Wrist-Ankle Acupuncture on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Prophylaxis in High-Risk Female Patients: A Pragmatic, Randomized, Single-Blind, Sham-Controlled Trial.

If you have ever felt sick to your stomach after surgery, you are not alone. Postoperative nausea and vomiting, often called PONV, affects up to 80% of patients who are considered high risk — including women with a history of motion sickness or previous post-surgery nausea. A new clinical study published in the Journal of Investigative Surgery explored whether a gentle form of acupuncture could help prevent this uncomfortable and often distressing experience.

The technique studied is called wrist-ankle acupuncture (WAA). Unlike traditional acupuncture, which targets points throughout the body, WAA uses only points located on the wrists and ankles. In this study, 132 female patients aged 18 to 60 who were scheduled for surgery under general anesthesia received either real WAA or a sham (fake) version after their operation. Needles were retained for 30 minutes.

The results were striking. Among patients who received real WAA, only 42% experienced nausea or vomiting in the 24 hours following surgery, compared to 71% in the sham group. Patients who received WAA also reported lower symptom scores at 30 minutes, 6 hours, and 24 hours after treatment, and they were significantly more satisfied with their recovery experience. Importantly, no adverse events or side effects were reported.

What does this mean for you? If you are planning surgery and are worried about post-operative nausea — especially if you have experienced it before or suffer from motion sickness — wrist-ankle acupuncture may be a safe, drug-free option worth discussing with your surgical team. It could be used alongside standard anti-nausea medications as part of a broader recovery plan.

If you are interested in exploring acupuncture for surgical support, speak with a licensed and qualified acupuncture practitioner who has experience working in perioperative or integrative care settings.

This single-center, pragmatic, randomized, patient- and assessor-blinded, sham-controlled trial (n=132) evaluated wrist-ankle acupuncture (WAA) for PONV prophylaxis in high-risk female patients (ASA I-II, aged 18–60) undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia. Eligible patients had documented motion sickness or prior PONV history. WAA was administered postoperatively at four standardized acupoints with 30-minute needle retention. Primary outcome was 24-hour PONV incidence measured via the Rhodes Index (R-INVR).

WAA significantly reduced PONV incidence versus sham (42.4% vs. 71.2%; RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.42–0.82; p=0.002). Median R-INVR scores were markedly lower in the WAA group [0 (0–5) vs. 8 (0–11); p<0.001], with sustained symptom reduction at 30 min, 6 h, and 24 h (all p≤0.006). Patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the WAA group (p<0.001). Rescue antiemetic use was comparable between groups (9.1% vs. 16.7%; p=0.299). No adverse events were recorded. WAA represents a clinically viable, low-risk adjunct for PONV prevention in high-risk surgical populations.