertility (IVF) | Six studies (2,507 people): no difference between acupuncture and sham in pregnancy or live birth | No good evidence of benefit [1] |
| Weight loss | Acupuncture alone was not more effective than sham or no treatment; with lifestyle changes it did better in some analyses | Insufficient evidence [6] |
| Smoking cessation | The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force made no recommendation because evidence was limited | Insufficient evidence [1] |
- Hot flashes. A 2018 analysis found acupuncture better than no acupuncture, but not better than sham. [1]
- Depression. A 2018 review of 64 studies suggested a moderate reduction, but most studies were of low or very low quality. [1]
- Irritable bowel syndrome. A 2019 review of 41 studies found no better result than sham. [1]
For pain conditions see back and neck pain, knee osteoarthritis and migraine and headache.
Safety and care first
Acupuncture should not replace medical care for anxiety, insomnia, infertility or other conditions that need assessment. Do not use acupuncture to postpone seeing a health care provider. [1] See side effects and precautions.Frequently asked questions
Does acupuncture help with nausea after surgery?
Stimulation of the PC6 wrist point reduced nausea and vomiting compared with sham in a Cochrane review, with low-quality evidence. [2]
Does acupuncture help nausea in pregnancy?
A 2024 meta-analysis of 24 trials (2,390 women) found acupuncture added to usual medicine lowered nausea and vomiting scores compared with medicine alone, but results varied widely between studies. [7] Speak with your midwife or doctor first.
Does acupuncture help with fertility or IVF?
In a 2021 review of six studies, acupuncture and sham gave the same pregnancy and live birth rates. [1]
Does acupuncture help with weight loss?
Acupuncture alone did not beat sham in one review. [6]
References
- NCCIH, Acupuncture: Effectiveness and Safety. Read 2026-10-22.
- Lee A, et al. Stimulation of the wrist acupuncture point PC6 for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(11):CD003281. PubMed 26522652 Read 2026-10-22.
- MedlinePlus, Acupuncture. Read 2026-10-22.
- Yang XY, et al. Effectiveness of acupuncture on anxiety disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2021;20:9. PubMed 33516258 Read 2026-10-22.
- Kim SA, et al. Efficacy of acupuncture for insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Chin Med. 2021;49(5):1135-1150. PubMed 34049475 Read 2026-10-22.
- Kim SY, et al. Effect of acupuncture and intervention types on weight loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2018;19(11):1585-1596. PubMed 30180304 Read 2026-10-22.
- Jin B, et al. Acupuncture for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2024;85:103079. PubMed 39214380 Read 2026-10-22.