Table 1.

Search strategy used in PubMed.

No	Search items
#1	((randomized controlled trial[PT] OR controlled clinical trial[PT]) OR randomized[Ti/ Ab]) OR placebo[Ti/Ab] OR“clinical trials as topic”[MeSH Terms] OR randomly[Ti/Ab] OR trial[Ti] NOT (animals[MeSH Terms] NOT (humans[MeSH Terms]) AND animals[MeSH Terms])
#2	Acupuncture[Ti/Ab] OR Acupuncture-moxibustion[Ti/Ab] OR Needle[Ti/Ab] OR Acumoxibustion[Ti/Ab] OR Acupunctural[Ti/Ab] OR Needling[Ti/Ab] OR Acupuncturing[Ti/Ab] OR Electroacupuncture[Ti/Ab] OR Electro-acupuncture[Ti/Ab] OR “Acupoint Injection”[Ti/Ab] OR “Auricular Plaster”[Ti/Ab] OR “Ear Seed Pressure”[Ti/Ab] OR Embedding[Ti/Ab] OR Percussopuncture[Ti/Ab] OR “Point Injection”[Ti/Ab] OR “Pricking Blood”[Ti/Ab] OR “Trigger Points”[Ti/Ab] OR Meridians[Ti/Ab] OR Acupuncture-moxibustion [MeSH Terms] OR Acupuncture [MeSH Terms] OR Acupuncture Therapy [MeSH Terms] OR Electroacupuncture [MeSH Terms]
#3	Moxibustion[Ti/Ab] OR Moxa[Ti/Ab] OR Mox∗[Ti/Ab] OR Mugwort[Ti/Ab] OR Moxibustion [MeSH Terms]
#4	#2 AND #3
#5	Stroke[Ti/Ab] OR Apoplexy[Ti/Ab] OR CVA[Ti/Ab] OR “Cerebrovascular Attack” [Ti/Ab] OR “Cerebrovascular Accident” [Ti/Ab] OR “Cerebral Infarction” [Ti/Ab] OR “Cerebral Hemorrhage” [Ti/Ab] OR Stroke [MeSH Terms]
#6	Insomnia[Ti/Ab] OR “Sleep Disorders”[Ti/Ab] OR Sleeplessness OR Insomnia [MeSH Terms] OR “Sleep Disorders” [MeSH Terms] OR “Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders” [MeSH Terms]
#7	#5 AND #6
#8	“Post-stroke Insomnia” [Ti/Ab] OR “Insomnia after Stroke” [Ti/Ab]
#9	#7 OR #8
#10	#1 AND #4 AND #9