Electroacupuncture

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• Research Summary

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Executive Summary

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Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Research into Chinese medicine treatment for Electroacupuncture" summarising the research below and using language that can be easily understood by patients and avoiding medical jargon using a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Researched Chinese medicine treatments for Electroacupuncture" summarising the research below in an objective and easy to understand way, and using language that can be easily understood by patients. Group the article into Chinese medicine treatments first, followed by nutrition and other treatments. Avoid using medical jargon and use a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write me a concise but easy to understand executive summary on the topic of "Chinese medicine treatments for Electroacupuncture" based on the following research that I will give you. Your summary should be 2 paragraphs long in Australian English spelling and include references to the studies.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2026 in the journal Frontiers in Medicine found that The Shuci method of electroacupuncture shows temporary efficacy in treating knee osteoarthritis. In a multicenter, patient- and assessor-blinded, superiority randomized controlled trial, 110 patients with knee osteoarthritis were equally divided into two groups: an electroacupuncture (EA) group and a sham EA (SEA) group. Both groups received treatment three times weekly for two weeks following the Shuci theory of traditional Chinese acupuncture. Patients' conditions were evaluated both before and after the treatment, using the Clinical Global Impressions scale - Improvement. Upon completion of the treatment, the EA group displayed a significantly higher response rate compared to the SEA group. The EA group also demonstrated marked improvements in terms of pain, symptoms, activities of daily living, and knee-related quality of life. These results preliminarily confirmed the temporary efficiency of the Shuci method of electroacupuncture in treating knee osteoarthritis.

A Systematic Review published in 2026 in the journal Frontiers in Neurology found that Acupuncture, particularly electroacupuncture, combined with other treatments like cupping and medication, is potentially highly effective for improving fibromyalgia patients' pain. In the methodology of this study, a network meta-analysis was undertaken by methodically going through widely consulted databases until December 28, 2025. This was done to identify applicable randomized controlled trials that assessed various acupuncture techniques for treating fibromyalgia. The key outcome considered was based on the visual analog scale (VAS), with the total effective rate (TER) serving as a secondary exploratory index. In the discussion of the results, it can be seen that from the total of 26 studies comprised of 2,037 patients, the study's pairwise meta-analysis displayed that combining acupuncture with medication and cupping was better than using medication alone for enhancing VAS and HAMD scores. In terms of improving pain (VAS score), electroacupuncture had the highest SUCRA value, pointing to a high probability of being ranked first in this network meta-analysis. Alternatively, for the overall effective rate (TER), a widely used endpoint in Chinese acupuncture trials, the floating needle together with cupping had the supreme SUCRA value. The study also suggested a positive link between the effectiveness of acupuncture and treatment duration.

A Systematic Review published in 2026 in the journal Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine found that Acupuncture, in all modalities, effectively alleviates pain and enhances function in knee osteoarthritis, posing as a vital non-drug treatment option. In the methodology, this umbrella review of various systematic reviews and meta-analyses examined the impact of different acupuncture types on adults with knee osteoarthritis. Searches were made on a myriad of databases, including MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang, and VIP, and the most superior evidence was handpicked. The Modified Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (R-AMSTAR) was used in determining the methodological quality of the reviews. Discussing the results, most acupuncture methods registered consistent improvements in pain management and physical function among patients. Acupuncture provided meaningful enhancements in pain and joint function when compared with sham acupuncture, normal care, and waiting-list. Electroacupuncture improved joint stiffness and response rates better than pharmaceutical treatments, whereas acupuncture matched non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs' efficiency. In comparison to Tui Na or massage, acupuncture had a slower onset but provided similar or slightly inferior function and stiffness improvements. The chances of gastrointestinal complications were reduced as the registered adverse events were usually mild and local. The effectiveness of acupuncture was most visible at the end of the treatment and during short-term follow-ups that lasted less than three months.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2026 in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology found that Acupuncture appears to improve clinical outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing fertility treatments, such as in-vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. A thorough search of seven databases, from inception to March 7, 2026, identified relevant randomized controlled trials examining the effects of acupuncture in women with PCOS undergoing fertility treatments. Forest plots presented the pooled evidence, with results encompassing a primary outcome and nine secondary outcomes. The studies' risk of bias was evaluated, sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess pooled estimates' stability, publication bias was assessed, and subgroup analyses were utilized to evaluate different factors' impacts on the primary outcome. The evidence's certainty was assessed with the GRADEPro GDT tool. From the 551 initially identified articles, 22 trials involving 2,299 women were included. The analysis demonstrated that acupuncture therapy was associated with an increase in the clinical pregnancy and live birth rates and superior results in ovarian simulation and embryo development. The acupuncture group required a lower dose and a shorter period of Gn use, and it did not increase the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Subgroup analysis further revealed that manual acupuncture was more beneficial than electroacupuncture. The pooled evidence was robust, even if the overall quality of the evidence provided ranged from very low to moderate.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2026 in the journal Frontiers in Neurology found that Acupoint stimulation techniques show potential in relieving fatigue, improving neurological function, and enhancing the quality of life for those with multiple sclerosis. For the methodology, eight databases were extensively searched up until August 3rd, 2025 to gather relevant publications. The focus was on randomized controlled trials that compared different acupoint stimulation therapies such as acupuncture, electroacupuncture, moxibustion, acupressure, and acupoint injection for treating multiple sclerosis. To thoroughly examine the impacts of the different treatments, Bayesian network meta-analysis was employed. This helped evaluate the influence of various therapies on scores from the Expanded Disability Status Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale, the Barthel index, and response rates. The results brought to light that electroacupuncture combined with acupoint injection was the most effective at improving neurological function. For fatigue relief, acupressure therapy performed the best whereas electroacupuncture mixed with acupoint injection showed the highest efficacy in improving daily life activities. The study highlights the value of using acupoint stimulation therapy in tandem with standard pharmacological treatments to lessen fatigue and enhance neurological function and life quality in MS patients. Despite this, the findings should be interpreted carefully due to the methodological limitations and clinical variations among the different interventions studied.

