Overview

Transcutaneous electrical acustimulation involves applying a low-intensity electrical current to acupuncture points without puncturing the skin.

Acustimulation is different from electroacupuncture, which uses needles that puncture the skin. It is also different than transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). TENS doesn't use acupuncture points (acupoints). According to traditional Chinese medicine, stimulating acupoints helps balance specific organs, emotions, and feelings.

People use acustimulation for nausea and vomiting or pain after surgery. It's also used for motion sickness, alcohol use disorder, neck pain, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these other uses.

Don't confuse acustimulation with Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kampo Medicine, acupressure, acupuncture, moxibustion, or trigger point therapy. These are not the same.



Uses & Effectiveness

Possibly Effective for

  • A decline in memory and thinking skills (cognitive function) after surgery. Acustimulation seems to help prevent a decline in cognitive function after surgery.
  • Impaired movement of food through the intestines after surgery. Acustimulation seems to encourage normal bowel functions and prevents problems with bowel functions after surgery.
  • Nausea and vomiting after surgery. Acustimulation seems to help prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery, although it's not clear if it's more helpful than antinausea drugs alone. It's also not clear if acustimulation helps to treat nausea and vomiting.
  • Pain after surgery. Acustimulation seems to help reduce pain after surgery in most people.

Possibly Ineffective for

  • Nausea and vomiting caused by cancer drug treatment. Acustimulation doesn't seem to help reduce nausea and vomiting caused by cancer drugs.

There is interest in using acustimulation for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Side Effects



Special Precautions and Warnings



Acustimulation is likely safe when used appropriately, short-term. No serious side effects have been reported. The most common acustimulation device is the ReliefBand. This device is approved by the US FDA. Other devices have also been used safely.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if acustimulation is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. But there's no reason to expect safety concerns when used appropriately.

Interactions

We currently have no information for Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation overview.

Dosing

Acustimulation is given using electrodes attached to specific points (acupoints) on the body. Small electric currents are administered to these acupoints. Various devices are used, such as the ReliefBand. The ReliefBand is worn on the wrist like a watch. It applies a small electric current to an acupoint on the wrist. Talk to your physician or other healthcare professional to learn more about how acustimulation is used for specific conditions.
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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

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