London - A simple wristband can relieve feelings of overwhelming nausea among migraine sufferers, according to a study.
Nausea is one of the most debilitating symptoms of migraine and affects four out of five patients.
But leading headache physician Dr Zoltan Medgyessy, of the Berolina Clinic in Germany, demonstrated that applying pressure to the inner wrist is an effective and quick therapy.
His study included 41 patients who experienced an average of 33.1 days of migraine during the previous three months who had rated their average nausea intensity as 6.2 out of ten. They were given Sea-Band acupressure wristbands instead of anti-emetic drugs, which are the usual treatment to reduce vomiting and nausea.
During a migraine attack, five out of six patients (83 percent) noticed a reduction of nausea.
Reported nausea after using the wristband was rated 2.9 out of ten and relief was reported after an average of 28 minutes.
Nearly all the participants (98 percent) said they would use the Sea-Band wristbands again to control migraine nausea.
Dr Medgyessy said: “Acupressure wristbands are drug-free. That is an important advantage in using this therapy for migraine nausea, as they have no risks for interaction with migraine drugs or the side effects commonly experienced with antiemetics, such as dizziness or tiredness.
“There are still many unknowns about migraine, making findings such as these an important stride toward improving the quality of life for those who suffer from the condition.”
Dr Medgyessy is due to present his findings at the International Headache Congress in the United States. He added: “I’m looking forward to discussing it with my colleagues.” - Daily Mail