Cheng 2005.

Methods	Design: parallel RCT Randomisation method: not reported Blinding: no Power calculation: no Dropouts/withdrawals: no
Participants	People with advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (stage III and IV), Karnofsky > 60 Number (treatment/control): 84 (42/42) Mean age (range): 45.9 (21‐78) Gender (M/F): 45/39 Country: Guangdong province, China Setting: hospital
Interventions	Indirect moxa cone on salt vs conventional medicine Treatment group Indirect moxa cone on salt Indirect moxa cone on salt on the acupoint RN8 (Shenque), once per day Treatment duration: 30 days Chemotherapy with doxorubicin and 5‐Fu for 5 times Radiotherapy for 7 to 8 weeks Control group conventional medicine Oral leucogen 20 mg, vitamin C 0.2 g and vitamin E 20 mg, 3 times per day Chemotherapy with doxorubicin and 5‐Fu for 5 times Radiotherapy for 7 to 8 weeks
Outcomes	WBC count at the end of treatment
Notes	—
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not described
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	No relevant description
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	There was no loss to follow‐up. All participants were included in the analysis.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	Limited outcome measures were reported.
Other bias	Unclear risk	There were no baseline characteristics data presented and no statement of group similarity.
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	High risk	No blinding
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) Subjective outcomes	Unclear risk	No subjective outcome was reported.
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) Objective outcomes	Low risk	No blinding However, the objective outcomes detected by machine were generally not influenced substantially.