# Motion sickness wrist bands **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 28, 2003, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418 "2003-07-28T12:28:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/1 "2003-07-28T12:28:13Z")
Some people have said that motion sickness wrist bands, such as No-Queeze, which allegedly work on the basis of accupressure are actually useful. I am skeptical. Does anyone know if these things really work, or whether the whole effect is psychological? ---
**Author:** ![TeaRoses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@TeaRoses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaRoses)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/2 "2003-07-28T14:08:24Z")
I wore them briefly when I was pregnant. I felt at the time that they might be working, but I have since become convinced that the effect is totally psychological. I read that they were based on an experiment involving electrical stimulation of that area of the wrist, and that the experiment itself has some evidence of success, but a) that would be a different phenomenon and b) I’m not sure I buy that anymore either. Google seemed to only turn up sites selling them but heopfeully a doper out there has some good skeptic-type information? ---
**Author:** ![Adversary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@Adversary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adversary)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/3 "2003-07-28T14:21:38Z")
I haven’t used the pressure bands. I have used and fully recommend the watch like device that is sold at Sharper Image and other retailers. It has a funny name, accu-something. My wife and I have used them on flights and had zero problems. I am REALLY prone to motion sickness. I feel ill swinging on a swing. 🙂 It does feel funny wearing it, it gives you little shocks that make your fingers tingle a bit, but the relief is well worth it. I can usually still fall asleep on the plane with it going. It even helps if you already feel motion sick and put it on. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/4 "2003-07-28T14:21:52Z")
[http://www.wnbc.com/health/2330998/detail.html](http://www.wnbc.com/health/2330998/detail.html) Speaking as a sailor, a son of a sailor, a son of a son of a… oh, nevermind, I’m not a parrothead, with fifteen years on the Hudson River in a Wings 33’ cat ketch, I can say the earlier version works, ancedotally. Basically, they’re terry cloth wristbands with plastic lumps about the size of… two shirt buttons glued on top of each other. To see if it works for you, firmly but not strongly, press the hollow of your wrist under the heel of your hand with the ball of the opposite thumb. Same thing. ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/5 "2003-07-28T14:22:36Z")
Right, all I could find was sales sites as well. That’s why I was hoping someone had some real information. ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/6 "2003-07-28T14:24:08Z")
The big problem with the one sold by sharper image is the price. At $150.00 buying one for each of the six of us is a bit prohibitive. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/7 "2003-07-28T15:38:34Z")
Personally, they do nothing for me but I know people who swear by them. So, I believe the answer is (1) yes, they work, but (2) not for everybody. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/8 "2003-07-28T16:27:18Z")
Heh, looks like the sailing bunch chiming in…So I’m required to as well. Consider ginger root. It works fast, like 15 minutes, and: > [@](#): > > [Recent studies have shown that Ginger root may be as effective as the other drug treatments but is associated with fewer side effects.](http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/907367055.html) Health food stores sell them in pill form if you’re not a big fan of ginger. The root itself packs a wallop as far as flavor goes. Not a bad thing if you like it. I’ve always intended to look for a cookie recipe using the root. ---
**Author:** ![green\_dragon\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/13edae/32.png) [@green\_dragon\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_dragon_1)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/9 "2003-07-28T16:28:37Z")
pressure point student chiming in…the motion sickness bands are supposed to work by affecting a pressure point known as “Pericardium 6” located on the wrist. Medicinal uses include treating nausia, dizziness, vomiting etc… As a martial artist and acupressure student I have mixed feelings about the effectiveness of pressure points. They are extremely effective on some people (myself being one of them) and on other people they may have barely any effect. I’m certain that masters of the art can make it work on anyone…there’s a lot of subtlety involved in pressure points. Obviously this takes many years (decades I would imagine) to fully master so we have the situation that some people swear by pressure points because they have a lot of effect on them, and others remain sceptical because there is less effect. I know pressure points can be extremely effective tools…I have been knocked out by pressure point strikes and felt the effects of them dozens of times as well as having done this to other people. The effect is basically NOT psychological (of course this plays a part, as it does in anything) but with some people, a great level of skill is required in order to get the effect. Anyone who wants to know more feel free to ask 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/10 "2003-07-28T17:29:40Z")
Well, I wore a pair while traversing the Drake Passage during a rather nasty storm, on a ship without stabalizers…and they didn’t help one bit. I threw a dozen+ times. Fun! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Mahma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@Joe\_Mahma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Mahma)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/11 "2003-07-28T18:24:35Z")
I was skeptical too, but used them anyway on a cruise several years ago. They seemed to work, although it may have been psychological. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/12 "2003-07-28T21:01:06Z")
I used to travel on ferries and cruise ships regularly and I was often seasick; the bands did not work at all for me, tablets were reasonably effective, ginger and herbal remedies less so. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/13 "2003-07-28T23:12:44Z")
I remember being on a hyrdofoil from Hyrdra to Mykonos on a REALLY rough sea where everyone but my brother and me were puking. My brother was too busy laughing at me attempting to thumb those pressure points on both wrists at the same time to bother puking. I looked like I was doing some arcane kung fu maneuver. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/14 "2003-07-28T23:39:06Z")
