Table 2.
Descriptions of the included acupuncture and related therapies.
| Study ID (Country) | Style of acupuncture | Names of acupuncture points used | Retention time | Frequency and duration of acupuncture sessions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nie et al. (33), China | A | Yintang (GV29), Touwei (ST8), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Shuaigu (GB8), Fengchi (GB20), Baihui (GV20), Touqiaoyin (GB11) | 30 min | Twice a week in the first 4 weeks, once a week during weeks 5–8, and once every 14 days during weeks 9–12 |
| Zhao et al. (34), China | D | Sizhuong (TE23), Hanyan (GB4), Wangu (GB12), Cuanzhu (BL2) | 24 h | 3 sessions weekly for 4 weeks |
| Yu and Salmoni (35), Canada | A | Taichong (LR3), Hegu (LI4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Fengchi (GB20) | 20 min | 3 sessions monthly with a total of 9 sessions for 3 weeks |
| E | Taichong (LR3), Hegu (LI4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Fengchi (GB20) | 15 min | 3 sessions monthly with a total of 9 sessions for 3 weeks | |
| F | Xiguan (LR7), Yangjiao (GB35), Zhouliao (LI12), Dingchuan (EX-B1) | 20 min | 3 sessions monthly with a total of 9 sessions for 3 weeks | |
| Zhao et al. (36), China | G | Fengchi (GB20), Shuaigu (GB8), Waiguan (SJ5), Kunlun (BL60), Yanglingquan (GB34), Houxi (SI3), Hegu (LI4), Neiting (ST44), Taichong (LR3), Qiuxu (GB40) | 30 min | 5 sessions weekly with a total of 20 sessions for 4 weeks |
| F | Four non-points | 30 min | 5 sessions weekly with a total of 20 sessions for 4 weeks | |
| Li et al. (37), China | A | Sizhukong (TE23), Shuaigu (GB8), Waiguan (TE5), Zulinqi (GB41), Sizhukong (TE23), Shuaigu (GB8), Waiguan (TE5), Zulinqi (GB41) | 20 min | 5 sessions weekly with a total of 10 sessions for 2 weeks |
| Bicer et al. (38), Turkey | A | Baihui (GV20), Yangbai (GB14), Cuanzhu (BL2), Tianzhu (BL10), Yintang (GV29), Hegu (LI4), Quchi (LI11), Zusanli (ST36), Taichong (LR3) | 30 min | Three times a week in the first 4 weeks, Twice a week during weeks 5–7 |
| Wang et al. (39), Australia | A | Fengchi (GB20), Shuai Gu (GB8), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Hegu (LI4) | 25 min | Twice a week in the first 4 weeks, once a week during weeks 5–8,then once every two weeks during weeks 9–12,once per month in the last two months |
| F | 1–2 cm away from the real acupoints | 25 min | Twice a week in the first 4 weeks, once a week during weeks 5–8,then once every two weeks during weeks 9–12,once per month in the last two months | |
| Zhao et al. (40), China | A | Waiguan (SJ5), Fengchi (GB20), Yanglingquan (GB34), Qiuxu (GB40), Erheliao (SJ22), Daling (PC7), Guangming (GB37), Taibai (SP3) | 30 min | 4 sessions weekly with a total of 32 sessions for 8 weeks |
| F | Inactive acupoints which were chosen according to their anatomical locations, corresponding to Chinese meridians | 30 min | 4 sessions weekly with a total of 32 sessions for 8 weeks | |
| Li et al. (41), China | A | Waiguan (TE5), Yanglingquan (GB34), Qiuxu (GB40), Jiaosun (TE20), Fengchi (GB20) | 30 min | 1 session weekly for 1 week |
| F | Non-acupoints | 30 min | 1 session weekly for 1 week | |
| Diener et al. (42), Germany | A | NR | 30 min | 2 sessions weekly with a total of 12 sessions for 6 weeks |
| F | NR | 30 min | 2 sessions weekly with a total of 12 sessions for 6 weeks | |
| Musil et al. (43), Czech Republic | A | Fengchi (GB20), Shuaigu (GB8), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Baihui (DU20), Xingjian (LR2), Taichong (LR3), Taixi (KI3), Xuanzhong (GB39), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Hegu (LI4), Baihui (DU20), Shangxing (DU23), Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Fenglong (ST40), Zhongwan (CV12), Yinlingquan (SP9), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Xuehai (SP10), Ashi point | 25 min | Twice a week in the first 4 weeks, once a week during weeks 5–8, and once every 14 days during weeks 9–12 |