A Systematic Review published in 2026 in the journal Journal of Pain Research found that Acupuncture significantly improves pain and stiffness in fibromyalgia syndrome patients, and the effect levels are influenced by treatment frequency and type of acupuncture. During the methodology, PRISMA guidelines were followed to systematically search a range of databases for any randomized controlled trials that compared acupuncture to conventional treatments in adults with fibromyalgia. Factors such as gender, frequency of treatment, and type of acupuncture were taken into account during the meta-analysis which was done using random-effects models. In the results, data from seventeen trials with 773 participants revealed that acupuncture contributes to significant short-term improvements in pain and stiffness. Persistent benefits were observed in long-term follow-up, although improvements in aspects like quality of life, mental health, and energy were only seen in the short term. Further, high-frequency acupuncture sessions resulted in better physical function, and acupuncture with electrical stimulation provided additional benefits.

A Clinical Study published in 2026 in the journal Medicine found that Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) shows promise as a more effective acupuncture type for improving pregnancy outcomes in patients with poor ovarian response. In this study, eight databases were searched until September 10, 2023, to include randomized controlled trials that used TEAS, manual acupuncture (MA), or electroacupuncture (EA) as methods before in-vitro fertilization and embryo transplantation, aiming to improve pregnancy outcomes in patients with poor ovarian response. Traditional controlled ovarian stimulation protocols were used in the control group, and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool was employed to evaluate the methodological quality of the incorporated studies. Summary statistics were generated using the surfaces under the cumulative ranking curves. The analysis included fifteen randomized controlled trials, encompassing 1195 women, in a network meta-analysis. The results revealed that TEAS significantly outperformed EA, MA, and the control group in increasing the number of oocytes and antral follicle count. It's notable that manual acupuncture demonstrated a greater increase in the number of mature oocytes compared to the control group. However, the effects of the other treatments didn't show substantial differences when the contrasting groups were analyzed. The evidence currently suggests that using acupuncture as a precursor to in-vitro fertilization brings positive effects and a high safety profile in enhancing pregnancy outcomes in patients with poor ovarian responses, with TEAS appearing to be the most encouraging option.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2026 in the journal Lasers in Medical Science found that Laser acupuncture does not significantly improve pain, function, or mobility in knee osteoarthritis as per the current evidence. Methodology: The researchers sought to determine the impact of laser acupuncture on knee osteoarthritis. The process involved a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that compared laser acupuncture to sham treatment, placebo, electroacupuncture, or standard care. The trials, identified from major research databases, studied outcomes such as pain, function and range of motion in the affected knees. Risk of bias in the studies was assessed and variations in the results were explored through subgroup analyses. Results: Thirteen randomized controlled trials involving 611 participants were analyzed. The results showed no significant improvements in pain or function caused by osteoarthritis. There was a marginal trend towards improvement in knee function and mobility. However, the prevalence of substantial variations across studies, possibly due to differences in laser parameters and acupoint protocols, suggests that the results should be interpreted with caution. There was no evidence of significant publication bias.

