Altitude Sickness Bracelet: The Science, Do They Work?
Altitude sickness can easily ruin a trip. In the quest for remedies, altitude sickness bracelets have emerged as a potential solution. Discover the science behind altitude sickness bracelets and whether they truly work.
Altitude Sickness Bracelet
Altitude Sickness Bracelets are innovative accessories designed to alleviate the discomfort associated with high-altitude environments or nausea.
These bracelets can go by the names: altitude sickness bracelets, motion sickness bands, relief bands.
While the exact mechanisms may vary among different brands, the fundamental idea of most bracelets is that they either emit electrical impulses (frequencies) or use pressure on acupressure points to offer relief.
The aim is to provide individuals exploring elevated terrains with a wearable solution to enhance their overall well-being and comfort.
The Science Behind Altitude Sickness Bracelets
The basis of all these Altitude Sickness Bracelets are from the studies in the role of acupuncture in nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness.
The bracelets aim to hit acupuncture points in the meridian of the wrist that are involved with those symptoms. Each brand is achieving the results via hitting these acupuncture points by either pressure or electrical impulse.
4 findings in science on acupuncture benefits:
- Stimulation in the wrist (at PC6 point) seems to increase cerebral blood flow which could help altitude sickness, especially with dizziness, headache and nausea.⁶
- One study in the UK found acupuncture to lower the incidence of nausea and vomiting from 65% to 35%.³
- A Germany study found a bracelet worn to decrease motion sickness and stomach activity.⁵
- Research proves that activation of the acupuncture point near the wrist, known as PC6, shows effectiveness for nausea and vomiting.⁴
Some more advanced acupuncture techniques for altitude sickness that can’t be achieved with a bracelet involve tonifying the stomach, heart, spleen, lung and kidney.⁷
With these findings, the science does show significant results from acupuncture points in the wrist.
Do Relief Bands Help With Altitude Sickness?
Yes? The science, as we mentioned above, shows that acupuncture can improve symptoms and may help altitude sickness.
No? The question becomes how efficient the relief band or bracelet brand is in acupuncture hitting those acupuncture points which can relieve altitude sickness, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
Overall, yes we believe altitude sickness bracelets or relief bands can work, if you find a high quality brand. You’ll have to find out for yourself and experiment.
What Can Altitude Sickness Bracelets Help With?
With hitting the right acupuncture points with a bracelet comes many benefits. Depending on the bracelet you get and what points it targets on your wrist, you can see different results.
Each benefit is correlated with a different acupuncture point in the wrist, as indicated below.
What Can Altitude Sickness Bracelets Help With:
-
Motion Sickness (P6 point)
Keep in mind that the altitude sickness bracelet brand you use needs to be able to target these specific areas to get effective results. Most bracelets require manual adjustments to hit the proper areas.
Do Motion Sickness Bands Work On Airplanes?
While there’s no studies specifically done on airplanes, the bands and bracelets could certainly be beneficial due to similar symptoms of headache and nausea.
More research needs to be done, but you could test a motion sickness band on your next flight.
4 Best Altitude Sickness / Motion Sickness Bracelet Brands
Exploring high-altitude regions can be challenging and end up ruining your trip.
Several brands offer innovative solutions through their altitude sickness or motion sickness bracelets. While many are targeted for motion sickness, you’ll have to give them a try for altitude sickness to see for yourself if they work.
4 Best Altitude Sickness / Motion Sickness Bracelet Brands:
1. TOULIFLY Travel Wristbands
⭐⭐⭐⭐4.2 star (3,209 ratings)
Renowned for their effectiveness, but not for fit or comfort, these travel wristbands may help with travel and motion sickness along with reducing nausea.
2. LYJEE Travel Wristbands
⭐⭐⭐⭐4.2 star (1,536 ratings)
Targeted for motion sickness, car sickness, sea sickness, LYJEE wristbands are made similar to TOULIFLY with cloth bands and a pressure point mechanism.
3. EMETERM Anti-nausea Wristband
⭐⭐⭐⭐4.2 star (431 ratings)
EMETERM is designed like a watch for a fashionable look with the benefits of acupuncture using electrical stimulation. Highly rated for its performance on motion sickness and claimed to help altitude sickness, it’s also waterproof for travel-friendly usages.
4. RELIEFBAND Anti-Nausea Wristband
⭐⭐⭐3.8 star (147 ratings)
RELIEFBAND is a watch with a sports band, using specific patterns of pulses on the median nerve for relief. Made for migraines, nausea, and motion sickness, yet rank lower in performance than other brands.
