Acupuncture May Reduce Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea: New Evidence from EMJ

Acupuncture may help reduce nausea and vomiting in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, according to a recent review highlighted by the European Medical Journal (EMJ).

The EMJ report points to evidence suggesting that acupuncture, when used alongside standard anti-nausea medications, can improve control of both acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. This finding aligns with results from a 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Cancer Medicine, which analyzed multiple clinical trials and concluded that acupuncture added to usual care may increase complete control of vomiting symptoms, although the certainty of the evidence was rated as very low.

Further support comes from an in-depth assessment by CAM-Cancer, which reviewed eleven systematic reviews and 22 randomized controlled trials on acupuncture for chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting. The review notes that stimulation of the P6 acupoint—located on the inner wrist—has been a common focus in these studies, with several earlier reviews reporting reductions in nausea and/or vomiting following acupoint stimulation.

The Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) has endorsed guidelines recommending acupressure and acupuncture for reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients. These guidelines, based on a systematic review of randomized controlled trials published up to 2015, reflect a growing recognition of acupuncture as a complementary therapy in oncology care.

Additional research cited in the web search results includes a 2009 article from Proceedings of Baylor University Medical Center, which states that clinical evidence gathered over the past 20 years has been favorable regarding acupuncture’s role in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. The article acknowledges that while current practice guidelines support acupuncture as a complementary option, placebo effects may have influenced some studies, and questions remain due to the availability of more effective antiemetic drugs.

A more recent article in the Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine highlights chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting as a persistent challenge in cancer treatment, noting that despite standard antiemetic regimens, symptoms often continue to disrupt patient well-being. It identifies acupuncture and moxibustion as promising adjunctive therapies under investigation for improving symptom control.

While these findings suggest potential benefit, researchers across multiple reviews emphasize the need for well-designed, larger-scale randomized controlled trials with standardized treatment protocols and consistent outcome measures to strengthen the evidence base. The Cancer Medicine review specifically calls for further investigation to address limitations in current data.

As of Wednesday, April 22, 2026, acupuncture remains an area of active study in supportive cancer care, with existing evidence indicating a possible role in alleviating one of the most common and distressing side effects of chemotherapy.