| Farahmand et al. (44), Iran | I | NR | 24 h | only one treatment, the treatment time is 4 h |
| F | NR | 24 h | only one treatment, the treatment time is 4 h | |
| Xu and Mi (45), China | E | Baihui (GV20), Fengchi (GB20), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Neiguan (PC6) | 5 min | 3 sessions weekly for 8 weeks |
| Wang et al. (46), China | A | Toutong point | NR | 5 sessions weekly with a total of 20 sessions for 4 weeks |
| Safonov and Naprienko (47), Russia | A | NR | NR | 2 sessions weekly with a total of 8 sessions for 4 weeks |
| G | NR | NR | 2 sessions weekly with a total of 8 sessions for 4 weeks | |
| Li et al. (48), China | A | Yanglingquan (GB34), Qiuxu (GB40), Waiguan (TE5) | 30 min | 5 sessions weekly with a total of 20 sessions for 4 weeks |
| F | NAP1, NAP2, NAP3 | 30 min | 5 sessions weekly with a total of 20 sessions for 4 weeks | |
| Li et al. (49), China | A | Zusanli (ST36), Chongyang (ST42), Pianli (L16) | 30 min | 5 sessions weekly with a total of 20 sessions for 4 weeks |
| F | NAP1, NAP2, NAP3 | 30 min | 5 sessions weekly with a total of 20 sessions for 4 weeks | |
| Feng (50), China | J | Fengchi (GB20), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Waiguan (TE5), Yanglingquan (GB34) | NR | 2 sessions every two weeks for 4 weeks |
| G | Fengchi (GB20), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Yanglingquan (GB34), Zusanli (ST36) | 30 min | 4 sessions weekly with a total of 16 sessions for 4 weeks | |
| Wang et al. (51), China | K | Naohu (GV17), Luoque(BL8), Naokong (GB19), Shuaigu (GB8), Baihui (GV20), Chengling (GB18), Yuzhen (BL9), Touwei (ST8) | NR | 4 sessions monthly with a total of 12 sessions for 3 months |
| Hou et al. (52), China | K | Yintang (GV29), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Baihui (GV20), Shuaigu (GB8), Fengchi (GB20), Tianzhu (BL10) | NR | 1 session monthly for 4 months |
| Foroughipour et al. (53), Iran | A | NR | 30 min | 3 sessions weekly with a total of 12 sessions for 4 weeks |
| F | NR | 30 min | 3 sessions weekly with a total of 12 sessions for 4 weeks | |
| Wang et al. (54), China | A | Baihui (GV20), Shenting (GV24), Touwei (ST8), Shuaigu (GB8), Fengchi (GB20) | 30 min | NR |
| F | 30 acupoints unrelated to headache were selected in the vicinity of elbow and knee joints | 30 min | NR | |
| Wallasch et al. (55), Germany | A | Hegu (LI4), Zusanli (ST36), Waiguan (TE5), Zulinqi (GB41), Houxi (SI3), Shenmai (BL62), Baihui (GV20), Fengchi (GB20), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Sizhukong (TE23), Taichong (LR3), Taixi (KI3) | 30 min | 1 session weekly for 8 weeks |
| F | Areas of the skin that were outside a classically described acupuncture point (minimum 1–2 cm beside) | 30 min | 1 session weekly for 8 weeks | |
| Ferro et al. (56), Brazil | A | Shuaigu (GB8), Yangbai (GB14), Baihui (GV20), Shenmen (HT7), Xingjian (LR2), Hegu (LI4) | 30 min | 2 sessions weekly with a total of 20 sessions for 10 weeks |
| Ceccherelli et al. (57), Padova | A | Taichong (LR3), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Waiguan (TE5), Fengchi (GB20), Baihui (GV20), Jiache (ST6), Touwei (ST8) | 5 min | 1 session weekly for 8 weeks |
| I | Aggressiveness point, Lung point, Thalamus point | NR | 1 session weekly for 8 weeks | |
| Yang et al. (58), Taiwan | A | Cuanzhu (BL2), Fengchi (GB20), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Yintang (GV29) | 30 min | 2 sessions weekly with a total of 24 sessions for 12 weeks |
| Zhong et al. (59), China | G | Taichong (LR3), Yanglingquan (GB34), Fengchi (GB20), Ququan (LR8) | 20 min | 5 sessions weekly with a total of 20 sessions for 4 weeks |
| Zhou et al. (60), China | G | Taiyang (EX-HN5) | 30 min | 5 sessions weekly with a total of 20 sessions for 4 weeks |
