Acupuncture for Nausea and Morning Sickness in Denver

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Design

Clinical practice guidelines from the Society for Integrative Oncology on integrative therapies during and after breast cancer treatment, covering anxiety, depression, fatigue, quality of life, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, lymphedema, neuropathy, pain and sleep. They are based on a systematic literature review from 1990 through 2015.

Result

Acupressure and acupuncture are recommended for reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. The guideline also recommends several mind-body therapies for anxiety, mood and quality of life.

Limit

The authors say evidence for such therapies in oncology is limited and many practices remain understudied. The literature review ended in 2015, so newer trials are not included.

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Design

Network meta-analysis of randomized trials of PC6 wrist point stimulation, with needles or without (such as wristbands), compared with imitation stimulation and with anti-nausea drugs. Searched to June 2025.

Result

Compared with imitation stimulation, needle-type PC6 stimulation may reduce nausea (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.64) and vomiting (RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.64). Noninvasive stimulation gave RR 0.67 for nausea and 0.58 for vomiting.

Limit

Confidence was low for most results, and the authors noted a high risk of bias, mainly from selective reporting.

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Design

Blind randomized trial at six hospitals in China. Patients having chemotherapy that commonly causes vomiting received true electroacupuncture (120 people) or imitation electroacupuncture (119 people), and both groups received the usual three-drug anti-nausea treatment.

Result

Complete protection within 120 hours rose from 34.5% to 52.9% (p = 0.004). No significant nausea was reported by 58.8% with true electroacupuncture, versus 37.9% with the control treatment (p = 0.001).

Limit

Vomiting was similar in both groups (p = 0.622), so the benefit was mainly for nausea.

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Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials comparing acupuncture with imitation acupuncture or usual care to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Eight databases were searched, and 38 trials with 2,503 patients were evaluated. The main outcome was complete control (no vomiting and/or no more than mild nausea).

Result

Compared with usual care only, acupuncture added to usual care may increase complete control of acute vomiting (RR 1.13, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.25; 10 studies) and delayed vomiting (RR 1.47, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.00; 10 studies). No effects were found for all other review outcomes.

Limit

The certainty of evidence was generally low or very low, and the authors call for larger, well-designed trials with standardized treatment regimens.

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Design

Review of randomized trials of any treatment for nausea, vomiting and retching up to 20 weeks of pregnancy, including acupressure, acupuncture, ginger, vitamin B6 and drugs. It excluded severe vomiting (hyperemesis gravidarum).

Result

Acupuncture (P6 or traditional) showed no significant benefit. Evidence for P6 acupressure, ear acupressure and P6 electrical stimulation was limited.

Limit

The authors found a lack of high-quality evidence for any treatment. They noted this is not the same as saying the treatments are ineffective.

For some kinds of nausea the research is encouraging. A cancer care guideline recommends acupressure and acupuncture for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. In a 2024 trial of 239 breast cancer patients, 52.9% who received electroacupuncture had complete protection (no vomiting, no rescue medicine and no significant nausea for 5 days), versus 34.5% in the control group. A 2025 Cochrane review found that stimulating the PC6 wrist point may reduce nausea after surgery. For morning sickness the evidence is weaker, and results vary.

The two chemotherapy trials that stated a schedule gave 6 sessions over 5 days and 3 sessions over the first 2 days of chemotherapy. The other studies I reviewed do not state a number of sessions, so I will not quote one. I plan a short course. We check in after the first visit or two, and if your nausea has not changed, I will tell you.

Yes, and that is how the research tested it. In the 2024 chemotherapy trial, both groups received the usual three-drug anti-nausea treatment, and electroacupuncture was added on top. Acupuncture does not replace your medicine. Keep taking it as your doctor prescribed, and tell your oncology team or surgeon that you are having acupuncture.

Possibly, but the evidence is limited. The 2015 Cochrane review of 41 trials and 5,449 women found no clear benefit from acupuncture in early pregnancy, and evidence for wrist acupressure was limited. Please talk with your OB or midwife first, and we can coordinate your care. I cannot promise results.

See your doctor first for vomiting that is severe or will not stop, being unable to keep fluids down, signs of dehydration such as dark urine, dizziness or very little urinating, blood in your vomit, severe belly pain, fever, or a new severe headache. Any pregnancy with heavy vomiting needs your OB or midwife promptly, and please check with them before starting acupuncture. If you are in chemotherapy, tell your oncology team about nausea your medicine is not controlling. If you have any of these symptoms and have not already told your doctor, please let them know.

At The Subtle Point a 90-minute first visit is $150 and follow-ups are $60 for 30 minutes of acupuncture, $95 for 60 minutes of acupuncture with Tuina massage, or $130 for 90 minutes of acupuncture with Tuina massage and cupping. HSA and FSA cards work, and you receive a superbill for your insurer.

Rarely, and never the way an injection does. Acupuncture needles are about the width of a human hair. Most people feel a brief tap, then a dull, heavy or warm sensation that fades in a few seconds. If any point feels sharp, tell me and I will adjust or remove it.