Study	Reason for exclusion
Cao 2007	Acupuncture but versus a huperzine A tablets control.
Chen 2000	Electroacupuncture but versus a nimodipine control.
Chu 2008	Intervention is scalp acupuncture plus duxil versus a control using duxil.
Gao 2001	Inadequately randomized and control uses piracetam.
Huang 2007	Intervention is acupuncture at certain acupoints versus acupuncture at different acupoints.
Jiang 1998	Intervention is electroacupuncture but versus a control using hydergine.
Lai 1997	Intervention is electroacupuncture but versus a control using aniracetam.
Lai 1998	Intervention is electroacupuncture versus a control using acupuncture but participants were randomized inadequately according to entry sequence.
Li 2001a	Intervention is electroacupuncture versus a control using dihydroergotoxine (DHET).
Li 2008	Intervention is tongue acupuncture plus duxil versus a control using duxil.
Liu 1997	It is inadequately randomized since participants are chosen according to entry sequence. Intervention is acupuncture at certain acupoints versus acupuncture at different acupoints.
Liu 2004	Intervention is acupuncture but versus a control using low molecular weight dextran.
Liu 2007	Inadequately randomized and control uses duxil.
Liu 2008	Intervention is scalp acupuncture but versus a control using nimodipine.
Liu 2008a	Intervention is Xiusanzhen acupuncture but versus a control using duxil.
Lun 2003	This was inadequately randomized and without allocation concealment. The control group used a Chinese herbal medicine which was also present in the intervention.
Niu 2007	Inadequately randomized and control uses duxil.
Peng 2008	Participants were randomly divided into 3 groups, namely the use of acupuncture, acupuncture plus Xingnaojing drip as well as Xingnaojing drip.
Wang 2007	Intervention is electroacupuncture but versus a control using abu nidal plus hydergine.
Wang 2007a	Intervention is scalp acupuncture but versus a control using hydergine.
Wang 2007b	Intervention is acupuncture plus cerebrolysin via intravenous drip versus a control using the same west medicine only but participants were randomized inadequately according to entry sequence.
Wang 2007c	Intervention is acupuncture plus Chinese medicine versus a control using the same Chinese medicine only.
Wang 2008	Intervention is scalp acupuncture but versus a control using huperzine A tablets.
Yu 2006	Intervention is acupuncture at certain acupoints versus acupuncture at different acupoints.
Yu 2007	Acupuncture but versus a hydergine control.
Zhang 2008	Participants were randomly divided into 3 groups, namely the use of electroacupuncture, electroacupuncture plus nimodipine as well as nimodipine.
Zhao 2000	Intervention was electroacupuncture but versus a control using hydergine.
Zhou 2008	Acupuncture but versus an aniracetam control.