A published in 2025 in the journal Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine found that Electroacupuncture significantly improved pregnancy outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome via enhancing mitochondrial function of granulosa cells. In this randomized controlled trial, there were 90 infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome and phlegm-dampness syndrome, enrolled between August and December of 2022. These participants were split into two groups: a control group that received pseudo-acupuncture and an electroacupuncture group, with both groups undertaking an ovarian stimulation protocol. The electroacupuncture group received therapy at multiple acupuncture points twice a week for a set of six sessions right after cessation of menstruation in the cycle prior to oocyte retrieval. The results revealed that, compared to the control group, the electroacupuncture group demonstrated a higher rate of successful pregnancies. In terms of quality, the embryos in the electroacupuncture group were of better quality, as was the fresh embryo transfer rate. There were no observed instances of ectopic pregnancies in either group, with no significant differences in other pregnancy-related indicators like fresh clinical pregnancy rate or early pregnancy loss rate. In relation to granulosa cells, the electroacupuncture group showed lower levels of specific mRNA expression along with a higher mitochondrial autophagy and mitochondrial membrane potential, leading to the suggestion that electroacupuncture contributes to the improved quality of the oocyte.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2025 in the journal BMJ Open found that The use of dilatational waves, low-frequency currents and 30-minute session durations can improve clinical pregnancy rates for in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer patients. The researchers conducted a meta-analysis using data extracted from eight databases up to the date of 27 August 2024. The focus was on randomised controlled trials that evaluated the use of electroacupuncture and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation to improve in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer outcomes. Primary and secondary outcomes included clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate respectively, along with various electroacupuncture and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation parameters such as waveform type, frequency and treatment duration. Furthermore, seven subgroup variables involving specifics of treatment and participant details were studied for potential influences on the pregnancy outcomes. The meta-analysis covered 27 randomised controlled trials, which comprised a total of 3786 participants, with the overall quality of evidence varying between moderate and very low. Findings showed that the use of dilatational waves, low-frequency currents and a treatment duration of 30 minutes per session noticeably improved clinical pregnancy rates when compared to control groups. Subgroup analysis additionally indicated these outcomes can significantly vary depending on the therapeutic dose administered, particularly showing stronger associations for patients receiving higher therapeutic doses.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2025 in the journal Medicine found that Electroacupuncture treatment significantly improves clinical and immunological outcomes for herpes zoster patients compared to Western medicine. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted, utilizing data from four international databases and three Chinese databases, searched up until January 2024. The software tool RevMan 5.3 was utilized for the meta-analysis, with data presented as standardized mean difference or odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. Out of 1361 records, 19 were ultimately used in the meta-analysis. The analysis results indicated notable benefits for herpes zoster patients receiving electroacupuncture treatments compared to those receiving Western Medicine. Patients receiving electroacupuncture showed improved counts in certain biological markers associated with immune response, as well as quicker times to several key points in disease progression such as cessation of pustules, pain relief, time to scab, and time to remove scabs. Additionally, there was a lower incidence of postherpetic neuralgia and a higher total effective rate in this treatment group. However, the combination of Western medicine with electroacupuncture was found to have better effects than electroacupuncture treatment alone.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2024 in the journal Frontiers in Neurology found that The combination of electroacupuncture and TDP therapy is more effective in treating peripheral facial paralysis than other therapeutic methods. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, several databases were scoured for relevant literature on randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials exploring the effects of electroacupuncture combined with TDP for the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis. Two reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias, determined the quality, and extracted data from the selected articles; these studies were then subjected to a meta-analysis performed using Stata15.0 software. Meta-analysis findings showed no significant difference in the effective rate of electroacupuncture combined with TDP and other treatment options, but the recovery rate was notably better. Moreover, sub-group analyses revealed that the combination therapy showed superior efficacy particularly in studies involving minors. In contrast, no significant difference was noted in studies exclusively involving adults. Regardless of whether electroacupuncture was used alone or in combination, the recovery rate was better than other methods.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2024 in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry found that Electroacupuncture appears to be safe and improves overall response rates but is not superior to placebo in reducing depression scores in postpartum depression patients. The study incorporated a systematic review of relevant randomized controlled trials from a range of electronic databases up until November 2023. The evaluation measured the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture in treating postpartum depression using methods including the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores, adverse events, and overall response rates, while also taking into account publication bias and heterogeneity. A total of 12 trials involving 1364 participants were put to analysis. A comprehensive meta-analysis revealed that while electroacupuncture did not significantly succeed in reducing depression scores when compared to sham electroacupuncture, it showed noteworthy responses in overall response rates. The study found that electroacupuncture resulted in favourable results when compared to the placebo and sham electroacupuncture groups. Additionally, the occurrence of adverse events was found to be lesser, contributing to the safety profile of electroacupuncture in the management of postpartum depression.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2024 in the journal Medicine found that Different acupuncture therapies, particularly electroacupuncture combined with pricking and cupping, effectively treat acute Herpes Zoster symptoms. The study's methodology involved searching various databases, including the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese BioMedical Database, VIP Database, and Wanfang Database, for eligible randomized controlled trials of acupuncture-related therapies for acute Herpes Zoster. Researchers then used Bayesian network meta-analyses via GeMTC and R software to analyze the gathered data. In terms of results, it was found that electroacupuncture combined with pricking and cupping had the best efficacy to improve pain and reduce the progression of herpes. Furthermore, pricking and cupping were highly effective in reducing the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia. The study also noted that the rate of adverse events associated with acupuncture therapies was acceptable. These findings suggest that acupuncture-related therapies were both safe and effective in treating acute Herpes Zoster.

A Systematic Review published in 2024 in the journal Journal of Pain Research found that Complementary and alternative medicine treatments such as acupuncture plus massage and umbilical acupuncture effectively alleviate pain and improve mood and sleep quality in fibromyalgia patients. This study was conducted as a systematic review and it involved extracting data from both English and Chinese databases, covering studies up till April 15, 2023. The search was aimed at prospective controlled trials focusing on the effects of complementary and alternative medicine therapies on fibromyalgia patients. The researchers embarked on a meticulous statistical analysis using mean values and standard deviations, while also evaluating the quality of the literature and any potential biases. The review found that out of 41 articles studied, involving 2877 patients with fibromyalgia and 20 different interventions, a combination of acupuncture and massage, as well as umbilical acupuncture notably reduced pain symptoms. Additionally, abdominal acupuncture and electroacupuncture were beneficial in improving mood and sleep quality among these patients. The analysis of these tests showed that these therapies offered the most effective relief and overall, the complementary and alternative medicine therapies were safe for fibromyalgia patients.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2023 in the journal Postgraduate Medical Journal found that Intermittent wave stimulation electroacupuncture significantly improved facial symmetry and nerve function in chronic Bell's palsy patients compared to transcutaneous electrical stimulation. This study employed a 6-week assessor-blinded, randomized trial followed by an 18-week observational period. Sixty individuals suffering from chronic Bell's palsy, who had not shown signs of recovery after a year, were randomly designated to either receive 18 sessions of electroacupuncture using intermittent wave stimulation or transcutaneous electrical stimulation. These sessions took place three times per week over the course of 6 weeks. Although the primary consideration was the change in total facial nerve index score from the start to the end of Week 6, secondary outcomes included scores at Weeks 12 and 24, and changes in Sunnybrook Facial Grading System score from the beginning to the end of Week 6 and subsequent measurements at Weeks 12 and 24. The results showed that the electroacupuncture group had a significant improvement in their facial nerve index score by Week 6 compared to the transcutaneous electrical stimulation group. This significant improvement was maintained throughout the 24 week follow-up period. Albeit no noticeable differences were seen in Sunnybrook Facial Grading System score changes from the beginning to Week 6, variations were identified at weeks 12 and 24. No considerable adverse effects were reported throughout the study.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2023 in the journal Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies found that Systemic electroacupuncture associated with Nogier frequency improves some aspects of quality of life in fibromyalgia patients, but not pain intensity, diagnostic criteria and heart rate variability. Randomized clinical trial methodology was used in this pilot study in which eighteen volunteers (both control and experimental) participated. The experimental group underwent six twenty minute systemic electroacupuncture sessions coupled with auricular acupuncture twice a week, for six weeks. The intensity of pain, diagnostic criteria of American College of Rheumatology, effect on life by fibromyalgia, and changes in heart rate variability were measured using specific instruments such as the Numerical Pain Assessment Scale, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, and HRV analysis. In terms of the results, the primary outcome, i.e., Numeric Pain Assessment Scale showed no significant difference. However, in the secondary outcomes, distinct improvements were noted in the total score and certain domains of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire such as pain and anxiety. Nonetheless, no significant changes were observed for the diagnostic criteria or HRV variables.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2023 in the journal PLOS One found that Electroacupuncture therapy appears to be beneficial in treating intractable facial paralysis, significantly improving the cure rate without reported adverse events. The method involved a systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 studies (engaging 1,119 participants) related to electroacupuncture treatment for intractable facial paralysis, procured from seven databases. The studies assessed were published up to November 30, 2022, and their bias risk varied. Primary measures examined include the total effective rate, cure rate, and various scoring systems like Portmann, House-Brackmann, and Sunnybrook scores, alongside the occurrence of adverse events. The results showed that electroacupuncture was more effective in improving the total effective rate and the cure rate in the case of intractable facial paralysis compared to non-electroacupuncture counterparts. Interestingly, none of the studies reported any adverse events associated with the therapy. However, the lack of sufficient evidence to evaluate its safety and follow-up effect remains a concern.

