Directions for Using Anti-Nausea Wrist Bands

If you suffer from nausea from motion sickness, pregnancy or the side effects of chemotherapy medications, anti-nausea wristbands may help you reduce your symptoms without using over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription anti-nausea medication. Wristbands work by placing pressure on an acupressure point in the wrist thought to affect nausea. A hard plastic stud attached to the band stimulates the P6 acupressure point, reducing nausea in some people. Precise positioning of the band is important for best results.

Place the wristbands over the wrists with the plastic stud facing the inside of the wrists.

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Find the acupressure points on each wrist by applying three fingers across the wrist, beginning at the wrist crease at the bottom of the hand. This measurement will indicate the proper distance from the wrist crease.

Locate the two tendons that run parallel to each other in the wrist. The vertical tendons extend from the wrist crease downward. Find these tendons by tracing an imaginary line from your forefinger to your wrist. The bump of the wristband must be centered between these two tendons.

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Tighten the wristband on adjustable bands, until you feel a slight pressure on the acupressure spot. Some bands contain an adhesive to help the band remain in place. Press down on the band after tightening it, if it contains an adhesive. If you are using a flexible wristband, it will not be possible to tighten the band further.

Check the fit of the wristbands periodically. Tighten them as needed. Wristbands may loosen as you go about your normal activities.

Tips

Anti-nausea wristbands should be worn on both wrists for both results. Bands can be worn continuously or just when you feel you need them.

Making a fist will help the tendons in your wrist stand out and allow for easier placement of the wristbands.

Follow manufacturer’s instructions for washing. Many brands of bands can be washed by hand and air dried.

Wristbands can also be helpful for people who experience nausea after undergoing radiation therapy for cancer. A study conducted by J.A. Roscoe and others of the University of Rochester’s James P. Wilmot Cancer Center found that patients treated with standard care and acupressure bands reported a 23.8 percent decrease in nausea when compared with patients treated with standard care only. The study was published in the September 2009 edition of the “Journal of Pain Symptom Management.”

Warnings

Anti-nausea wristbands are not effective for everyone. If your symptoms do not improve after a few days of wearing the bands, try other methods or medications to handle your nausea.