| Linde et al. (61), Germany | A | Fengchi (GB20), Qiuxu (GB40), Zulinqi (GB41), Diwuhui (GB42), Baihui (GV20), Taichong (LR3), Zhongzhu (TE3), Waiguan (TE5), Taiyang (EX-HN5) | 30 min | Twice a week in the first 4 weeks, once a week during weeks 5–8 |
| F | Near Binao (LI14) | 30 min | Twice a week in the first 4 weeks, once a week during weeks 5–8 | |
| Streng et al. (62), Germany | A | Fengchi (GB20), Qiuxu (GB40), Zulinqi (GB41), Diwuhui (GB42), Baihui (GV20), Taichong (LR3), Zhongzhu (TE3), Waiguan (TE5),Taiyang (EX-HN5) | 20–30 min | 8–15 sessions for 12 weeks. |
| Linde et al. (63), Germany | A | Fengchi (GB20), Qiuxu (GB40), Zulinqi (GB41), Diwuhui (GB42), Baihui (GV20), Taichong (LR3), Zhongzhu (TE3), Waiguan (TE5),Taiyang (EX-HN5) | 30 min | Twice a week in the first 4 weeks, once a week during weeks 5–8 |
| F | NR | 30 min | Twice a week in the first 4 weeks, once a week during weeks 5–8 | |
| Allais et al. (64), Italy | I | Area M and Area S in Chinese auricular maps | 24 h | NR |
| F | Area M and Area S in Chinese auricular maps | 24 h | NR | |
| Lavies (65), Britain | M | Taichong (LR3), Zusanli (ST36), Hegu (LI4), Fengchi (GB20) | NR | 1 session weekly for 6 weeks |
| F | NR | NR | 1 session weekly for 6 weeks | |
| Xu et al. (66), China | A | Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Fengchi (GB20), Shuaigu (GB8), Touwei (ST8), Tianzhu (BL10), Baihui (DU20) | 30 min | 20 sessions acupuncture treatments over 8 weeks. |
| F | Sham point 1–2 [Bilateral, at the midpoint between the acupuncture points, Jianjin (GB21) and Jugu (LI16)], Sham point 3–4 (Bilateral, at a distance of 5 cun from the seventh cervical spine), Sham point 5–6 (Bilateral, at a distance of 5 cun from the eighth thoracic spine), Sham point 7–8 (Bilateral, at a distance of 5 cun from the ninth thoracic spine) |
30 min | Every other day to fulfill a 10-session treatment course, and another course will begin after resting 9 days | |
| Zhang et al. (67), China | A | Taiyang (EX-HN5), Touwei (ST8), Fengchi (GB20), Hegu (LI4) | NR | 1 course of treatment in 10 days, 3 courses in total, 5 days between treatments |
| Meng et al. (68), China | A | Taiyang (EX-HN5), Shuaigu (GB8), Toulinqi (GB15), Muchuang (GB16), Waiguan (TE5), Zhongzhu (TE3) | 60 min | 5 sessions weekly with a total of 20 sessions for 4 weeks |
| F | Sham point 1(The inner side of the elbow, the midpoint of the line between the tip of the elbow and the armpit), Sham point 2(The midpoint of the line between the inner epicondyle of the humerus and the wrist of the ulna, the ulnar edge), Sham point 3(The junction of the anterior deltoid muscle and biceps in the arm), Sham point 4 (1–2 cm lateral to Zusanli, lateral tibial margin) |
60 min | 5 sessions weekly with a total of 20 sessions for 4 weeks | |
| Xu and Wang (69), China | A | Taiyang (EX-HN5), Sizhukong (TE23), Jiaosun (TE20), Shuaigu (GB8), Fengchi (GB20), Waiguan (TE5), Zulinqi (GB41) | 20 min | 2 sessions weekly with a total of 12 sessions for 6 weeks |
| F | 5-mm outside the acupuncture point | 20 min | 2 sessions weekly with a total of 12 sessions for 6 weeks | |
| Yang et al. (70), China | A | Shuaigu (GB8), Touwei (ST8), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Fengchi (GB20) | 20 min | 2–3 sessions weekly for 4 weeks |
| Song et al. (71), China | A | Mei Hua (Select a group of acupoints along the periphery and midpoint of the pain area), Xiang Leng (The area located within 1.5 cun of both sides of the cervical spine), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Fengchi (GB20), Dazhui (DU14) |
NR | 2 sessions weekly with a total of 16 sessions for 8 weeks |
A, conventional acupuncture; B, massage; C, analgesic; D, embedding needle therapy; E, acupressure; F, placebo; G, electroacupuncture; H, cupping; I, auricular acupuncture; J, acupoint implantation; K, acupoint injection; L, traditional Chinese medicine; M, laser acupuncture; NR, not reported.