Wael AlShurafa asked
I'm going on a trip and get very seasick. I heard Seaband is really effective but doesn't contain drugs. Does it work?
Answer
For many people, yes, Sea Band is an effective, non-medicinal product for both the treatment and prevention of motion sickness.Sea Band is a great option for motion sickness as it contains no medication. It may be of particular use in those who are pregnant and cannot take drugs.
It works by the principle of 'acupressure'. A small plastic bead attached to a wrist band is applied to the 'P6' acupressure point on the wrist. This point may also be called the 'Number 6 meridian point in the Pericardium Channel' or the 'Nei-Kuan (Nei Guan)' point. Treatment with the principles of acupressure have been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine.
Although the exact mechanism of relief is unclear, there are two theories on how acupressure works to relieve nausea:
- Different signals that come from our nerves travel at different speeds to the brain. Anyone who has stubbed their toe knows pain signals can travel relatively slowly. There is often a brief moment after hitting your toe where you clench your teeth and brace for the pain to follow. Nerves that carry 'pressure signals' tend to be transmitted faster than 'pain signals'. It is thought that the pressure signals, which reach the brain first, blunt the effects of other signals. The 'P6' acupressure point appears to be very much related to nausea.
- Stimulating certain nerve fibers has shown to release endorphins, which are endogenous opioid like pain relievers our bodies naturally produce. The body has known 'trigger points' and the 'P6' point appears to be associated with how our bodies receive and interpret certain nausea related signals.
These theories don't of course provide a full explanation. We don't know why certain stimulation points trigger specific responses while others don't. We also don't know why a pressure point in the wrist affects another, seemingly unrelated, part of the body.
Although the effectiveness of products like Sea Band is often attributed to the 'placebo' effect, there have been many well done studies demonstrating the effectiveness of Sea Band. Not only has it been found to be an effective treatment/preventative of motion sickness, it has also been shown to reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting and morning sickness. One study even showed stimulation of the P6 acupressure point as a potential treatment for hiccups!
The Sea Band and other acupressure products are free of side effects and offer a safe and effective alternative to medication. It is very important that the product is positioned correctly. Be sure to read the instructions that come with your product in regard to proper placement.
