WAVE GOODBYE TO TRAVEL NAUSEA

Don’t let your life’s journeys be spoilt by the onset of nausea and vomiting; alleviate motion sickness and enjoy journeys with your children by using Sea-Bands.

Sea-Band is a knitted elasticated wrist band, which operates by applying pressure on the Nei Kuan acupressure point on each wrist by means of a plastic stud. Because the bands do not use drugs, they do not cause any of the side effects associated with anti-nausea drugs and can be worn on each wrist whenever you feel nauseous. They are suitable for adults and children.

Sea-Band is sold in drug chains and pharmacies across the world.

Learn more about Sea-Band and motion sickness

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING YOUR SEA-BANDS

Sea-Bands may be used to relieve motion sickness, cancer nausea and vomiting. To ensure your Sea-Bands work properly, please follow the instructions below to position your wristbands correctly.

• Place your middle three fingers on the inside of your wrist with the edge of the third finger on the wrist crease. The Nei-Kuan point is just under the edge of your index finger between the two central tendons.
• Position the button facing downward over the Nei-Kuan point. Repeat the process for the other wrist.
• One band must be worn on each wrist to be effective. Sea-Bands can be put onto your wrist before you start travelling, or after you have started your journey.
• Sea-Bands are suitable for adults and children.

Sea-Bands are clinically proven to relieve motion sickness, post operative and chemotherapy induced nausea.

MOTION SICKNESS AND TRAVEL SICKNESS

Travelling the world – for business or pleasure – is now easier than ever. But whether your journey is by air, road, rail or sea it can be a miserable experience if you suffer from travel sickness.

The nausea, dizziness and vomiting caused by any form of transport are triggered by a confusion of messages received in the brain. Although you may be sitting motionless in a seat, your senses tell you that you are actually moving. Contrary to common belief, the resulting nausea is not “all in the mind” and is experienced by children and adults alike.

Early signs of travel sickness include quietness, headaches and lethargy, often followed by uncontrollable vomiting.

Drug free remedies:

• Anti-sickness drugs may have unwanted side-effects such as drowsiness and may not be suitable for children or for some adults. Yet there are other ways to help prevent nausea:
• In cars or buses, sit at the front and always face the direction in which you are travelling. Don’t look out of side windows and focus on the horizon.
• Breathe in fresh air – open a window or stay outside on a ship’s deck.
• Don’t eat a heavy or greasy meal before travelling.
• Keep children occupied – play an “I spy” game for example.
• Most importantly, wear Sea-Bands during your journey.

POST-OPERATIVE AND CHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED NAUSEA

Similarly, despite improvements in anaesthetic techniques, many patients still suffer nausea and vomiting after an operation under general anaesthetic, especially when other drugs are given for pain relief.

This continuing sickness may mean that patients need to stay in hospital longer than anticipated, especially after day surgery.

Sea-Bands harness the tried and tested principle of acupressure to provide natural and effective relief from nausea and vomiting in such cases

They are available from chemists nationwide so why not talk to your doctor about trying them today?

WHAT ARE SEA-BANDS?

Sea-Bands are a low-cost, clinically proven, drug free alternative treatment for the control of nausea and vomiting. Sea-Bands are acupressure bands that fit around the patient’s wrist just like a sweat band-with a pressure stud sewn inside. A University of Pittsburgh Medical Center study using Sea-Bands acupressure on post-op patients reduced the incidence of nausea to 10% – a two-thirds reduction.

WHAT ARE THEY USED FOR?

Sea-Bands will benefit persons suffering with nausea and vomiting associated with:

Motion
Chemotherapy
Post Operative

ARE SEA-BANDS COST EFFECTIVE?

Yes, tests conducted on post-operative patients in hospitals have shown that Sea-Bands have a direct effect on the cost of care by reducing:

The length of recovery – patients are more likely to recover quickly if they are not experiencing nausea.
Amount of anti-emetic drugs administered.
PACU nursing care.
Unplanned admissions related to nausea and vomiting following out-patient procedures.
When Sea-Bands are placed on a patient prior to surgery, many do not suffer with nausea or vomiting. those patients who still need anti-emetic drugs may be subjected to fewer drugs and lower doses.

It has been cited that Sea-Bands are “As effective as ordinary anti-emetics; completely devoid of side effects”.

HOW DO THEY WORK?

A plastic stud is attached to the inside of the wrist band which exerts pressure and stimulates the P6 (or Nei-Kuan) acupressure point. It has been proven that pressure on this point relieves nausea and vomiting.

WHEN SHOULD THEY BE ADMINISTERED?

Sea-Bands may be applied as a preventative measure before the onset of nausea (such as before surgery to reduce the risk of nausea and vomiting associated with anaesthesia).
Sea-Bands may also be applied after the onset of nausea.

DO THEY HAVE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?

Prolonged use may cause swelling of the wrist/hands.  Should swelling occur, please remove the bands and replace once the swelling subsides.  Some people are unduly sensitive to pressure in this area.  If the bands cause any pain, remove immediately.

HOW LONG DO THEY TAKE TO WORK?

Nausea is typically reduced within 5 minutes after Sea-Bands are applied.

CAN THEY BE USED ON CHILDREN?

Yes, Sea-Bands have been used successfully on children as young as three years of age. However, they must fit snugly around the wrist to work.

ARE THERE ANY CONTRA-INDICATIONS FOR SEA-BAND USE?

