Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to medical devices.
Reliefband is an FDA-cleared wristband used to prevent nausea and vomiting. The company claims that their device sends electrical signals to the brain that shut off nausea, and that the device is side-effect-free.
But is Reliefband proven to reduce nausea? Does FDA-clearance mean it's proven to be effective? How does Reliefband work? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of Reliefband? And is it better or worse than EmeTerm?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze clinical studies on Reliefband to give our take on whether or not the device is likely to be effective.
We'll explain the difference between FDA clearance and FDA approval, explain how Reliefband works, and compare the device to its competitor Emeterm to pick our winner.
Key takeaways:
- Reliefband is clinically proven to reduce motion sickness
- Unlikely to cause side effects
- We currently recommend Reliefband
Is Reliefband Proven to Work?
Reliefband has been studied in several clinical trials published in peer-reviewed medical journals, which is the gold standard for product research and the sign of a high-quality brand that takes research seriously.
A 2003 clinical trial tested the effects of the Reliefband on nausea and vomiting in cancer patients, because chemotherapy can often induce these symptoms. Patients in the trial either used the Reliefband or an inactive device.
Patients using Reliefband experienced a reduction in vomiting of greater than 50% (1.9 vs. 4.6 average episodes). Their nausea severity was around 40% lower (0.91 vs. 1.65).
A clinical trial published in the Anesthesiology journal compared the efficacy of antiemetic medications (drugs which prevent vomiting) alone versus antiemetic medications combined with Reliefband.
Trial participants using Reliefband in combination with the drugs had a significant reduction in nausea (20% experienced nausea with Reliefband vs. 50% without), and none of the Reliefband users experienced vomiting while 20% of the patients on antiemetic medications alone did.
A 2015 clinical trial reported similarly positive results. Patients undergoing a medical operation were evaluated for postoperative nausea and vomiting using either the Reliefband or a “sham” device to test the placebo effect.
Patients using the Reliefband had lower scores of nausea and vomiting, and required fewer doses of anti-vomiting drugs. Patient satisfaction scores were also much higher in the Reliefband group.
The research backing the efficacy of Reliefband is impressive, and overall we consider Reliefband likely to be effective for reducing nausea and vomiting.
This device provides a non-invasive way to treat symptoms that often require medication, which is a huge benefit for consumers in our opinion.
What Does FDA Clearance Mean?
As documented in the intro to this article, Reliefband is FDA-cleared. But what does that actually mean, and how does it differ from FDA-approval?
According to the FDA, clearance means that a medical device is “substantially equivalent” to a similar device already on the market. As an example, a blood pressure cuff with a similar structure and similar materials to one already existing on the market may be cleared by the FDA for use.
For the most part, this process involves the FDA reviewing information submitted by the medical device manufacturer arguing the safety and efficacy of their device.
Typically the FDA does not actually conduct any testing of their own, according to a CNET investigation, but rather reviews results from independent labs (presumably that the medical device manufacturer paid to conduct testing).
FDA clearance is definitely a good sign of a legitimate product as it suggests safety and equivalent efficacy to devices using similar technology that are already on the market.
FDA approval is a different process, and means the FDA actually considers a product like a drug likely to be effective based on a review of research studies, as we documented in our BeActive Plus reviews article.
How Does Reliefband Work?
Reliefband doesn’t publish enough information about how their device works on their website in our opinion, but we can find relevant information in the clinical trials on Reliefband.
The first-linked study in the first section of this article documents what technology Reliefband uses. Electrical pulses are delivered to a point in the wrist called the P6 point. This transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TCES) sends signals to the brain which reduce nausea.
Reliefband published a blog post describing the area of the brain that controls nausea, called the dorsal vagal complex, and how Reliefband stimulates this area to reduce the sensation of nausea.
Apparently when the dorsal vagal complex is stimulated with TCES, it reduces the intensity and frequency of nervous system activity traveling from the vagus nerve to the stomach, which in turn reduces nausea and vomiting.
A video from Reliefband's official YouTube channel is under a minute long and uses animations to show how the device works in the body:
Reliefband vs. EmeTerm
EmeTerm is another FDA-cleared medical device for nausea relief.
The brand's website claims that it's FDA-approved:
image source: emeterm.com
We cannot find any evidence that this device is FDA-approved. Rather, it appears to be FDA-cleared like Reliefband. This is a red flag in our opinion about the brand.
The Science page on the EmeTerm website currently features two clinical trials testing the device, so there is (slightly) less clinical backing than Reliefband.
Overall, we consider Reliefband to be a better option than EmeTerm.
Our Clean Anti-Nausea Picks
Cornbread CBD Oil is our top anti-nausea supplement pick.
"Preclinical research indicates that cannabinioids, including CBD, may be effective clinically for treating both nausea and vomiting..." according to a medical review published in the British Journal of Pharmacology.
Pique Ginger Digestion Elixir is our top whole food anti-nausea pick.
A medical review published in the Integrative Medicine Insights journal concludes “ginger is an effective and inexpensive treatment for nausea and vomiting and is safe.”
Both products recommended in this section are free of any ingredients that we consider unhealthy.
Reliefband Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Clinically shown to work
- Non-invasive
- Should reduce nausea
- Cost-effective over long periods of time
- Unlikely to cause side effects
- FDA-cleared
Cons:
- Some online complaints about customer service
