Acupressure

• No published evidence that acupressure has been investigated for improving treatment outcomes

What is your body terrain? ›

• Modest evidencesignificant effects in at least three small but well-designed RCTs, or one or more well-designed, mid-sized clinical studies of reasonably good quality (RCTs or observational studies), or several small studies aggregated into a meta-analysis (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of higher markers of immune activation among people with lung cancer undergoing cancer treatment and treated with acupoint stimulation
• Preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of better blood sugar levels among people with type 2 diabetes
• See How can acupressure help you? What the research says ›

• Good evidencesignificant effects in one large or several mid-sized and well-designed clinical studies (randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with an appropriate placebo or other strong comparison control or observational studies that control for confounds) (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of better sleep quality without regard to cancer treatment phase among people with cancer treated with acupressure
• Modest evidencesignificant effects in at least three small but well-designed RCTs, or one or more well-designed, mid-sized clinical studies of reasonably good quality (RCTs or observational studies), or several small studies aggregated into a meta-analysis (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of less cancer-related depression among people treated with acupressure
• Modest evidence of less cancer-related pain among people treated with auricular acupressure
• Preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of less less severe pain among women with breast cancer treated with relaxing acupressure, but less pain interference among those treated with stimulating acupressure
• Preliminary evidence of less pain during bone marrow biopsy among people with cancer treated with acupressure
• Preliminary evidence of better hemoglobin concentrations
• Preliminary evidence of less anxiety or fatigue either without regard to treatment phase or during chemotherapy among people with cancer treated with acupressure
• Preliminary evidence of lower frequency and intensity of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting among women with breast cancer
• Preliminary evidence of better sleep quality during chemotherapy among people with cancer treated with acupressure
• See How can acupressure help you? What the research says ›

• No published evidence that acupressure has been investigated for reducing risk of cancer or recurrence

• Mentioned with a moderate or weak recommendation in clinical practice guidelines
• Used by one of our reference programs
• See How do experts use acupressure? ›

• Generally safe, with only minor side effects
• See Safety and precautions ›

• Widely available without restriction
• Self-acupressure has no cost
• Moderate cost (under $2000 US/year) for professional services
• See Affordability and access ›