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Acupuncture and Acupressure for Postoperative Nausea and Morning Sickness: Evidence

What Cochrane reviews and other sources found for wrist-point acupuncture and acupressure for nausea after surgery and for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, with cautions.

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

Two different situations

Nausea after surgery and nausea in early pregnancy are different problems with different evidence, so they are reported separately here. Both research areas mostly test one wrist point called PC6 (Pericardium 6, Neiguan), described on its own page: Pericardium 6. Needle-free methods such as pressure or wristbands are also tested. This is information only.

After surgery

Antiemetic drugs are only partially effective in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting, which is why PC6 stimulation has been studied. [1]
  • 2015 Cochrane review (59 trials, 7,667 people). Compared with sham, PC6 stimulation reduced nausea (risk ratio 0.68), vomiting (0.60) and the need for rescue anti-sickness drugs (0.64). [2]
  • 2025 Cochrane network meta-analysis (77 trials, 9,847 people). Invasive PC6 (such as needle acupuncture) and noninvasive PC6 (such as wristbands) each may have reduced nausea and vomiting compared with sham, with low confidence. Combining invasive PC6 with antiemetics gave the largest estimated reduction in nausea (risk ratio 0.21) with moderate confidence, though this came from indirect comparisons only. [1]
  • Side effects. No included study reported serious or long-term complications. Minor effects such as skin irritation, redness and swelling were reported, but the evidence is very uncertain. [1]

Label: promising but limited. Many trials had a high risk of bias, mainly from selective reporting. [1] For a wristband guide see acupressure wristbands and nausea, and for the surgical setting more broadly see acupuncture after surgery.

Frequently asked questions

Does acupuncture prevent nausea after surgery?

It might. The 2025 Cochrane network meta-analysis of 77 trials found PC6 stimulation may have reduced nausea and vomiting compared with sham, mostly with low confidence. [1]

Do acupressure wristbands work for morning sickness?

Evidence is limited. The Cochrane review of 41 trials called evidence for P6 acupressure limited, and a 2023 analysis found no clear difference from placebo. [3] [4]

Is acupuncture safe in early pregnancy?

Reviews reported no significant difference in serious adverse events compared with medicine or sham, but check with your midwife or doctor first. [5]

Is wrist pressure harmful after surgery?

The 2025 review reported no serious complications, only minor skin irritation, redness or swelling, with very uncertain evidence. [1]

When is pregnancy sickness an emergency?

Severe pregnancy sickness can cause dehydration and may need hospital care, so contact your pregnancy care team rather than relying on acupressure. [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.

Morning sickness and nausea in pregnancy
  • Cochrane review (41 trials, 5,449 women). Evidence for P6 acupressure, ear acupressure and P6 stimulation devices was limited. Acupuncture (at P6 or by traditional points) showed no significant benefit. The reviewers added that this is not the same as saying treatments are ineffective, only that strong evidence is lacking. [3]
  • 2023 meta-analysis (33 trials). Acupuncture beat conventional medicine on effective rate (low-quality evidence). Acupressure beat conventional medicine on effective rate, but against placebo the difference was not clear (risk ratio 1.25, interval 0.94 to 1.65). [4]
  • 2024 meta-analysis (24 trials, 2,390 women). Acupuncture added to usual medicine lowered nausea scores compared with medicine alone, but results varied widely between studies and certainty ranged from moderate to very low. Serious adverse events did not differ significantly. [5]

Label: mixed. Comparing acupuncture with conventional medicine, or adding it to medicine, cannot show a needle-specific effect, because patients know they are getting acupuncture. Sham-controlled and blinded evidence is thinner and less favorable.

The NHS says there is some evidence that pressure on the wrist, a special band or pressing with fingers may relieve symptoms. [6]

Ask your provider first in pregnancy
Talk to your midwife or doctor before trying acupuncture or acupressure in pregnancy. Some points are traditionally cautioned in pregnancy: see points commonly cautioned in pregnancy and acupuncture in pregnancy. Do not wait if symptoms are severe. The NHS notes a severe form of pregnancy sickness called hyperemesis gravidarum that can lead to dehydration or malnutrition and may need specialist treatment, sometimes in hospital. [6] Contact your pregnancy care team if you cannot keep fluids down.
General safety
Complications from acupuncture are relatively rare, but poorly delivered acupuncture can cause serious harm, including infection, punctured organs and nerve injury. [7] Blood-thinning medicine or a higher risk of bleeding can make acupuncture unsafe. [8] Seek an appropriately credentialed practitioner; see how to choose an acupuncturist.
References
  1. 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.
  2. Lee A, et al. Stimulation of the wrist acupuncture point PC6 for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015. PubMed 26522652 Read 2026-10-22.
  3. Matthews A, et al. Interventions for nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015. PubMed 26348534 Read 2026-10-22.
  4. The efficacy and safety of complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Public Health. 2023. PubMed 36969661 Read 2026-10-22.
  5. Jin B, et al. Acupuncture for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2024. PubMed 39214380 Read 2026-10-22.
  6. NHS, Vomiting and morning sickness. Read 2026-10-22.
  7. NCCIH, Acupuncture: Effectiveness and Safety. Read 2026-10-22.
  8. NHS, Herbal medicines and complementary therapies. 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.