A Systematic Review published in 2022 in the journal Frontiers in Medicine found that Electroacupuncture may be more effective than manual acupuncture for managing frozen shoulder, with larger effect sizes in terms of pain, function, and response rate. This review included thirteen studies involving 936 patients. The EA group exhibited improvements in FS pain, function, and response rates over the manual acupuncture (MA) group. As an adjunct treatment, EA improved FS pain compared to the control treatments. No adverse effects were reported. EA was found to be an efficacious method for treating FS in this review. The meta-analysis showed that EA led to a greater reduction of FS pain than MA did, although with a very low certainty of evidence. In comparison to MA, EA led to a superior degree of functional improvement in FS patients, with a very low certainty of evidence. In comparison to MA, EA enhanced the response rate of FS, again with a low certainty of evidence. Compared with WM used in isolation, EA plus WM reduced FS pain with a low certainty of evidence.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2022 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Electroacupuncture offers superior results than control treatment for acute herpes zoster pain and rash healing time. The chosen method for this study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of previously published research. The research team conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases in both English and Chinese languages, seeking out randomized controlled trials relevant to the application of Electroacupuncture for acute herpes zoster pain. The explicit criteria were set for investigation and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool deployed to evaluate the methodological quality of the chosen studies. The key outcome indexes included visual analog scale, rash healing time, time to cessation of pustules, time to scabs, adverse reactions, and the occurrence of postherpetic neuralgia and specific subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to pinpoint the intervention's effect. The data extracted from six selected randomized controlled trials (341 participants in total) indicates that Electroacupuncture demonstrates an observable improvement in treatment of acute herpes zoster pain and reduction in rash healing time when compared to the control group. However, no significant difference was noticed in relation to time to cessation of pustules, scabs, and adverse reactions. The use of 2/100 Hz-EA specifically seemed to have more substantial effects on herpes zoster pain. Though the study results were found to be stable, an observed publication bias and weak evidence for the safety of Electroacupuncture dilutes the overall conclusion.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2022 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that

A Systematic Review published in 2022 in the journal Journal of Korean Medicine found that Electroacupuncture treatment may be effective for treating acute gout. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of electroacupuncture (EA) in treating acute gout. A literature search was conducted using four international databases and eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were analyzed. Three evaluation tools were mainly used: Total Effective Rate (TER), Uric Acid (UA), and Pain Score (VAS). The results showed that EA, alone or in combination with other treatments, had a statistically significant level of improvement compared to Western medicine treatment, as indicated by the TER, VAS score, and UA level. However, the study has limitations such as geographical bias, small sample size, and high risk of bias. Further well-designed studies are needed to support these findings.

A Systematic Review published in 2022 in the journal Journal of Acupuncture Research found that Electroacupuncture treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome was reported to be effective and showed a significant difference from the control group. Although electroacupuncture treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome was reported to be effective and showed a significant difference from the control group, in some evaluation items no significant differences were observed. The quality and the number of studies included in this review was limiting, therefore an accurate evaluation of the efficacy of electroacupuncture treatment for CTS was not possible.

A published in 2022 in the journal Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine found that Electroacupuncture therapy significantly improves muscle strength in patients with peripheral facial palsy. In the study, a surface nerve electromyogram (EMG) recognition model was created that utilized a multiview convolutional neural network to investigate the value of electroacupuncture as a treatment for peripheral facial palsy. The model was compared with traditional single-view convolutional neural networks, and the influence of multiple view aggregation methods on facial recognition accuracy was analyzed. As for the data, they were obtained from 150 patients randomly divided into two groups: a control group receiving only basic treatment and a treatment group given both basic treatment and electroacupuncture. The therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture was evaluated after a four-week treatment period based on surface EMG parameters and the Horsfall-Barratt scale. The results indicated that the multiview convolutional neural networks had superior facial recognition accuracy compared to all single-view networks. The treatment group showed a higher overall treatment effectiveness rate compared to the control group, demonstrating that electroacupuncture can significantly improve muscle strength in patients with peripheral facial palsy. Furthermore, the proposed multiview aggregation network demonstrated higher face recognition accuracy than other multiview aggregation methods.

A Systematic Review published in 2022 in the journal Sleep Medicine found that Multiple acupuncture therapies, particularly acupoints catgut embedding, auricular acupressure + manual acupuncture, and electroacupuncture + acupoint application, significantly improve insomnia symptoms. In this research, a systematic literature search was conducted to extract data from 57 randomized controlled trials involving 4678 patients who underwent various acupuncture therapies for primary insomnia. The researchers independently screened the literature and performed a risk of bias assessment. Data from the trials were analyzed using R and Stata software, followed by an evidence assessment using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system. Results showed that various acupuncture therapies, particularly acupoints catgut embedding, auricular acupressure or auricular acupuncture plus manual acupuncture, and electroacupuncture plus acupoint application, showed better effectiveness in improving insomnia, compared to the usual treatments. However, differences between the therapies were considered small or insignificant. The most common minor adverse events reported were hematoma, pain, headache, and bleeding.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2022 in the journal Frontiers in Neurology found that Combined treatments, particularly steroid plus antiviral plus Kabat treatment, show better facial function recovery in acute Bell's palsy patients than single therapy. The researchers performed a comprehensive analysis on the effectiveness and safety of all pharmacological and physical treatments for acute Bell's palsy patients over a short-term period. They carried out online searches for randomized controlled trials, which included patients with Bell's palsy and compared two or more treatment regimes. These searches were conducted on various electronic databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. The researchers then used Bayesian network meta-analysis to study outcomes such as the primary outcome of the House-Brackmann scale and secondary outcomes like sequelae and adverse events. Their analysis included subgroup analyses of steroids and antivirals. The researchers discovered that combined therapies such as acupuncture plus electrical stimulation, steroid plus antiviral plus Kabat treatment, and steroid plus antiviral plus electrical stimulation showed the highest propensity for facial recovery. The study concluded that steroid plus antiviral plus Kabat treatment was associated with a better facial function recovery outcome than single therapy, while acupuncture plus electrical stimulation could be a good alternative for people with systemic disease or allergies. The study also found that treatments using stereoids plus antivirals plus electrical stimulation had the lowest incidence of sequelae but more likely to result in mild adverse events.

