title: Acupressure for the in-patient treatment of nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy: a randomized control trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of acupressure at the P6 point for the in-patient treatment of severe nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective single-blind randomized control trial that involved 80 patients with nausea and vomiting plus ketonuria before 14 weeks of gestation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference between length of stay, amount of medication, or fluid required between the acupressure and placebo groups, although acupressure reduced the number of patients who stayed > or =4 nights in the hospital. Acupressure was well tolerated and not associated with an increase in perinatal morbidity or death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of acupressure at the P6 point does not reduce the amount of antiemetic medication that is required, the requirement for intravenous fluid, and median duration of in-patient stay more than the use of placebo. A small reduction was seen in the number of women who required > or =4 days in the hospital.
authors.affiliation: Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, St. Mary's Hospital, Manchester, UK. alex_heazell@talk21.com
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heazell
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thorneycroft
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Etherington
mesh_terms: D019050:Acupressure; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006939:Hyperemesis Gravidarum / Q000628:therapy*; D009325:Nausea / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method