P6 acupressure reduces symptoms of vection-induced motion sickness

Aviat Space Environ Med. 1995 Jul;66(7):631-4.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of P6 acupressure on nausea associated with visually-induced motion sickness.

Method: There were 64 subjects randomly divided into 4 groups: P6 acupressure, dummy-point acupressure, sham P6 acupressure, and control. Each subject sat in an optokinetic drum for a 12-min baseline and 12-min drum rotation period. Subjects' electrogastrograms (EGG's) and subjective symptoms of motion sickness were obtained.

Results: The results indicated that the subjects in the P6 acupressure group reported significantly less nausea [F(3,60) = 8.16, p < 0.0001] during drum rotation period than those in the dummy-point acupressure, sham acupressure, and control groups. The scores for symptoms of motion sickness of the P6 acupressure group were significantly lower than those in the sham acupressure and control groups [F(3,60) = 3.49, p < 0.02]. Also, the subjects in the P6 acupressure group showed significantly less abnormal gastric myoelectric activity, tachyarrhythmia, than those in the sham acupressure and control groups [F(3,60) = 2.78, p < 0.04]. However, the subjects in the dummy-point acupressure group did not report significantly fewer symptoms and show less tachyarrhythmia than those in the sham acupressure and control groups.

Conclusion: We conclude that P6 acupressure reduces the severity of symptoms of visually-induced motion sickness and gastric tachyarrhythmia.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Acupuncture Points*
  • Acupuncture Therapy / methods*
  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Electromyography
  • Female
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Humans
  • Kinesthesis*
  • Male
  • Motion Perception*
  • Motion Sickness / complications
  • Motion Sickness / prevention & control*
  • Nausea / etiology
  • Nausea / prevention & control
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Stomach / physiopathology