Although research on the effectiveness of acupressure remains inconclusive, it may possess a variety of benefits, including:

• Pain relief. Acupressure may have potential for increasing the pain threshold and easing pain. Some studies show slight potential to replace or amplify simple analgesics for the relief of minor, temporary aches and pain, such as those experienced by athletes during training.

Pain relief may be facilitated through various acupressure points all over the body. Different points, known as trigger points, may be used depending on where the pain is located and the points may not necessarily be near the local point of pain. For example, the ear has acupressure pain points for many parts of the body. Acupressure may help in easing the pain of many conditions, including fibromyalgia and headaches.

• Nausea relief. The bulk of positive research on Nausea relief. The bulk of positive research on acupressure concerns the effectiveness of acupressure at the P6 or Neiguan acupressure point for relieving nausea. This point is located on the inside of the wrist, three fingerbreadths above the wrist’s proximal skin crease (the one closest to the elbow). It is between two tendons, the palmaris longus and the flexor carpi radialis.
  
  Pressure may be applied manually or by a special acupressure wristband, which has a plastic button that presses on the pressure point. Relief may be gained from the nausea caused by motion sickness, morning sickness, medications or treatments such as chemotherapy. Some people have found that putting on the wristbands before a boat trip can prevent seasickness.

Acupressure has also been used to control nausea and vomiting in cancer patients.

• Other potential effects. Acupressure may have numerous other beneficial effects, including:
  
  
• • Relief of muscle tension
  • Deep relaxation
  • Comforting or pleasant feeling
  • Increased blood flow
  • Stress relief
  • Depression relief
  • Anti-inflammatory properties
    

Few risks or negative effects have been associated with acupressure. If acupressure is too vigorous, it may cause bruising. There have been rare cases of acupressure to the neck causing dissection (tearing) of a carotid artery, which supplies blood to the head. This damage could cause a stroke. Symptoms of a carotid dissection may include headache, ringing in the ears and the (possibly permanent) drooping of an eyelid.   

Acupressure should also be avoided over open wounds to prevent irritation or damage. Conditions that may rule out use of acupressure include deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in a leg), burns, skin infections, eczema, fractures and advanced osteoporosis.