Choosing the right brand can significantly enhance your travel experience, providing a means to combat the challenges posed by changes in altitude or motion.
Results may vary as acupuncture points can sometimes be difficult to hit without an acupuncturist. Read our top tips below for altitude sickness.
3 Top Tips To Avoid Altitude Sickness
As a company based in the high-altitude state of Colorado, we have vast experience on altitude sickness and what to do. With so many mixed reviews on altitude sickness bracelets, add these tips into your next high-altitude trip to increase the odds of beating the elevation.
3 Top Tips To Avoid Altitude Sickness:
1. Hydrate Efficiently
Higher elevations are shown by Wilderness Medical Society to increase fluid loss, potentially leading to dehydration.¹³ Make sure to hydrate efficiently as possible, experts often recommend drinking half your body weight in ounces of water per day.
2. Gradually Acclimate
One of the more effective tips is to simply avoid rushing to higher elevations without allowing the body time to adjust and acclimate.
This means to plan your ascent and stay at a height below your highest elevation. For example when visiting Colorado, visitors will stay in Denver at 5280 feet before climbing to mountain destinations like Breckenridge at 9600 feet.
3. Supplement Antioxidants
Oxidative stress has been found to increase at higher altitudes.¹⁴ Research even showed glutathione, considered the body’s master antioxidant, lowered by 45% in high elevation conditions.¹⁶
Antioxidants can help combat oxidative stress,¹⁵ and by supplementing antioxidants you can fortify your body.
By prioritizing efficient hydration, gradual acclimatization, and antioxidant supplementation, you can help increase the likelihood of a better high altitude experience.
For more altitude sickness avoiding tips, read our ultimate guide.
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SOURCES:
1. AcuBalance Motion Sickness Bracelets-Comfortable Waterproof Acupressure Band-Natural Nausea Relief-Vertigo-Morning Sickness-Great for Travel (sm 6)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WLHT85W
2. TOULIFLY Travel Wristbands,Travel Motion Sickness Relief Wrist Band,Natural Nausea Relief (Grey+Black)
https://www.amazon.com/Travel-Wristbands-Motion-Sickness-Natural/dp/B076MSCX16?th=1
3. Acupuncture in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9244025/
4. Physiological basis and pharmacology of motion sickness: an update
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0361923098000926
5. Neuronal Mechanisms and the Treatment of Motion Sickness - Acuband Bracelet
https://karger.com/pha/article/91/3-4/229/272141/Neuronal-Mechanisms-and-the-Treatment-of-Motion
6. Acupuncture Effects on Cerebral Blood Flow during Normoxia and Normobaric Hypoxia - Altitude Sickness
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/9/4/102
7. Altitude Sickness: An Integrated Perspective
https://acupuncturetoday.com/article/28250-altitude-sickness-an-integrated-perspective
8. Acupressure Charts - AcuBalance Motion Sickness Bracelets-Comfortable Waterproof Acupressure Band-Natural Nausea Relief-Vertigo-Morning Sickness-Great for Travel
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WLHT85W
9. TOULIFLY Travel Wristbands,Travel Motion Sickness Relief Wrist Band,Natural Nausea Relief
https://www.amazon.com/Travel-Wristbands-Motion-Sickness-Natural/dp/B076MSCX16/
10. LYJEE Motion Morning Sickness Wristbands for Anti-Nausea, Car Sea Sickness, Acupressure Relief Bands for Pregnant Women Adult
https://www.amazon.com/Sickness-Wristbands-LYJEE-Anti-Nausea-Acupressure/dp/B093D5HDZN
11. EmeTerm Explore Mint Green Anti-Nausea Wristband IP67 Waterproof Morning Motion Travel Sickness Vomit Relief Rechargeable Classic Strap Design No Gel Drug Free Without Side Effects
https://www.amazon.com/EmeTerm-Anti-Nausea-Wristband-Waterproof-Rechargeable/dp/B0C6Y5MX47
12. Reliefband Sport Anti-Nausea Wristband | Waterproof, FDA Cleared, Nausea & Vomiting Relief for Motion Sickness (Car, Air, Sea) & Morning Sickness, Drug & Side Effect Free
https://www.amazon.com/New-Reliefband-Anti-Nausea-Waterproof-Fast-Acting/dp/B09BG6L9ZW/
13. The Importance Of Drinking Water At High Altitude
https://summitoxygen.net/drinking-at-high-altitude/
14. High altitude and oxidative stress
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17482529/
15. Oxidative Stress and Diseases Associated with High-Altitude Exposure
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8868315/
16. Effect of high altitude (7,620 m) exposure on glutathione
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11320641/
