Acupuncture for Nausea and Vomiting in Tampa and St. Petersburg

Acupuncture has been used often to assuage nausea and vomiting in a variety of illnesses. The use of specific acupuncture points or a combination of points have been shown to prevent, minimize, or stop nausea and vomiting. The National Institutes of Health (1997) stated that “Promising results have emerged showing efficacy of acupuncture in adult post-operative patients as well as chemo-therapy related nausea and vomiting.” (The Cochrane Review, published in the Cochrane Library 2010, Issue 1)

The results of several randomized, blind studies were published in the Science Daily, April 6, 2009 showing that the use of one specific acupuncture point (P-6) could also be an effective, non-invasive treatment for morning sickness in early pregnancy. One of the doctors participating in the studies explained that stimulating just this one point signals the brain to release neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins which block the other chemicals that cause the nausea and vomiting.

In Chinese Medicine, when a woman becomes pregnant, the vital substances of her body are collected together to form the new life. This change often causes a disruption of the blood and qi of the body, leading to “rebellious Stomach” causing nausea or vomiting.

Although many clinical studies have been done using only one point, in actual Chinese clinical practice, the acupuncturist will use multiple points according to the individual’s specific presentation of symptoms. The combination of points, are much more effective than a single point for each person since they are customized to the person’s needs.

The best advantage about using acupuncture for any of these purposes is that it can be used with anti-nausea medicines without interrupting their effects, thereby assisting in the management of these symptoms.

To schedule your acupuncture appointment in the offices of Anne Hermann, M.D.,PA. in Tampa, Clearwater or St. Petersburg, FL, call (813) 902-9559.

This post was written by Anne Hermann. Follow Anne Hermann on Google, Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin.