Table 1.
Characteristics and intervention details of the included trials.
| First author, publication year | Mean age (Mean ± SD) | Treatment duration/course of disease (Mean ± SD) | Design (no. of subjects) | Acupuncture points (intervention group) | Comparison (medicine) | Outcome reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cao B, 2018 | IG: 43.6 ± 2.1 CG: 42.8 ± 2.3 |
10 days/(IG: 3.4 ± 0.5, CG: 3.6 ± 0.5) | 2 parallel arms: TCM + AC + CM (44); WM (44) | Jiaji (EX-B2), Zhigou (SJ6), Yanglingquan (GB34), and Yinlingquan (SP9) | Acyclovir, vitamin B1, and ibuprofen | Comparison of therapeutic effect |
| Guo ZY, 2015 | IG: 38.2 ± 5.6 CG: 37.3 ± 5.0 |
10 days/(not specified) | 2 parallel arms: FN + AC (15); WM (15) | Baihui (DU20), Yintang (DU29), Shuaigu (GB8), Hegu (LI4), and Waiguan (SJ5) | Valaciclovir hydrochloride, mecobalamin, and vitamin B1 | VAS, comparison of time of blister alleviation, and satisfaction survey |
| Hao PL, 2018 | IG: 53 ± 15 CG: 53 ± 16 |
7 days/(IG: 2.8 ± 1.9, CG: 3.1 ± 1.8) | 2 parallel arms: TC (30); WM (30) | Ashi point | Valaciclovir hydrochloride, vitamin B1, and vitamin B12 | VAS, routine blood test, and follow-up |
| Huang GF, 2012 | IG1: 44.1 ± 16.2 IG2: 46.7 ± 13.2 IG3: 44.9 ± 14.4 IG4: 47.3 ± 13.1 CG: 46.0 ± 14.7 |
10 days/(IG1: 3.6 ± 1.8 IG2: 3.1 ± 1.7 G3: 3.8 ± 1.8 IG4: 3.9 ± 2.0 CG: 3.3 ± 1.7) |
5 parallel arms: AC + EC (35); CM (34); FN (42); TC (38); WM (34) | Ashi point, Jiaji (EX-B2), Zhigou (SJ6), and Houxi (SI3) | Valaciclovir hydrochloride and vitamin B1 | Comparison of time of blister alleviation, VAS, and comparison of therapeutic effect |
| Huo HM, 2007 | IG: 48.45 ± 13.12 CG: 47.32 ± 11.29 |
10 days/(IG: 3.05 ± 1.04, CG: 2.95 ± 1.74) | 2 parallel arms: TC (120); WM (120) | Ashi point, Quchi (LI11), Hegu (LI4), Yinlingquan (SP9), and Taichong (LR3) | Acyclovir tablet and aciclovir cream | Comparison of therapeutic response time, comparison of the therapeutic effect, and adverse reaction |
| Li X, 2009 | IG: 46.36 ± 10.21 CG: 47.79 ± 9.43 |
10 days/(not specified) | 2 parallel arms AC + EC (40); WM (40) | Ashi point, Jiaji (EX-B2), Zhigou (SJ6), and Houxi (SI3) | Valaciclovir hydrochloride and vitamin B1 | VAS, comparison of the therapeutic effect, and comparison of the crust formation |
| Li XW, 2012 | IG1: 43.76 ± 15.43 IG2: 46.98 ± 13.61 IG3: 45.20 ± 15.06 IG4: 44.33 ± 15.07 CG: 46.51 ± 15.30 |
10 days/(IG1: 6.15 ± 4.11 IG2: 5.56 ± 3.14 IG3: 5.63 ± 2.70 IG4: 5.77 ± 3.05 CG: 5.24 ± 2.52) |
5 parallel arms: AC + EC (98); CM (100); FN (97); TC (96); WM (98) | Jiaji (EX-B2), Zhigou (SJ6), Houxi (SI3) | Valaciclovir hydrochloride and vitamin B1 | Comparison of the therapeutic effect, comparison of the cost |
| Liu ZW, 2013 | IG: 44 ± 21 CG: 46 ± 18 |
10 days/(3.0 ± 1.5 | 2 parallel arms: AC + CM (30); WM (30) | Ashi point, Zusanli (ST36), and Guanyuan (RN4) | Famciclovir tablet, nimesulide dispersible tablets, and vitamin B1 | VAS, QS, comparison of therapeutic response time, and recurrence PHN |
