• Joseph A Roscoe, Gary R Morrow, Peter Bushunow, Lili Tian, and Sara Matteson.
• University of Rochester Cancer Center, NY, USA.
• Altern Ther Health Med. 2002 Jul 1; 8 (4): 56-7, 59-63.

ContextSubstantial evidence suggests that acupuncture-point stimulation may be effective in controlling side effects of chemotherapy.ObjectiveTo examine the efficacy of an acustimulation wristband for the relief of chemotherapy-induced nausea.DesignRandomized clinical trial using a 3-level crossover design.SettingThree outpatient oncology clinics in the northeastern United States.ParticipantsTwenty-five women and 2 men who experienced moderate or more severe nausea following their first chemotherapy treatment.InterventionWe compared active acustimulation of the Pericardium 6 (PC-6) point on the ventral surface of the wrist with sham acustimulation (a corresponding point on the posterior surface of the wrist). A control group received no acustimulation.Outcome MeasuresSeverity of nausea and quantity of antiemetic medication used.ResultsNo statistically significant differences in average severity of nausea were observed between the 3 interventions. However, the data showed a difference close to statistical significance in the severity of delayed nausea reported during active acustimulation compared to no acustimulation (P <.06). In addition, patients took fewer antinausea pills during the active-acustimulation cycle of this experiment compared to the no-acustimulation phase (P < .05).ConclusionFindings on the efficacy of an acustimulation band for the control of chemotherapy-induced nausea are positive but not conclusive. These findings provide ample justification for further study of acustimulation in clinical oncology.

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