An acupressure band is a soft, sometimes stretchy, band worn on specific acupressure points on the body to relieve certain health problems. The most common use for an acupressure band is to relieve nausea. There also are bands created specifically to relieve hay fever and other allergy symptoms. Some advantages of acupressure bands are that they are typically easy to use, they are relatively inexpensive compared to some other therapies, and they do not require the use of any drugs to relieve symptoms.
Acupressure is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Derived from acupuncture, it utilizes the pressure of one’s fingers or hands rather than needles. According to TCM practitioners, there are 14 channels, or meridians, that carry energy throughout the body. Along these channels lie a number of points that signify different body parts. When the flow of energy is blocked or weak in a certain area, pressure is applied to the points that correspond to the trouble spots.
The bands created for nausea relief, for example, are worn on the wrists, creating light pressure on the acupressure point associated with the stomach and digestive system. Motion sickness is just one of several conditions that can cause nausea. Someone suffering from motion sickness could benefit from using an acupressure band, which may help prevent nausea during car, train, boat, or plane rides.
Acupressure bands may help with other conditions besides motion sickness as well. Morning sickness is another nausea-producing condition, commonly affecting at least half of all pregnant women. It can range in seriousness from mild discomfort to nearly debilitating nausea. Women usually are discouraged from taking unnecessary drugs during pregnancy, so a nausea relief acupressure band may be a preferable option. An acupressure band may also relieve the nausea associated with anesthesia or chemotherapy treatments.
Acupressure also has been reported to lessen the effects of seasonal allergies. A hay fever acupressure band is typically worn just below the elbow joint to alleviate hay fever symptoms, including headache, stuffy or runny nose, and itching in the eyes, nose, or throat. For many people, natural remedies are becoming preferable to drugs for treating hay fever and other allergies.
Because TCM and acupressure are generally considered alternative medicine, they do not yet have numerous scientific studies available to back up their claims of effectiveness. Yet many medical professionals support their patients’ use of acupressure, encouraging them to see trained practitioners or to try it themselves at home. The acupressure band is one such example of a do-it-yourself home remedy.
If not worn properly on the pressure points, acupressure bands might not be effective. Used properly, however, the acupressure band may relieve symptoms. The bands can often be purchased without a prescription at most pharmacies, supermarkets, and other retail centers. Consumers also can buy them online from drug and retail stores, and from various manufacturers’ websites.