Nonpharmacologic Management of Nausea and Vomiting (Emesis)

Nonpharmacologic strategies are also used to manage nausea and vomiting (emesis). These include the following:

• Dietary alterations. (Refer to the Nausea subsection of the Nutritional Suggestions for Symptom Management section in the PDQ summary on Nutrition in Cancer Care for more information.)
• Hypnosis.
• Acupuncture. (Refer to the PDQ summary on Acupuncture for more information.)
• Acupressure.
• Relaxation techniques.
• Behavioral therapy.
• Guided imagery.

Guided imagery, hypnosis, and systematic desensitization as means to progressive muscle relaxation have been the most frequently studied treatments for anticipatory nausea and vomiting (ANV) and are the recommended treatments for this classically conditioned response. (Refer to the Treatment of ANV section of this summary for more information.)