A Systematic Review published in 2022 in the journal Frontiers in Surgery found that Acupuncture, particularly electro-acupuncture, may alleviate post-hemorrhoidectomy pain at certain stages, but overall effectiveness remains inconclusive. The study conducted a systematic review to assess acupuncture's effect on pain experienced post-hemorrhoidectomy. To compile the required data, the researchers closely searched through nine databases, such as PubMed and Embase, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) home in on information concerning pain level after the surgery, the dosage of rescue analgesic medication used, patients' quality of life, and details about adverse events. Extracted data was analyzed narratively. The systematic review included four RCTs that encompassed a total of 275 patients. One observed study demonstrated that patients who underwent electro-acupuncture recorded significantly lower pain scores on the visual analog scale post-surgery and during their first defecation compared to those in the sham acupuncture group. Similar trends appeared on the verbal rating scale and Wong-Baker Faces scale but at varying time points. Another study displayed that electro-acupuncture was successful in relieving pain during defecation, up to a week following surgery, more so than local anesthetics. However, two trials that compared manual acupuncture with active medications for post-hemorrhoidectomy pain demonstrated inconsistent results.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2020 in the journal Nature and Science of Sleep found that Ten sessions of electroacupuncture can improve the sleep quality of patients with insomnia without serious adverse effects. Results of the current trial provide supportive evidence that electroacupuncture can be an effective, safe, and well-tolerated non-pharmacological intervention for insomnia, using validated placebo control and validated subjective questionnaires. Further long-term studies with objective sleep measures are needed for a more definitive conclusion.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2020 in the journal Acupuncture in Medicine found that Electroacupuncture and manual acupuncture show similar effectiveness in relieving plantar heel pain syndrome with no significant difference between the two modalities. In this research, participants were randomly divided into two groups to receive either electroacupuncture (EA) or manual acupuncture (MA) treatments. They underwent a course of 12 treatment sessions over a span of 4 weeks, followed by 24 weeks of follow-up. The study prioritized the assessment of treatment responders, who were identified as patients showcasing at least a 50% reduction from their initial worst pain intensity experienced during the initial steps in the morning after 4 weeks of treatment. The study encompassed 92 patients diagnosed with PHPS, enlisted between July 2018 and June 2019. A total of 78 patients (85% of the original group) successfully completed both the treatment and follow-up. The results highlight that after the 4-week treatment period, both the EA and MA groups experienced a decrease in heel pain and showed improved plantar function with no serious treatment-related adverse events. Interestingly, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of pain intensity relief or in any secondary outcomes after 4 weeks of treatment and at follow-up points at 16 and 28 weeks.

A Clinical Study published in 2020 in the journal Journal of Craniofacial Surgery found that Electro-acupuncture when added to standard treatment can substantially enhance recovery in Bell palsy patients, reducing paralysis severity and improving nerve function. In the study, a total of 88 patients diagnosed with Bell palsy participated. They were divided into two groups. The first group comprised 40 patients who received standard treatment (ST) only, while the second group consisted of 48 individuals receiving standard treatment plus additional electro-acupuncture therapy (ST-EA). Details concerning patient demographics, symptoms, comorbidities, and clinical outcomes over a 3-month treatment period were meticulously recorded. What's more, the treatment response outcomes were assessed via the House-Brackmann grading system, facial nerve recovery profile and electromyography. What emerged from the data was that the ST-EA group showed a significantly higher improvement compared to the ST group. A higher proportion of individuals experienced normal nerve function, as evinced by the 12 week electromyography tests. Additionally, a superior number of patients presented with a House-Brackmann grade of less than or equal to 2 in the 3rd, 6th, and 12th weeks of treatment, suggesting a decrease in paralysis severity. Furthermore, more patients in the ST-EA group showed facial nerve recovery profile scores of 8 or above in both the 6th and 12th weeks of treatment, indicating more satisfactory functional recovery. These outcomes highlight the promising impact of electro-acupuncture therapy as a safe and potent adjunct to standard treatment for Bell palsy.

