How Can Acupuncture Help with Nausea & Vomiting?
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Acupuncture is an excellent treatment for a variety of different maladies, including nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, pregnancy, and other circumstances. According to studies like the one found here, acupuncture not only helps with motion sickness, postoperative nausea, and pregnancy and chemotherapy-induced nausea & vomiting – but it also prevents it. Over the years, I’ve seen many examples of patients who are able to reduce or eliminate nausea with acupuncture treatment. For this to work, patients should come in regularly in the month before chemotherapy begins or a surgery takes place. Acupuncture should continue throughout the course of chemotherapy as a complementary treatment – or, in other words, a treatment that works to complement or manage the side effects of chemo.
Now, let’s discuss what nausea and vomiting are.
What is Nausea?
Nausea is the sensation that makes a person feel like they’re going to vomit. It’s most common in young children, infants, babies, toddlers, pregnant women, and those who are sick. The circumstances behind why a person gets nauseous differ – but, you can probably think of the most common reasons. For example, pregnant women suffer from nausea because of morning sickness. Patients with cancer often get nauseous because of chemotherapy treatment. People who travel in cars and on boats get motion sickness or nausea from movement.
Here’s what one of my clients had to say about motion sickness on Yelp:
I have been suffering from motion sickness for over 20 years. Motion sickness is different than vertigo in that motion sickness occurs during some type of movement (air, car, sea, even watching certain videos especially 3D). This condition occurs when there is a ‘disagreement’ between visually perceived movement and the body’s sense of movement resulting in dizziness and nausea (which for me leads to vomiting-yuck!). This condition affects many aspects of my life and over the years it has progressively worsened so I finally decided it was time to do something about it.
Over the years, several of my friends have extolled the use of acupuncture to cure a myriad of illnesses. I was very skeptical until my husband went to an acupuncturist for the pain in his neck caused by a bulging disc. He was constantly in pain and after four treatments, his pain was almost completely gone and the effect lasted for a year. So I decided to give acupuncture a try.
Acupuncture Pain and Stress Center had an office in my health club, Rapid Fitness in the downtown location. I spoke with Jim Eleczko about my health issue and he felt confident that he could help me. Jim had never treated a patient for motion sickness but he had studied this condition in school and he knew other acupuncturist that had successfully treated motion sickness. A week later, I had my first appointment. Jim had done a lot of research and consulted with his colleagues. He asked me a long series of questions to completely evaluate my condition. It was great to actually have an in-depth conversation with a health care professional and it was obvious that Jim really cared and was motivated to help me.
Over the course of two months, I received 6 treatments. Jim tried different methods. Each time he discussed with me what he was doing and the goal of the treatment. I asked him lots of questions and he was always very happy to answer them and share his thoughts. He is a great communicator, which I have found rare in the health care industry.
Over the last month, I have conducted several ‘experiments’ like riding in the backseat of a car, spinning in a circle, and swinging. No nausea!! Yeah! In a few weeks, I am flying and I will NOT take any motion sickness medication. Jim has sent me several emails inquiring how I am doing and he is anxious to hear the results of my ‘experiments’.
Since Jim was in junior high, he has had an interest in Meditation, Chinese philosophy, and martial arts. Jim also has been successfully treated with acupuncture for allergies when he was in college.
Currently, Acupuncture Pain and Stress Center is located in the Carter Building in Glenwood South area. There is ample parking for patients. His office is not fancy or elegant but it is clean. His waiting room is filled with original art from local artists that have studios in the Carter Building. Jim’s office in Rapid Fitness in the downtown Raleigh location is closed since the gym closed. However, he said that when the new Rapid Fitness opens, he will have an office in the club.
In conclusion, I am ecstatic and a little amazed with the results. Now, I am a fan of acupuncture and you should check out how it can help you. I am very pleased with my experience with Jim and Acupuncture Pain and Stress Center. I highly recommend his practice and have already recommended Jim to my friends.
What is Vomiting?
Vomiting is when someone “throws up” the contents of their stomach. People vomit when they’re sick and when they eat something that doesn’t agree with them.
Dehydration
When it comes to vomiting, the biggest concern is dehydration, which is the significant loss of bodily fluid. Dehydration can be dangerous. How dehydrated a person gets depends mostly on their height, weight, and other individual factors. A person doesn’t only become dehydrated due to vomiting. Dehydration can also be caused by diarrhea and not drinking enough fluids in general. Whatever the cause of dehydration, it’s important that the person drinks enough fluids to become properly hydrated. To do that they shouldn’t chug a large vat of water, because they don’t want to upset their stomach further. Instead, try small, spaced-out sips of an electrolyte-based beverage. The best course of action, of course, is to try to avoid dehydration altogether.
How Does Acupuncture Help with Nausea and Vomiting?
Over the years, there have been quite a few studies on the treatment and prevention of nausea and vomiting through acupuncture. During a session, your acupuncturist will take a very thin needle and insert it into strategic points throughout your body. When these points have pressure applied to them, symptoms like vomiting and nausea begin to subside. Acupuncture is also great for overall wellness, stress management, pain reduction, and more. Call me and we can discuss how acupuncture can help you!
Where can I treat Nausea and Vomiting with Acupuncture in Raleigh, North Carolina?
If you’re searching for a qualified Acupuncturist to help with your shoulder pain in Raleigh, North Carolina, you’ll want to find someone with experience, qualifications, and compassion. Look no further than Acupuncture Pain and Stress Center. Our goal since 2010 has been to provide quality and compassionate acupuncture in Raleigh, NC and the surrounding areas.

Acupuncture Pain and Stress Center for all of your Acupuncture needs
Hi, I’m Jim Eleczko, the founder of Acupuncture Pain and Stress Center and it’s my mission to provide you with compassionate, whole-person care using holistic treatments, including Acupuncture and topical herbal medicine. I’m a board-certified and licensed Acupuncturist practicing since 2010 in Raleigh, North Carolina. I love that I get to wake up every day to make meaningful changes in my patient’s lives. I’ve seen first hand the changes that Acupuncture can make. As a teen I suffered from allergies and my father suggested that I try Acupuncture to calm the symptoms. It worked – and left a lasting impression on me! Now I offer Acupuncture and other treatments to help people with a variety of issues, including anxiety, migraines, fibromyalgia, and more. Our other treatments include Dry Needling, Tuina Massage, Guasha, Cupping, Stretching, Orthopedic Movements, Electroacupuncture and Therapeutic Exercises.
Here’s a bit more about me and my qualifications: I studied the 4-year program at Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine and continue to travel multiple times a year to study with my mentor, Andrew Nugent-Head. I also studied under Dr. Ed Garbacz, M.D. LAc and spent a year working and studying under Dr. Bonnie Walker, M.D. LAc. I have also done extensive post-graduate studies in acupuncture, nutrition, herbal medicine from lectures of acupuncturists like Dr. Nguyen Van Nghi, Dr. Tran Viet Dzung, Matt Callison, and Edward Obaidey.
Get in touch with me by calling (919) 260-4104. I’d be happy to answer your questions and get you booked for an appointment today!