| Luo XY, 2015 | IG1: 68.2 ± 3.8 IG2: 67.9 ± 4.1 CG: 66.7 ± 3.9 |
14 days/(IG1: 18.1 ± 8.0 IG2: 17.3 ± 8.4 CG: 17.6 ± 8.5) |
3 parallel arms:AC + WM (30); AC + WM (30); WM (29) | Taichong (LR3), Zhigou (SJ6), Yanglingquan (GB34), Yinlingquan (SP9), Jiaji (EX-B2), and Xingjian (LR2) | Valaciclovir hydrochloride, Methycobal, pregabalin capsule, meloxicam tablets, and tramadol hydrochloride sustained release tablets | Comparison of the CD4+ level, VAS, recurrence PHN |
| Tamara ursini, 2011 | IG: 65.5 ± 12.8 CG: 67.1 ± 12.8 |
28 days/(not specified) | 2 parallel arms: AC (34); WM (32) | Zhongwan (CV12), Guanyuan (CV4), Quchi (LI11), Hegu (LI4), Neiting (ST44), Xuehai (SP10), Xingjian (LR2), and Neiguan (PC6) | Pregabalin, chirocaine, buprenorphine, oxycodone, and paracetamol | VAS, MPQ, recurrence rate of PHN, the total pain burden during the 12-month follow-up of the cohort study, and the incidence of treatment-related serious adverse events during treatment |
| Wang AP, 2018 | Not specified | 10 days/(not specified | 2 parallel arms:AC + TC (40); WM (40) | Ashi point, Zhigou (SJ6), Dazhui (DU14), Hegu (LI4), and Fengchi (GB20), | Valaciclovir hydrochloride, cobamamide, and buprenorphine | VAS and comparison of clinical efficacy |
| Wang Y, 2019 | IG: 72.2 ± 4.1 CG: 71.8 ± 4.3 |
Not specified | 2 parallel arms:AC + TCM (36); WM (36) | Jiaji (EX-B2), Neiting (ST44), Yanglingquan (GB34), Yinlingquan (SP9), Zusanli (ST36), and Xingjian (LR2) | TDP irradiation, aspirin, and valaciclovir hydrochloride | Comparison of pain relief and comparison of relief of herpes |
| Zhang SR, 2020 | IG1: 48.27 ± 2.16 IG2: 48.29 ± 2.14 IG3: 48.30 ± 2.13 CG: 48.31 ± 2.51 |
10 days/(not specified) | 4 parallel arms: AC + WM + EA (30); AC + WM + EA + TC (30); AC + WM + EA + CM (30); WM (30) | Ashi point, Jiaji (EX-B2), Zhigou (SJ6), and Houxi (SI3) | Valaciclovir hydrochloride and vitamin B1 | Comparison of relief of herpes, VAS, WHOQOL-100, and adverse reaction |
| Zhu J, 2018 | IG: 46.34.2 ± 12.54 CG: 45.92 ± 13.1 |
7 days/(IG: 3.65 ± 1.658, CG: 3.64 ± 1.538) | 2 parallel arms: AC + TC + WM (45); WM (45) | Ashi point, Zhigou (SJ6), Jiaji (EX-B2), and Houxi (SI3) | Valaciclovir hydrochloride and vitamin C | VAS and comparison of clinical efficacy |
| Zhu XX, 2019 | IG: 47 ± 13 CG: 44 ± 15 |
15 days/(IG: 3.9 ± 1.6, CG: 3.7 ± 1.7) | 2 parallel arms: AC (30); WM (30) | Ashi point | Valaciclovir hydrochloride dispersible tablets, mecobalamin tablets, and vitamin B1 | Comparison of relief of herpes, VAS, serum immune-related factors (IgG, IgM, IgA), and serum inflammatory factors (IL-4, IL-17, TNF-α, TGF-β1) were observed before and after treatment in the two groups |
IG: intervention group; CG: control group; AC: acupuncture; EA: electroacupuncture; CM: cotton-moxibustion; TC: tapping-capping; FN: fire needle; WM: Western medicine; VAS: visual analog scale; QS: sleep quality score; PHN: postherpetic neuralgia; MPQ: McGill Pain Questionnaire.