A new study concludes that acupuncture reduces the frequency and intensity of postoperative nausea and vomiting following laparoscopic surgery. This type of surgery uses a fiber optic instrument inserted through the abdominal wall to view the internal aspects of the abdomen and its organs. A problem encountered by surgeons is postoperative nausea and vomiting caused, in part, by general anesthesia.
Laparoscopic Surgery The researchers applied electro-acupuncture to an acupuncture point located on the wrist region to patients during the surgical procedure. The acupuncture point, P6, has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for the treatment of nausea and vomiting for over 1,000 years. This modern study confirms this ancient medical principle. The researchers conclude that electroacupuncture effectively reduces the “incidence and the severity of postoperative nausea and vomiting” for patients receiving general anesthesia during laparoscopic surgery.
Acupuncture Point Shop Talk
P6 is located 2 cun above the transverse wrist crease between the tendons of the m. palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, P6 (Neiguan, Inner Pass) is a Luo-Connecting point of the Pericardium meridian of Hand Jueyin and is a Confluent point of the Yin Wei channel. Using the Chinese Medicine 8 extra channel theory, P6 combines with acupuncture point SP4 for the treatment of heart, chest and stomach disorders. Needling these acupuncture points synergistically activates both the Yin Wei Mai (Yin Linking Vessel) and the Chong Mai (Thoroughfare Vessel), which is associated with SP4 as its Confluent acupuncture point.
Both P6 and ST40 are important distal points for the treatment of chest disorders and CV17 is also combined with these points to benefit the chest. As a Luo-Connecting point, P6 combines synergistically with SJ4, the Source point of the San Jiao meridian. P6 functions to calm the Heart and spirit (Shen). P6 regulates Qi and suppresses pain. P6 is indicated for the treatment of cardiac and chest pain, palpitations, stomachache, nausea, vomiting, hiccups, mental disorders, seizures and epilepsy. P6 may also be employed to regulate the rate of the heart beat and is used for the treatment of many presentations of hyperthyroidism accompanied by palpitations, insomnia and fever.
Reference:
Tang, W., W. Ma, G. Q. Fu, L. Yuan, and W. D. Shen. "[Impacts of electroacupuncture at different frequencies on the postoperative nausea and vomiting of patients with laparoscopic surgery]." Zhongguo zhen jiu= Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion 33, no. 2 (2013): 159-162.
