Table 1.

Characteristics of included studies of acupuncture and related therapies for postoperative recovery for colorectal cancer.

Study ID No. [ref]	Author, year [location]	N participants (baseline); mean (SD) age at baseline in years; (M/F);	N groups; Duration and frequency of treatment	Conventional treatment, cancer type	Acupuncture therapy	Control intervention	Acupuncture points
1 [36]	Chao HL et al., 2013 [3]	66; T: 61.9(13.3), C: 62.8(15.7); (31/35)	2; from postoperative days 1-5, three-mins, three times per day	Open surgery, CRC	Acupressure∗	Sham acupressure	ST36 Zusanli 足三里, NS
2 [14]	Deng G et al., 2013 [2]	90; T: 56, C: 59; (52/38)	2; from postoperative days 1-3, 30 min, twice daily	Open surgery, CRC	Acupuncture + electro-acupuncture + ear acupuncture	Sham acupuncture + sham electro-acupuncture + sham ear acupuncture	ST36 Zusanli 足三里, PC6 Neiguan 内关, LI4 Hegu 合谷, SP6 Sanyinjiao 三阴交, SP9 Yinglingquan 阴陵泉, ST25 Tianshu 天枢 and ear point TF4 Shenmen 神门, bilateral
3 [15]	Hong X 2017 [1]	80; T: 61.2(7.2), C: 58.8(9.4); (47/33)	2; ear acupressure: press Vaccaria seeds 5 times per day for 7 days, change to other ear every 2 days; moxibustion: once a day for 7 days	Dixon surgery, rectal cancer	Moxibustion + ear acupressure	no acupuncture therapy	Moxibustion points: ST36 Zusanli 足三里 and CV12 Zhongwan 中脘; ear points: CO4 Wei 胃, TF4 Shenmen 神门, CO6 Xiaochang 小肠, CO3 Benmen贲门, unilateral
4 [16]	Li JM et al., 2016 [1]	160; T: 51.3(3.16), C: 52.17(3.34)	2; press Vaccaria seeds 30-60s per point, three-five times per day, change to other ear every 3-7 days	Open radical surgery, rectal cancer	Ear acupressure	no acupuncture therapy	Ear points: CO4 Wei 胃, CO5 Shierzhichang 十二指肠, CO6 Xiaochang 小肠,CO7 Dachang 大肠, CO13 Pi 脾, CO3 Benmen贲门, unilateral
5 [17]	Lu JY & Jin HM 2011 [1]	78; T: 62.25(9.38), C: 61.21(10.16); (43/35)	2; Vaccaria seeds attached immediately after surgery, point pressure for 30-60s per point every 2-3 hours (more than 5 min/cycle); until recovery	Radical surgery excluding Miles surgery, CRC	Ear acupressure∗	no acupuncture therapy	Ear points: CO13 Pi 脾, CO4 Wei 胃, CO7 Dachang 大肠, CO6 Xiaochang 小肠, AH6a Jiaogan交感, CO18 Neifenmi 内分泌, AT4 Pizhixia 皮质下, bilateral
6 [18]	Meng ZQ et al., 2010 [1]	85; T: 54.3, C: 53.1; (47/38)	2; from postoperative days 1-6, 20 min, once a day, until first bowel movement or day 6, whichever came first	Intraperitoneal surgery, epidural anaesthesia, colon cancer	Electro-acupuncture	no acupuncture therapy	ST36 Zusanli 足三里, ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚, TE6 Zhigou支沟, GB34 Yanglingquan 阳陵泉, bilateral
7 [34, 35]	Ng SSM et al., 2013 [4] †	165; T: 67.4(9.7), C1: 67.4(10.7), C2:68.5(10.6); (99/66)	3; T & C1: from postoperative days 1-4, 20 min, once a day, until defaecation occurred or day 4, whichever was earlier	Laparoscopic surgery, CRC	Electro-acupuncture∗	C1: sham electro-acupuncture, C2: no acupuncture therapy	ST36 Zusanli 足三里, SP6 Sanyinjiao 三阴交, LI4 Hegu 合谷, TE6 Zhigou支沟, NS
8 [19]	Niu CF et al., 2008 [1]	32; T & C: 52; (21/11)	2; from postoperative day 1, 15 min. twice daily	Radical surgery excluding Miles surgery, CRC	Electro-acupuncture	no acupuncture therapy	ST36 Zusanli 足三里, ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚, PC6 Neiguan 内关, NS
9 [20]	Si JG & Ding RS 2015 [1]	40; T: 45, C: 46; (23/17)	2; from 24 hours after surgery, 20 min once a day, till bowel sounds and passing flatus occurred	Radical surgery, CRC	Electro-acupuncture	no acupuncture therapy	ST36 Zusanli 足三里, ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚, SP6 Sanyinjiao 三阴交, ST25 Tianshu 天枢, LI4 Hegu 合谷, bilateral
10 [21]	Tan S & Zheng CM 2015 [1]	76; T: 63.8(11.2), C: 63.2(10.5); (43/33)	2; ear acupressure: Vaccaria seeds attached after surgery, pressure for 5 min every 2-3 hours; acupuncture: after surgery, 20 min once a day; until recovery	Radical surgery, CRC	Acupuncture∗ + ear acupressure∗	no acupuncture therapy	ST36 Zusanli 足三里 and ear sensitive points 敏感点, NS
11 [22]	Tong WY et al., 2014 [1]	84; T: 58.6(15.1), C: 59.2(14.7); (50/34)	2; from 2 hours after surgery, 30 min, once a day	Open surgery, FTP, rectal cancer	Acupuncture	no acupuncture therapy	ST36 Zusanli 足三里, PC6 Neiguan 内关, ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚, SP4 Gongsun公孙, NS
