Applying therapeutic substances to acupuncture points may improve several immune markers in children with asthma, suggesting an immune-regulating benefit.
Researchers searched five electronic databases for studies published through October 2014 that examined acupoint application for childhood asthma. They included six eligible studies, assessed their risk of bias using a standard review tool, and combined results using a random-effects meta-analysis while evaluating differences between studies.
The pooled evidence indicated that acupoint application improved several immune-related measures, including immunoglobulins A, E, and G, interleukin-4, and interferon-gamma, but did not improve immunoglobulin M. Treatment schedules involving applications lasting two to six hours and repeated three times over four weeks appeared potentially effective.
