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Medically reviewed by Dr. Tony Willcox, PhD, D.A.O.M., A.P.
Last reviewed: September 2026
Motion sickness happens when the brain receives mismatched signals about movement — for example, when the inner ear senses motion the eyes don’t, or vice versa. This sensory conflict can trigger nausea, dizziness, cold sweats, and vomiting. It’s extremely common, isn’t a sign of illness, and usually settles once the motion stops, but for frequent travelers or the highly sensitive, it can be a real and recurring problem.
Motion sickness tends to build gradually and can include:
Common triggers include car, boat, plane, and train travel, amusement rides, and even virtual reality or screen motion. Reading in a moving vehicle is a classic aggravator. While motion sickness is usually harmless, persistent dizziness or nausea unrelated to travel is generally worth discussing with a physician, as it may have other causes.
In Chinese medicine, nausea and vomiting are understood as Stomach Qi ‘rebelling’ upward instead of descending as it should. The acupuncture point most associated with settling this is Neiguan, also called P6 (Pericardium 6), located on the inner forearm a few finger-widths above the wrist crease. Stimulating P6 is thought to help harmonize the Stomach and calm the upward rush that produces queasiness — which is why this single point has become so widely used for nausea of many kinds.
The centerpiece for nausea is the P6 (Neiguan) point on the inner wrist. This is the same point targeted by acupressure wristbands sold to travelers, and it can be stimulated with needles, acupressure, or a wearable band.
Because P6 is so accessible, acupuncture for nausea also lends itself to simple self-care: Dr. Willcox can show patients exactly where P6 is and how to press it, so they have a drug-free tool to reach for on a boat or in a car.
A Cochrane overview of P6 stimulation for nausea and vomiting found the most consistent benefit for postoperative nausea, where real P6 stimulation outperformed sham across many trials (Ezzo et al., J Alt Complement Med, 2006). It’s worth being candid that the strongest evidence is for surgical and chemotherapy-related nausea; for motion sickness specifically, several small trials exist, but the research base is thinner. Even so, P6 is a low-risk, drug-free option many patients find worth trying.
Motion sickness is often addressed in a practical, low-key way rather than a long course of treatment. Dr. Willcox will talk through when the nausea strikes, how severe it gets, and what a patient has already tried. He can locate the P6 point, demonstrate acupressure technique, and — where helpful — use acupuncture to settle a tendency toward nausea. For many patients the takeaway is a simple, portable skill: knowing exactly where and how to press for relief when travel makes them queasy.
Ideally a little before you travel, so Dr. Willcox can locate your P6 point, show you the acupressure technique, and make sure you know how to use a wristband correctly — giving you a portable, drug-free tool to reach for once the motion starts. For frequent travelers, a session to build that skill can be worth it ahead of the next trip.
Yes. The acupressure bands sold to travelers press on P6 (Neiguan) on the inner wrist — the same point used in acupuncture for nausea. Dr. Willcox can show you how to position and use them correctly for the best chance of relief.
The strongest research is for postoperative and chemotherapy-related nausea. For motion sickness specifically, the evidence is more limited — but P6 stimulation is low-risk and drug-free, so many people find it worth trying.
It’s used as a complement, not a replacement. If you rely on medication for travel, keep taking it as directed and talk to your physician before making changes; P6 acupressure can be used alongside it.
P6 acupressure wristbands are widely used and generally well tolerated, but it’s best to check with your child’s pediatrician before relying on any approach.
Acupuncture Zen is offered as a complement to — never a replacement for — the care of your physician. Occasional motion sickness is usually harmless, but persistent dizziness, vertigo, or nausea that isn’t tied to travel should be evaluated by a physician, since it can have other causes.
Ready for a simple, drug-free way to travel without the queasiness? Call Acupuncture Zen at 561-633-3537 to schedule a visit in Delray Beach.
Peace and Blessings,
Dr. Tony Willcox, PhD, D.A.O.M., A.P.