12 [23]	Wang EM 2012 [1]	60; T: 57.4(13.6), C: 56.6(12.3); (34/26)	2; Vaccaria seeds attached 4 hours after surgery, pressure for 1 min on each point, every 6 hours, until recovery	Usual surgery, colon cancer	Ear acupressure∗	no acupuncture therapy	Ear points: TF4 Shenmen 神门, AH6a Jiaogan 交感, AT4 Pizhixia 皮质下,CO7 Dachang 大肠, CO4 Wei 胃, Ashixue 阿是穴 (sensitive point); unilateral, change side every 4 days
13 [24]	Wang HM 2011 [1]	30; T: 60.4(11.01), C: 58(10.24); (20/10)	2; from 24 hours after surgery, 30 min, once a day, for 5 days	Open surgery, FTP, CRC	Acupuncture	no acupuncture therapy	ST36 Zusanli 足三里, PC6 Neiguan 内关, ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚, SP4 Gongsun公孙, NS
14 [25]	Xiao C 2014 [1]	90; T1: 55.87(10.49), T2: 55.33(10.83), C: 54.63(10.25); (51/39)	3; from 24 hours after surgery, 20 min, once a day, for 5 days	Open radical surgery excluding Miles surgery, CRC	T1:acupuncture;∗ T2: electro-acupuncture	no acupuncture therapy	ST36 Zusanli 足三里, ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚, bilateral
15 [26]	Xiao L et al., 2016 [1]	60; T: 67.43(16.35), C: 68.52(17.16); (33/27)	2; from postoperative days 1-14, 30 min twice daily	Radical surgery, colon cancer in elderly patients	Acupuncture∗ + electro-acupuncture	no acupuncture therapy	ST36 Zusanli 足三里, LI4 Hegu 合谷, SP6 Sanyinjiao 三阴交, LU5 Chize 尺泽 (all electro); TE6 Zhigou支沟, LU7 Lieque 列缺 (both manual); all bilateral
16 [27]	Yan YB 2011 [1]	30; T: 50.73(6.076), C: 50.33(5.802); (9/21)	2; from postoperative days 3-7, 30 min, once a day	Laparoscopic Miles surgery, rectal cancer Dukes A-C1, recovery of urinary function	Acupuncture + moxibustion	no acupuncture therapy	ST36 Zusanli 足三里, LI4 Hegu 合谷, SP10 Xuehai 血海, SP9 Yinglingquan 阴陵泉, SP6 Sanyinjiao 三阴交, LR3 Taichong 太冲, CV4 Guanyuan关元 (moxa), CV8 Shenque 神阙(moxa), NS
17 [28]	Yang JJ et al., 2011 [1]	60; T: 60.9(6.63), C: 62(6.98); (39/21)	2; from postoperative day 1, 30 min, once a day, until 3 days after defecation occurred	Radical surgery, CRC	Electro-acupuncture∗	no acupuncture therapy	ST36 Zusanli 足三里, ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚, ST39 Xiajuxu 下巨虚, bilateral
18 [29]	Yang JF et al., 2016 [1]	72; T: 72(5.4), C: 73.4(5.6); (44/28)	2; performed three times at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours after surgery, application for 6 hours each time	Open surgery, CRC in elderly patients	Point application with warming cataplasm	Point application with non-warming cataplasm	ST36 Zusanli 足三里, bilateral
19 [30]	Zhang SY & Du YQ 2011 [1]	70; T: 57.1(11.7), C: 59.1(8.5); (52/18)	2; from postoperative days 1-10, 45 min, once a day	Radical surgery, CRC	Warm needling	no acupuncture therapy	ST36 Zusanli 足三里, ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚, ST39 Xiajuxu 下巨虚, SP6 Sanyinjiao 三阴交, SP9 Yinglingquan 阴陵泉, NS
20 [31]	Zhang XY & Lu JB 2017 [1]	80; T: 64.8(5.6), C: 67.5(6.0); (42/38)	2; from 6 hours after surgery, 1 min pressure for each point, three times per day, 1 hour after meals, until postoperative day 5	Radical surgery excluding Miles surgery, CRC	Acupressure∗	no acupuncture therapy	ST36 Zusanli 足三里, LI4 Hegu 合谷, ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚, NS
21 [32]	Zhang ZD et al., 2014 [1]	40; T: 63(9), C: 60(10); (22/18)	2; at 30 min after surgery, then postoperative days 1–4, 30 min, once a day	Open surgery, CRC	Electro-acupuncture∗	Sham electro-acupuncture	ST36 Zusanli 足三里, bilateral
22 [33]	Zhang XY et al., 2016 [1]	80; T: 64.8(6.8), C: 67.5(4.2); (41/39)	2; from 6 hours after surgery, 1 min pressure for each point, three times per day, 1 hour after meals, until postoperative day 5, change ear every 2 days	Usual surgery, CRC	Acupressure∗ + ear acupressure∗	no acupuncture therapy	Acupressure points: ST36 Zusanli 足三里, LI4 Hegu 合谷, ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚, NS; ear points: CO4 Wei 胃, CO6 Xiaochang 小肠, CO7 Dachang 大肠, unilateral

Location in which the study was conducted: 1: Mainland China; 2: USA; 3: Taiwan; 4: Hong Kong. NS: side not specified

∗ means mentioned acupuncture sensation (deqi) was obtained. † means reported in two journal articles, reference Nos. [34, 35].