A Systematic Review published in 2020 in the journal Neuropediatrics found that Acupuncture and electroacupuncture are a therapeutic option for mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome with a medium level of scientific evidence, tending towards a high level, and with a medium level of recommendation. The search retrieved 698 articles in total. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 21 articles were included. The level of evidence of all the articles was medium-high. The level of recommendation was medium, and the risk of bias was neutral, with a tendency towards low bias. The articles included revealed symptomatic and neurophysiological improvements, both peripheral as well as central, due to the cerebral response that occurs associated with the function of the median nerve.

A published in 2020 in the journal World Journal of Gastroenterology found that Positive effects of acupuncture and electroacupuncture were observed in regulating gastric motility, gastric accommodation, mental status, gastrointestinal hormones, and central and autonomic functions while improving dyspeptic symptoms and quality of life. In this systematic review, we pooled randomized controlled trials with mechanistic investigations of acupuncture or electroacupuncture in improving dyspeptic symptoms, and illustrated the existing results that may provide potential explanations for the therapeutic effects. The findings of included studies in this review suggest that acupuncture and electroacupuncture can improve gastric motility and accommodation, regulate gastrointestinal hormones and mental status, and alter certain central and autonomic functions in patients with functional dyspepsia. However, due to limitations in the included articles, high-quality studies with well-planned designs and multiregional investigations are necessary to provide more convincing and credible evidence.

A Systematic Review published in 2020 in the journal Medicine found that Acupuncture has been shown to be more effective than vitamin B treatment in terms of clinical efficacy rate for chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy. Aside from 1 study using sham-EA as a control group, all 12 studies included acupuncture versus pharmacological treatments. The results showed that acupuncture could show a superior clinical efficacy than vitamin B therapy. However, the methodological quality of the involved studies was generally low.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2020 in the journal Acupuncture in Medicine found that Electroacupuncture might provide stronger impact on knee osteoarthritis than manual acupuncture, though both methods are safe and feasible treatments. The study consisted of a multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial conducted in Beijing, during which 60 participants suffering from knee osteoarthritis were split into two groups: Electroacupuncture and Manual Acupuncture. Participants in both groups were treated at the same local traditional acupuncture points, with the Electroacupuncture group using an electrical apparatus. The Manual Acupuncture group experienced a sham procedure, utilizing a working power indicator but no actual current, to keep the participants blind to the experimental conditions. Over 8 weeks, both groups received 24 treatment sessions. The successfulness of the treatments was determined by response rates, pain, stiffness, functionality, and quality of life. In the results, 53 out of 60 participants completed the study. Within these participants, the response rates were 43% for the Electroacupuncture group and 30% for the Manual Acupuncture group. Differences between group outcomes were noted but not deemed statistically significant. There were low rates of adverse effects in correspondence with the two methods, which were also evenly distributed across the two groups.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2020 in the journal Journal of the Formosan Medical Association found that Electroacupuncture plus rehabilitation may provide earlier pain relief for patients with frozen shoulder syndrome and could be applied clinically. This clinical trial investigated the short and medium-term effects of true and sham electroacupuncture on people with frozen shoulder syndrome (FSS). The study included 21 participants who were randomly divided into two groups: a true electroacupuncture group and a sham electroacupuncture group. Both groups received 18 sessions of treatment over 6-9 weeks and were then followed up for 1, 3, and 6 months. The results showed that both groups had lasting effects at 1, 3, and 6 months, but the true electroacupuncture group showed earlier pain relief and more improvement in shoulder mobility. Overall, the study suggests that electroacupuncture plus rehabilitation may provide early pain relief for FSS patients and may have clinical applications.

A Systematic Review published in 2019 in the journal BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies found that Our analysis finds a benefit of acupuncture for IVF outcomes in women with a history of unsuccessful IVF attempt, and number of acupuncture treatments is a potential influential factor. Our analysis finds a benefit of acupuncture for IVF outcomes among women with a history of unsuccessful IVF attempt, and number of acupuncture treatments is a potential influential factor. As repeated IVF cycle is possibly a proxy for implantation failure, which associated with poor prognoses (i.e. increasing age, longer history of infertility, elevated Peak FSH). In the future, analyses of pooled, patient-level data will be useful to find the true role of these parameters on the efficacy of acupuncture on IVF outcomes.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2019 in the journal Arthritis Research & Therapy found that Strong electroacupuncture for at least two weeks improves chronic pain management in knee osteoarthritis patients better than weak or sham electroacupuncture. In this investigation, a multicenter, three-arm parallel, single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in which 301 patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis were randomly divided into three groups based on the electroacupuncture current intensity: strong, weak, and sham. Treatments were carried out in five sessions per week over a two-week period. The impact of these treatments was primarily measured by assessing the Visual Analog Scale, conditioned pain modulation function, and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. After a week of electroacupuncture, a clinically significant improvement was observed in Visual Analog Scale scores and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores, but not in conditioned pain modulation function. However, after two weeks of treatment, improvements were seen in all three primary outcomes when compared to baseline. In terms of enhancing conditioned pain modulation function specifically, both weak and strong electroacupuncture outperformed the sham option, with strong electroacupuncture showing superiority to weak, and resulted in better pain management.