I know of no medical evidence that these work any more than [Q-Ray Bracelets](http://qray.com), or [Earthcalm Bracelets.](http://earthcalm.com) Acupressure points are derived from ancient chinese medicine, developed at a time when autopsies were thought improper. Many strange theories of how the body works were developed; most have been discarded as science examines the evidence. Acupressure and acupuncture are based on the theory of meridians, or lines of force on the body. No evidence has ever been found by observation that these exist, and the mythical lines do not correspond to veins, arteries or nerves that CAN be found and observed. Here’s an article about seasickness bands in England: > [@](#): > > \*from [http://www.skeptics.org.nz/SK:VIEWARTICLE::waDeptTOC.1%2CA761](http://www.skeptics.org.nz/SK:VIEWARTICLE::waDeptTOC.1%2CA761) \* > > 1. After seeing Sea Bands advertised in the magazine of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, Mr Jones made a formal complaint to the British Advertising Standards Authority, on the basis of the facts in the article above. The Authority’s response: > > CONCLUSION: Complaint upheld. The advertisers failed to provide evidence for any of the claims. The Authority was concerned that the advertisers were unable to support the claims for the product as required by the Code, and requested that they cease making any claims for the wrist band until adequate substantiation could be made available. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/15 "2003-07-29T00:24:34Z")
This is why I said it was ancedotal evidence. It _seems_ to work, and certainly, I can understand how a key pivot point in the arms would be wired to your sense of balance. If I had to _guess_ how they worked, I’d say they create a false sense of being attached to something. I don’t know, and it might be psychosomatic. I simply know that it _does_ seem to work, in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![stickergiant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@stickergiant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stickergiant)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/16 "2003-07-29T03:20:14Z")
yo dude mr **musicat** if that is your real name mr mr. my two 7 yr olds and 5 yr old swear by seabands. BUT they do not work as a motion sickness fix, they only work as a preventative measure, so wear them BEFORE getting in your 8 mpg SUV heading to your overpriced antique shopping vacation getaway. cheers, john ---
**Author:** ![BooksWoods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@BooksWoods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BooksWoods)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/17 "2003-07-29T03:44:34Z")
There used to be a patch you put behind your ear that released some kind of meds through your skin. It worked fabulously to ward off motion sickness. They took it off the market. Any idea why? Anybody remember what it was called? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/18 "2003-07-29T03:48:43Z")
Maybe it didn’t work? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/19 "2003-07-29T03:55:14Z")
**stickergiant** , welcome to the SDMB! Most of us might think that 7 and 5 year old kids’ observations might not be very scientific. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418/20 "2003-07-29T03:57:43Z")
There are a some PubMed reports to it working, but they do not appear to be that well designed. This makes it difficult to make a scientific observation on their effectiveness. The Gold Standard would be a double-blind, controlled, randomized study. After the control, the first blinding is the most important: the patients don’t know if they are in a control or a test group. The second blinding would be to blind the people measuring the subjects’ motion sickness to the control/test division. Note that the presence of acupressure will make this difficult, even in a properly randomized and blinded test. Like the [magnets study](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a990618a.html) cited by Cecil, people can very easily tell when they are getting acupressure and when they are not. So it becomes extra difficult. Another big problem is a numbers thing. A study with ten or twenty subjects makes it difficult to get a statistically significant change between control and test groups. Here are some studies that show that it works. Note that all of these are controlled, some are randomized, but none of them are blinded. > **[The efficacy of acupressure to prevent nausea and vomiting in post-operative...](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12139646/?dopt=Abstract)** > > In view of the total absence of side-effects in acupressure, its application is worthy of use. This study confirmed the effectiveness of acupressure in preventing post-operative nausea and vomiting. > **[Acupressure relieves the symptoms of motion sickness and reduces abnormal...](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11452572/?dopt=Abstract)** > > An Acuband worn on the wrist or forearm decreases the symptoms of motion sickness and the gastric activity that usually accompanies motion sickness. > **[P6 acupressure reduces symptoms of vection-induced motion sickness - PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7575310/?dopt=Abstract)** > > We conclude that P6 acupressure reduces the severity of symptoms of visually-induced motion sickness and gastric tachyarrhythmia. Out of 9 hits on PubMed for “motion sickness” AND “acupressure”, only two of them gives a negative result. One of these is a tiny study in 1990, the other one happens to be the only blinded study. > **[A double-blind placebo controlled evaluation of acupressure in the treatment...](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1930060/?dopt=Abstract)** > > We used 36 subjects in a double-blind placebo controlled experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of acupressure as a prophylaxis against motion sickness. There were two independent variables with two levels each: acupressure vs. placebo, and motion... In short, it is hard to tell if it is working, scientifically. The mind is a powerful thing. But a placebo effect is not necessarily a bad thing, considering the amount of benefit you will get for the $15 you plunk down for a set of these bracelets. Since it ain’t going to hurt (unless you are really scrapping for that $15), I suppose it is worth a try. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motion-sickness-wrist-bands/191418.md?page=2)