Traditionally, acupressure has been used in Chinese medicine to treat pain and disease, and to improve overall health, according to Encyclopædia Britannica.Today, scientific research is still ongoing to determine the efficacy and benefits of this practice. “Acupressure has been less studied than acupuncture,” Ingegno says. “However, some good studies exist for specific conditions.”May Reduce PainEvidence suggests that acupressure can help relieve pain. One study published in May 2019 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that those who received acupressure (patients in a clinic and hospital, and people from the general public who were taught self-acupressure) reported significantly improved pain and anxiety scores after the therapy, with the most benefit for hospitalized patients.Another study published two years prior determined that just three minutes of acupressure was more effective in acutely decreasing pain intensity in athletes who sustained an acute musculoskeletal sports injury compared with two control groups: one that received pressure to non-acupoints and one that received no treatment at all and just rested in a room.Some research suggests that acupressure may also help relieve sinus pressure associated with allergies.May Improve Mental HealthAcupressure may help alleviate stress and improve well-being. One study of 59 nurses in South Korea who received acupressure for 15 minutes a day for three days found that the practice significantly decreased stress, fatigue, and anxiety compared with the control group.Other research suggests that acupressure may help ease depression. A systematic review and meta-analysis published in January 2022 in the World Journal of Psychiatry concluded that in the 14 studies reviewed, acupressure significantly reduced symptoms in people with mild to moderate depression compared with the control groups. The authors cautioned, however, that the studies were variable in quality, and more research is needed.May Help With Sleep TroublesSome research suggests that acupressure might help promote better sleep.One meta-analysis found that although the 13 studies that met the criteria showed a lot of variability in results, in a subanalysis, there was evidence of some improvements in sleep, such as with latency (the time it takes to fall asleep) as well as overall sleep duration.Another study of 63 nursing home residents experiencing sleep disturbances and psychological distress found that acupressure led to improvements in sleep quality and mental well-being.May Ease Nausea and VomitingAnother benefit of acupressure with some scientific backing is its anti-nausea effect. Studies have shown particular benefit for people receiving chemotherapy and pregnant women.A clinical trial published in March 2022 in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies concluded that auricular acupressure, in conjunction with anti-nausea medication, was more effective at relieving nausea and vomiting than the medication alone in people with breast cancer who were undergoing chemotherapy.In another study of 90 women, acupressure administered for 10 minutes four times a day was found to reduce the severity of nausea, vomiting, and retching during pregnancy.May Improve the Well-Being of Cancer SurvivorsIn addition to preventing nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy, acupressure may help with a number of side effects of cancer.A study published October 2018 in JNCI Cancer Spectrum found that breast cancer survivors who were trained in self-administered acupressure experienced greater improvements in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and pain, as well as improved sleep quality, compared with those who received the usual care. A previous study by the same researchers found that acupressure significantly reduced persistent fatigue in breast cancer survivors compared with the usual care.