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THERAPIES & TRADITIONS · GUIDE

Acupuncture for Postoperative Nausea and Other Uses

A plain overview of acupuncture and wrist-point stimulation for nausea, plus a map of other uses, with the strength of evidence for each and links to the detailed pages.

Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.

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Nausea and vomiting at a glance

Most nausea research tests stimulation of one wrist point called PC6 (also called Neiguan). It is described on its own page: Pericardium 6. PC6 can be stimulated with needles or without them, for example with pressure or a wristband.
3 findings · 2 supported · 1 mixedThe colour follows the evidence label on each card.

  1. After surgery

    Promising but limited

    A 2025 Cochrane network meta-analysis of 77 trials (9,847 people) found that PC6 stimulation, with or without needles, may reduce nausea and vomiting compared with sham, mostly with low confidence [2]

  2. After chemotherapy

    Promising but limited

    Reviews found added benefit for vomiting, but the certainty of evidence was low or very low [3]

  3. In pregnancy

    Mixed

    A Cochrane review found no significant benefit from acupuncture, and limited evidence for acupressure [4]

MedlinePlus states that research has shown acupuncture reduces nausea and vomiting after surgery and chemotherapy. [5] NCCIH adds that agreement on cancer treatment nausea rests mainly on research done before current guidelines for treating these symptoms, so it is uncertain whether acupuncture helps on top of today's standard treatment. [1]

Each of these has its own page: chemotherapy nausea and postoperative nausea and morning sickness. For wristbands, see acupressure wristbands and nausea. In one trial of 500 people having chemotherapy, real and sham wristbands did not differ significantly in nausea. [6]

Other uses, one line each

UseWhat the sources foundStrength of evidence
InsomniaA Cochrane review judged the evidence not rigorous enough to support or refute acupuncture [7]Insufficient evidence
Anxiety and depressionNCCIH reports limited evidence of reduced anxiety symptoms, with low study quality [8]. A Cochrane review of depression rated most evidence low or very low quality [9]Promising but limited
PTSD and stressA review of seven trials rated the evidence very low to low quality [10]Insufficient evidence
Hot flashesNo significant difference from sham in hot flush frequency in a Cochrane review [11]Mixed

Other uses covered elsewhere

  • Seasonal allergies. A 2015 evaluation of 13 studies (2,365 people) found evidence that acupuncture may help relieve nasal symptoms. [1] See allergies, asthma and sinus.
  • Asthma. Acupuncture may help symptoms and quality of life but has not been shown to improve lung function. [1]
  • Fertility and IVF. Six studies (2,507 people) found no difference in pregnancy or live birth between acupuncture and sham. [1] See fertility and IVF.
  • Weight loss. Acupuncture alone was not more effective than sham acupuncture or no treatment in a review of 27 trials. [12] See weight loss.
  • Smoking. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force made no recommendation on acupuncture for quitting smoking because evidence was limited. [1]
  • Bladder leakage. See bladder and incontinence.

For pain conditions, see back and neck pain, knee osteoarthritis and migraine and headache.

Frequently asked questions

Does acupuncture help nausea after surgery?

Possibly. A 2025 Cochrane network meta-analysis of 77 trials found that stimulating the PC6 wrist point may reduce nausea and vomiting compared with sham, but confidence in most results was low. [2]

Does acupuncture help with chemotherapy nausea?

Reviews point to a possible added benefit for vomiting, but the certainty of evidence was low or very low. [3] Keep taking the anti-sickness medicine your cancer team prescribes and ask them before trying acupuncture.

Does acupuncture help nausea in pregnancy?

A Cochrane review found that acupuncture showed no significant benefit in early pregnancy, while evidence for P6 acupressure was limited. [4] The NHS says there is some evidence that wrist pressure may relieve symptoms. [14] Talk to your midwife or doctor first.

Are wrist bands worth trying?

Evidence is mixed. In a 500-person chemotherapy trial, real and sham wristbands did not differ significantly. [6]

Does acupuncture help with fertility or weight loss?

In a review of six studies, acupuncture and sham gave the same pregnancy and live birth rates in IVF. [1] For weight loss, acupuncture alone did not beat sham in one review. [12]

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 this page
Acupuncture has been studied for at least 50 health problems besides pain. [1] The strength of evidence differs a lot from one problem to the next, so every use below carries its own label. Results from one condition should never be carried over to another. See what is acupuncture and sham acupuncture and placebo controls for how these trials are read. In many studies the benefit of acupuncture was greater against no treatment than against sham (fake) acupuncture, which suggests that expectation and other nonspecific effects play a part. [1]
Safety and care first
Do not use acupuncture to postpone seeing a health care provider about a health problem. [1] Acupuncture complications are relatively rare, but when it is not delivered properly it can cause serious adverse effects, including infections, punctured organs and injury to the central nervous system. [1] The NHS lists blood-thinning medicine and a higher risk of bleeding as reasons acupuncture may not be safe. [13] Read side effects and precautions before booking.
References
  1. NCCIH, Acupuncture: Effectiveness and Safety. Read 2026-10-22.
  2. 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 40938065 Read 2026-10-22.
  3. Acupuncture for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancer Med. 2023. PubMed 37226372 Read 2026-10-22.
  4. Matthews A, et al. Interventions for nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015. PubMed 26348534 Read 2026-10-22.
  5. MedlinePlus, Acupuncture. Read 2026-10-22.
  6. Molassiotis A, et al. The effectiveness of acupressure for the control and management of chemotherapy-related acute and delayed nausea: a randomized controlled trial. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2014. PubMed 23602325 Read 2026-10-22.
  7. Cheuk DKL, et al. Acupuncture for insomnia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012. PubMed 22972087 Read 2026-10-22.
  8. NCCIH, Anxiety and Complementary Health Approaches. Read 2026-10-22.
  9. Smith CA, et al. Acupuncture for depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018. PubMed 29502347 Read 2026-10-22.
  10. Acupuncture for the treatment of adults with posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Trauma Dissociation. 2018. PubMed 28151093 Read 2026-10-22.
  11. Dodin S, et al. Acupuncture for menopausal hot flushes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013. PubMed 23897589 Read 2026-10-22.
  12. Effect of acupuncture and intervention types on weight loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2018. PubMed 30180304 Read 2026-10-22.
  13. NHS, Herbal medicines and complementary therapies. Read 2026-10-22.
  14. NHS, Vomiting and morning sickness. Read 2026-10-22.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.