Pericardium 6 (Neiguan, PC6): The Wrist Point Studied for Nausea
Pericardium 6 (Neiguan, PC6) is a wrist point in acupuncture and acupressure. See where it is described, what Cochrane reviews found for nausea, and the cautions.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What this page covers
Pericardium 6, also written PC6 or P6 and known by its Chinese name Neiguan, is one of the most studied points in acupuncture research. This page is information only. It does not tell you to press, needle or stimulate any point to treat a symptom. For how points are named and numbered, see Acupuncture Points Explained.
If you have vomiting that will not stop, severe pain, chest pain or trouble breathing, get medical care first (in the United States, call 911). Acupuncture should not be used to postpone seeing a health care provider about a health problem.[1]
Traditional description
In the traditional framework, PC6 belongs to the Pericardium channel, one of the twelve main channels (see Meridians and Channels in Acupuncture). Channels and points are traditional ideas about how the body is organized. They are not anatomical structures that scientists have confirmed, and the research below tests specific techniques, not the traditional map.
Standard descriptions place PC6 on the palm side of the forearm, a short distance above the wrist crease, between two tendons.[2] The WHO naming system is explained on Standardized Point Names.
What research has looked at
Nearly all the research on PC6 asks one question: can stimulating this point reduce nausea and vomiting after surgery? Studies used many methods, including needle acupuncture, electrical stimulation and acupressure wristbands.[3]
| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| PC6 stimulation vs sham, after surgery (2015 Cochrane review, 59 trials, 7,667 people) | Less nausea and vomiting than sham.[4] | Low quality: trials differed a lot and had limitations.[4] |
| PC6 vs anti-sickness drugs (same review) | No difference from the drugs tested.[4] | Moderate quality.[4] |
| 2025 Cochrane network update (77 trials, 9,847 people) | Needle-based and non-needle PC6 stimulation each may reduce nausea compared with sham (for example, non-needle risk ratio 0.67).[3] | Low confidence.[3] |
| Chemotherapy-related nausea (49 trials, acupuncture) | Less vomiting and nausea than comparison groups, but PC6 was used together with other points such as ST36, so the point itself cannot be separated out.[5] | Promising but limited; authors call for better trials.[5] |
Three points about how to read this. First, the 2025 review found no serious or long-term complications in the included trials, and minor effects such as skin irritation were reported in many.[3] Second, the review was partly funded by a bursary from the US National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.[3] Third, sham comparisons help separate the point from expectation, but they are imperfect. See Sham Acupuncture and Placebo Controls.
Overall label: promising but limited for postoperative nausea, with low-quality evidence against sham and moderate-quality evidence that it performed similarly to the antiemetic drugs tested.[4]
Chemotherapy and cancer care
NCCIH says experts generally agree acupuncture helps with treatment-related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients, but this rests mainly on research from before current anti-sickness guidelines, and it is uncertain whether it helps on top of today's standard treatments.[1] A 2026 review of acupressure in breast cancer found benefit as an add-on to anti-sickness drugs, especially in the delayed phase, but acupressure alone was not better than the drugs for most outcomes.[6] Anyone in cancer treatment should talk with their oncology team first. See Acupuncture for Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting.
Qualified practitioners
Most US states license acupuncturists, and requirements vary by state.[1] Rules in other countries differ; see Acupuncture Practitioner Licensing and Training.
Frequently asked questions
What is PC6 or Neiguan?
It is a point named in the traditional Pericardium channel, described on the inner forearm above the wrist crease between two tendons.[2] It is a traditional label, not a separate organ or structure.
Does PC6 stimulation prevent nausea after surgery?
A Cochrane review found low-quality evidence of less nausea and vomiting than sham, and moderate-quality evidence of no difference from the antiemetic drugs tested.[4] A 2025 update reached similar, low-confidence conclusions for several techniques.[3]
Does it help with chemotherapy nausea?
Reviews are encouraging as an add-on to standard medicines, but the evidence is limited and mixes several points and methods.[5][6] Ask your oncology team.
Is it safe?
In the Cochrane trials, serious complications were not reported and minor skin effects were.[3] Needle acupuncture itself has documented serious risks when poorly delivered.[1]
Can a wristband or needle replace anti-sickness medicine?
Do not stop or change medicine on the basis of this page. In the 2015 review PC6 stimulation matched the drugs tested in trials, but that does not mean you should substitute it; talk with your care team.[4]
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.
Cautions
Needle acupuncture can cause serious harm when not delivered properly, including infections, punctured organs and injury to the central nervous system.[1] The NHS says acupuncture may not be safe if you take blood thinning medicine or are at increased risk of bleeding, or have a skin condition or infection.[7] More detail is in Acupuncture Side Effects and Precautions. Do not try needling at home.
Related pages: Acupressure Wristbands for Nausea, Acupuncture and Acupressure for Postoperative Nausea and Morning Sickness and Acupressure.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), Acupuncture: Effectiveness and Safety. Read 2026-10-22.
- Efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation to assist bowel cleansing: study protocol. Front Med (Lausanne) 2026 (cited only for the standard description of where PC6 is located). Read 2026-10-22.
- Lee A, Zhang JZ, Xie J, et al. Stimulation of the wrist acupuncture point PC6 for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting: a network meta-analysis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2025. Read 2026-10-22.
- Lee A, Chan SK, Fan LT. Stimulation of the wrist acupuncture point PC6 for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015. Read 2026-10-22.
- Chen J, Xu F, Zhang L, et al. Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial. Front Neurol 2026. Read 2026-10-22.
- Quan XM, Wang WY, He ZY, et al. Clinical evidence of acupressure for improving chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med 2026. Read 2026-10-22.
- NHS, Herbal medicines and complementary therapies. Read 2026-10-22.