Research on HG's short- and long-term effects is desperately needed and needed now. We need to do more to find a cure for this disease that has such devastating effects on a growing number of soon-to-be mothers.

Congressman Xavier Becerra (CA)

HG forces women to make difficult decisions... the H.E.R. web site is the most comprehensice location to educatte oneself to make the best decisions.

Marlena S. Fejzo, PhD USA

HG is a devastating illness and yet so little research has been undertaken into causes and therapies.

Dr. Matthes Seeling, MD

HG is a termendously debilitating disease that can have life long consequences. This Web site will provide much needed support to mothers suffering from this disease.

TM Goodwin, MD USA

HG has a devastating personal and family impact and effective management is most important.

Ron Taylor, MD UK

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Offsite Resources

Woodside Biomedical
Drug-free treatment for nausea and vomiting due to pregnancy (morning sickness), chemotherapy, motion sickness, and postoperative nausea as an adjunct to antiemetics.
Sea-band
Online store for acupressure products used for morning sickness and travel sickness.

Home | For Health Professionals | Treatments | Complementary & Alternative Medications | Acupuncture

Acupressure/Acupuncture

The classic acupuncture point for nausea and seasickness, called Pericardium 6 ("Nei Guan" in Chinese, which means "inner gate") is located in the middle of the inner wrist, three finger breadths away from the wrist crease, between the two tendons. Locate and press firmly, one wrist at a time, or get a friend to hold both for 3 minutes or so. "Seabands" are also available at drug stores (Eckerd, Longs, Osco, Rite Aid, Savon, CVS, Walmart) or online for treatment of nausea related to motion sickness. Some women find some relief with these as they put pressure on the P6 point. This may not have a great impact in women with more severe symptoms.

An acupuncturist can also identify other points that may be helpful. Response is very individual to all therapies.

Offsite Research:

The safety and effectiveness of antiemetic therapy for NVP.
Laura A. Magee, MD
Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy: State of the Art 2000 Conference

Manual acupuncture reduces hyperemesis gravidarum: a placebo-controlled, randomized, single-blind, crossover study.
Carlsson CP, Axemo P, Bodin A, Carstensen H, Ehrenroth B, Madegard-Lind I, Navander C.
Physical Medicine Unit, Department of Rehabilitation, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Journal of Pain & Symptom Management 2000 Oct;20(4):273-9

Hyperemesis gravidarum, severe vomiting, develops in about 1-2% of all pregnancies. Acupuncture on the point PC6 above the wrist on the palmar side has been found to prevent some types of nausea and vomiting. The purpose of the present study was to see if acupuncture, in addition to standard treatment, could hasten the improvement of hyperemesis gravidarum. Thirty-three women with hyperemesis were evaluated in a randomized, single-blind, crossover comparison of two methods of acupuncture, active (deep) PC6 acupuncture or placebo (superficial) acupuncture. The women estimated their degree of nausea on a visual analogue scale (VAS). The daily number of emesis episodes were documented. Crossover analyses showed that there was a significantly faster reduction of nausea VAS and more women who stopped vomiting after active acupuncture than after placebo acupuncture. This study suggests that active PC6 acupuncture, in combination with standard treatment, could make women with hyperemesis gravidarum better faster than placebo acupuncture.