A Systematic Review published in 2018 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that There is potential of acupuncture combined with conventional treatment for treating female chronic pelvic pain. This review suggests the potential of acupuncture combined with conventional treatment compared to conventional treatment alone for treating female chronic pelvic pain. However, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that acupuncture can be recommended as a complementary and alternative (CAM) treatment for women with CPP. To draw a firm conclusion, future studies should require not only lager, more rigorously designed RCTs but also research on different acupuncture treatment types.

A Systematic Review published in 2018 in the journal Medicine found that Acupuncture might have effect in decreasing the number of micturition episodes, incontinence episodes, and nocturia episodes. Overactive bladder is stated as the occurrence of urinary urgency which will cause negative impacts and decrease patients’ health-related quality of life. The aim of this systematic review is to assess the efficiency and safety of acupuncture for adults with overactive bladder (OAB) comparing with sham-acupuncture, drugs, and acupuncture plus drugs. Acupuncture might have effect in decreasing the number of micturition episodes, incontinence episodes, and nocturia episodes. However, the evidence is insufficient to show the effect using acupuncture alone or the additional effect to drugs in treating OAB.

A Systematic Review published in 2017 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Electroacupuncture can provide considerable immediate analgesia effect for primary dysmenorrhea. Our findings indicated that EA at SP6 can provide considerable immediate analgesic effect for primary dysmenorrhea and its immediate effect of pain relieving seems to be superior to control interventions. Moreover, there was greater prevalence of curative rate in the EA treatment group compared with the pharmacological treatments after a course of treatment. These results appear to be encouraging, but it should be considered at the same time that they are based on relatively low number of trials and relatively poor methodological quality of the primary studies. Hence, future research should be designed strictly and comprehensively to provide unbiased evidence about the efficacy of EA in the treatment of PD.

A Systematic Review published in 2017 in the journal Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation found that Electroacupuncture combined with conventional routine care has the potential of reducing spasticity in the upper and lower limbs and improving overall and lower extremity motor function and activities of daily living for patients with spasticity, within 180 days poststroke. EA combined with conventional routine care has the potential of reducing spasticity in the upper and lower limbs and improving overall and lower extremity motor function and activities of daily living for patients with spasticity, within 180 days poststroke. Further studies of high methodological and reporting quality are needed to confirm the effects and safety of EA, and to explore the adequate and optimal protocol of EA for poststroke spasticity, incorporating a group of comprehensive outcome measures in different populations.

A Systematic Review published in 2016 in the journal Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics found that Acupuncture improves the clinical pregnancy rate among women undergoing IVF and the IVF outcome results were significantly superior in the acupuncture group when acupuncture was conducted during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. When the studies were restricted to Asian or non-Asian area patients, compared with traditional acupuncture and other methods, electrical acupuncture yielded better IVF outcomes. Optimal positive effects could be expected using acupuncture in IVF during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, especially in Asian area. However, as a limitation of this review, most of the included studies did not mention the number of embryos transferred.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2014 in the journal The American Journal of Chinese Medicine found that Acupuncture and electroacupuncture treatments can alleviate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome symptoms, enhance nerve repair and improve sensory and motor functions. The conducted research involved treating 26 confirmed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome patients using acupuncture and electroacupuncture. These patients were divided into two treatment groups based on a neurophysiological grading scale. Fifteen patients were treated with acupuncture and eleven with electroacupuncture, which was administered on both upper limbs at acupoints PC-7 (Daling) and PC-6 (Neiguan) along the pericardial meridian. Each patient underwent a total of 24 treatment sessions lasting 15 minutes each, spread over a period of six weeks. Evaluation of the results saw improvements in symptom severity after the electroacupuncture treatments. This was based on the short clinical questionnaire by Lo and Chiang, an evaluation method used to gauge symptom severity. Post acupuncture treatment, the patients reported a significant increase in grip strength, particularly on the side more affected by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The electrophysiology evaluation also saw a significant improvement in the motor amplitude of the palm-wrist segment. There was also a notable decrease in Tinel's sign on the side more affected by symptoms. This points to both acupuncture and electroacupuncture having clear therapeutic benefits for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome patients.

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