Reliefband Reviews
The Reliefband is a neuromodulation device worn on the wrist to help alleviate symptoms of nausea and vomiting caused by various conditions such as motion sickness, morning sickness during pregnancy, and chemotherapy-induced nausea.
How Does it Work?
The Reliefband works by emitting electrical impulses to stimulate nerve fibers at the P6 (Neiguan) acupressure point on the wrist, which is believed to stimulate the body's natural anti-nausea mechanisms.
One of the main pros of the Reliefband is that it is a non-pharmacological option for managing nausea, which can be especially beneficial for pregnant women or individuals who cannot take traditional anti-nausea medications.
It is also fairly easy to use, with no complicated settings or adjustments required.
However, some users have reported experiencing skin irritation or allergic reactions to the device, and it is not suitable for individuals with pacemakers or other electronic devices implanted in their bodies.
Reliefband Effectiveness
The Reliefband website alludes to clinical studies that evidence the effectiveness of their product and electrostimulation devices in general, but they do not link to any such study specifically.
We found a meta analysis study concluding that 16 of 23 studies surveyed found that electrostimulation of the P6 Neiguan on the wrist had a positive effect on controlling general and acute nausea in patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. [ 1 ]
We were not able to find other peer reviewed studies regarding the effectiveness of electrostimulation on the wrist for other symptoms listed on the Relief Band website, such as migraines, anxiety, hangovers, or morning sickness.
We did find one study that mentioned the Relief Band in particular.
This study concluded that acustimulation wrist bands were not effective for controlling nausea in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. It did find that men undergoing chemotherapy experienced some relief from nausea when wearing the relief band. [ 2 ]
The Reliefband is also marketed as being a device that has 'FDA Clearance'.
FDA clearance, also known as 510(k) clearance, is a process by which the FDA determines that a medical device is substantially equivalent to a device that is already legally marketed in the United States.
This process is typically less rigorous than the approval process and is often used for lower-risk devices.
Cost and Price Plans
Relief Band sells several products on their website:
- Reliefband Premier - rechargeable battery - $279.99
- Reliefband Sport - rechargeable battery, waterproof - $239.99
- Reliefband Classic - replaceable battery (150hrs) - $139.99
- Reliefband 50 Hours - replaceable battery (50hrs) - $99.99
Additionally, we found the Reliefband Classic on Amazon, priced at $124.00 (excluding conductivity gel).
We also found the Reliefband Premier for sale on Amazon, priced at $279.99
Customer Reviews & Complaints
Reliefband products earn mixed to generally positive customer reviews, with many customers reporting that the device effectively reduces nausea caused by a variety of conditions, including chemotherapy, morning sickness, and motion sickness.
Some customers have also reported relief from migraines and other headaches.
Some customer reviews have stated that they noticed almost immediate relief, while others noted that they had to wear the Reliefband a while before they felt any relief.
It's important to note that results may vary from person to person and relief is not guaranteed.
In general, customer reviews for neuromodulation wristbands are mixed, with some users reporting that the devices are effective in reducing nausea, migraines, and other symptoms, while others have found little or no relief.
Reliefband Technologies, LLC is a BBB accredited business and has an A+ rating there, with 8 resolved customer complaints in the past 12 months.
While customer reviews on the company's own website are glowing, customer reviews on Amazon are slightly more mixed, with some customer complaints.
For example, on Amazon, the Reliefband Premier has a rating of 3.9/5 from 1,500+ customer reviews.
The Reliefband Classic has a rating of 4.1/5 from 2000+ customer reviews.
Customer Service
If you have questions about your order or the product, you can contact a representative via e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 877 735 2263.
You can also use the company's contact form found at www.reliefband.com/pages/contact.
The company lists its physical address as:
Reliefband® Technologies, LLC
300 Welsh Rd Bldg 11-100
Horsham, PA 19044-2248
Returns & Refunds
Reliefband offers a 30-day refund policy for their Reliefband Premier, Classic, or Sport devices. The Reliefband 50 Hours and all accessories are excluded from the return policy and the refund excludes shipping and handling charges.
You can initiate a refund by calling Reliefband Customer Service at 877-735-2263 within 30 days of receipt of the product and get a Return Merchandise Number (RMA).
You must return the product within 10 days of receiving the RMA number, along with the original packaging, UPC barcode, and receipt/packing slip.
The refund may take up to 4 weeks to be processed.
Competitors and Alternatives
Compared to other brands in the market, Reliefband is one of the most well-known and widely used neuromodulation devices for nausea.
Other brands which use similar electrostimulation technology include EmeTerm. Sea-Band is a popular brand of non-electric acupressure wristbands.
Reliefband vs. EmeTerm
The EmeTerm is another brand of rechargeable electrostimulation wristbands that works similarly to the Reliefband.
The EmeTerm is intended to relieve nausea due to motion sickness and morning sickness associated with pregnancy, but can be used for nausea brought on in other circumstances as well.
This device does not use a conductivity gel like the Reliefband.
A pair of EmeTerm Wristband sells for $129.99 on Amazon, and has a rating of 3.8/5 from over 1,300 customer reviews.
Reliefband vs. Seaband
Sea-Band are a brand of acupressure wristbands based on traditional acupressure principles.
They are non-electronic and work by applying pressure to the same specific point on the wrist (P6) as the Reliefband, but use a simple plastic knob that's sewn into the inside of the knitted elastic wristband
Sea-Band wristbands have been found to be effective in reducing nausea in a variety of situations, including during pregnancy, chemotherapy, and motion sickness. [ 3 ]
Sea-Band wristbands come at a much lower price point that the Reliefband.
A pair of Sea-Band Anti-Nausea Acupressure Wristbands sells for $8.53 on Amazon, and has a rating of 4.2/5 from over 26,000 customer reviews.
The Bottom Line
In general, acustimulation devices like the Reliefband are considered safe and effective for many individuals, but results may vary from person to person.
It is important to note that while some studies suggest that neuromodulation devices can be effective in reducing nausea and other symptoms, further research is needed to fully understand their potential benefits.
Additionally, it is always important to consult with a doctor before using any new medical device, and to get a proper diagnosis of the underlying cause of symptoms, as there are some conditions that cause nausea and vomiting that may be more serious.
If you have any experience with Reliefband or their products, please leave your reviews below.
You may also be interested in
Reliefband Customer Reviews
-
Sort Reviews By:
Not worth the money (or your time)
Customer Service "0"
Regardless of your product, when a patron of your product or service is unhappy, it is the quality of your customer service that will either make or break the entire experience.
This is where you as a company have the chance to shine, and your team should come alive to overcome whatever insurmountable issue has arisen.
Relief band must be run by a bunch of extremely smart technologically inclined staff to have come up with such a device, however, as with most extremely smart individuals, the staff I spoke to, (including a supervisor) had what seemed to be, absolutely no common sense, no interest whatsoever in the individual on the other end of the phone line, almost as if they lacked the ability to understand real human feelings.
Each time I was spoken to, I was given no answers, no promised return calls were made to me, and not one bit of interest was given to me, still to this day. It may be a great device, who knows, hopefully you'll get yours.....
Ditto. Product works until it doesn't. And then you're out of luck because customer service won't take returns past one year and won't fix. The charging mechanism is doomed to fail--VERY difficult contacts and ultra-short cord. Contacts wear or come loose in a year or less and it is always hard to achieve contact w/ the short cord. VERY user and customer UNFRIENDLY. Strongly advise against buying.