There are no contra-indications.

CAN THEY BE USED IN COMBINATION WITH ANTI-EMETIC DRUGS?

Yes, Sea-Bands can be used with any other drugs.

DO THEY INTERFERE WITH IVS?

Roseann Ferrara-Love, MSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, pointed out in her lecture at the ASPN conference (1999) that the pressure is not great enough from the wrist bands to effect the flow of an IV.

She did suggest, however, that the band be placed on a patients wrist – prior to an IV – only to ensure that the IV was not placed too close to the P6 point where the band must be positioned to work effectively.

DO SEA-BANDS CONTAIN LATEX?

No, Sea-Bands are Latex-free.

WHAT CLINICAL DATA/RESEARCH IS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THEIR USE?

Selected studies mentioned in this literature include:

Rose Ferrara-Love, MSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA, Nonpharmacologic Treatment of Postoperative Nausea, 1996 American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses.
Stannard, DM (1989) Pressure Prevents Nausea, Nursing Times p33-34.
Effect of Stimulation of the P6 Anti-emetic Point on Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting. British Journal of Anesthesia, 1980.

ACUPRESSURE WRISTBANDS FOR NAUSEA AND VOMITING

Sea-Band wristbands are a clinically proven drug-free alternative treatment for the control of nausea and vomiting associated with anaesthesia and chemotherapy.

A plastic stud incorporated into the wristband exerts pressure on the P6 acupuncture point on the wrist. Pressure on this point is known to relieve nausea and vomiting. The patient simply wears the pair of wristbands for as long as needed.

Sea Band acupressure bands can be used on their own or in combination with antiemetic drugs, with no  contra-indications and no side effects.

POST-OPERATIVE NAUSEA

If placed on the patient before surgery, or afterwards in recovery, Sea-Bands can prevent the onset of nausea and vomiting. They are particularly useful in day-surgery for patients experiencing continued nausea.

NAUSEA ASSOCIATED WITH CHEMOTHERAPY

Patients undergoing chemotherapy can wear Sea-Bands to control anticipatory nausea as well as nausea induced by chemotherapy drugs. They can wear the bands for the duration of the treatment both in hospital and at home.

USING SEA-BAND

Sea-Bands do not need specialist handling but care should be taken to position them according to the instructions provided. They become effective within 5 minutes – even if nausea has already started – and can be worn continuously.

Sea-Bands are made of mixed fibres and are latex-free. They are soft, comfortable, fit all wrist sizes and can be re-used if washed in a gentle cycle. They have an unlimited shelf life with no special storage conditions.

References

TRAVEL SICKNESS

Canova G. Sea-Band Trial in Motion Sickness – Hospital San Carlo Borromeo. Italy (1990)

Hu S, Stritzel R, Chandler A, Stern RM, P6 acupressure reduces symptoms of vection-induced motion sickness. Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine 1995 July;66(7):631-4

Stern RM, Jokerst MD, Muth ER, Hollis C, Acupressure relieves the symptoms of motion sickness and reduces abnormal gastric activity. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 2001 July-Aug;7(4):91-4

Stannard D. Pressure prevents nausea. Nursing Times, December 1989.

Details of other trials available on request.

CHEMOTHERAPY

Ballatori E, Roila F, Ruggeri B, Betti M, Sarti S, Soru G, Cruciani G, Di Maio M, Andrea B, Deuson RR. The impact of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting on health-related quality of life. Supportive Care in Cancer 2006 Aug 29 [Epub ahead of print]

Klein J, Griffiths P. Acupressure for nausea and vomiting in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. British Journal of Community Nursing 2004;9(9):383-7

Ezzo JM, Richardson MA, Vickers A, Allen C, Dibble SL, Issell BF, Lao L, Pearl M, Ramirez G, Roscoe JA, Shen J, Shivnan JC, Streitberger K, Treish I, Zhang G. Acupuncture-point stimulation for chemotherapy-induced nausea or vomiting.

Dundee JW, Yang J. Prolongation of the antiemetic action of P6 acupuncture by acupressure in patients having cancer chemotherapy. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 1990;83:360-2

For further study references contact Sea-Band Ltd

POST OPERATIVE

Lee A, Done ML, Stimulation of the wrist acupuncture point P6 for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004;(3):CD003281

Dundee JW, Chestnutt WN, Ghaly RG, Lynas AG. Traditional Chinese acupuncture:a potentially useful anti-emetic? BMJ 1986 Sep 6;293:583-4

Dundee JW, Ghaly RG, Bill KM, Chestnutt WN, Fitzpatrick KT, Lynas AG. Effect of stimulation of the P6 anti-emetic point on post-operative nausea and vomiting. British Journal of Anaesthesia 1989 Nov;63:612-8

Barsoum G, Perry EP, Fraser IA. Post-operative nausea is relieved by acupressure. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 1990 Feb;83(2):86-9

Wang SM, Kain ZN. P6 acupoint injections are as effective as droperidol in controlling early postoperative nausea and vomiting in children. Anesthesiology 2002 Aug;97(2):359-66

ACUPRESSURE

Kovacs FM, Gotzens V, Garcia A, garcia F, Mufraggi N, Prandi D, Setoain J, San Roman F. Experimental Study on Radioactive Pathways of Hypodermically Injected Technetium-99m. J Nucl Med 1992; 33:403-407

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