TABLE 2.
Characteristics of the included studies.
| References | Sample size (female rate) | Group | Types of intervention | Details of intervention (specific drug/acupoint, frequency, course of treatment) | Follow-up (weeks) | Age (years) | Duration of PHN (months) | Outcome indicator | Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias |
| Wang, 2006 | 34 (58.8%) | Treatment | Fire needling | Ashi point, Jiaji point, qod; 14 days | 1&4 | 60.06 ± 7.34 | 3.63 ± 2.31 | ① ④ | Low; unclear; unclear; unclear; low; low; unclear |
| 34 (52.9%) | Control | Manual acupuncture | Ashi point, Jiaji point, qod; 14 days | 59.91 ± 7.46 | 3.75 ± 2.77 | ||||
| Huang et al., 2011 | 49 (42.9%) | Treatment | Pricking and cupping | Ashi point, GB21, qod; 30 days | / | 64.28 | 2.93 | ① ④ | Low; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear |
| 47 (46.8%) | Control | Manual acupuncture | Ashi point, LI4, LI11, LR3, SP6, qod; 30 days | 65.35 | 3.45 | ||||
| Chen et al., 2012 | 35 (51.4%) | Treatment | Medicated thread moxibustion | Ashi point, LI10, PC6, SP6, ST36, LR3, qd; 14 days | / | 65.81 ± 4.45 | 6.98 ± 2.58 | ① ④ | Low; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear |
| 35 (54.3%) | Control | Fire needling | Ashi point, qd; 14 days | 66.31 ± 4.05 | 7.12 ± 2.54 | ||||
| Zhang, 2013 | 26 (50.0%) | Treatment | Electroacupuncture | Ashi point, LI4, LJ6, LR3, ST36, qd; 20 days | 4 | 56.30 ± 12.54 | 4.5 | ① ③ ④ ⑤ | Low; low; high; low; low; low; unclear |
| 27 (55.6%) | Control | Antiepileptics | Gabapentin, maximum dose 3600 mg per day; 20 days | 57.55 ± 7.69 | 4.4 | ||||
| Tian, 2013 | 32 (56.3%) | Treatment | Pricking and cupping | Ashi point, qod; 16 days | / | 61.15 ± 7.13 | 3.56 ± 2.68 | ① ③ ④ ⑤ | Low; high; unclear; unclear; low; low; unclear |
| 32 (50.0%) | Control | Antiepileptics | Pregabalin, 150mg, bidpo; 16 days | 60.93 ± 7.45 | 3.61 ± 2.12 | ||||
| Xie and Wen, 2013 | 35 (45.7%) | Treatment | Manual acupuncture | Ashi point, Jiaji point, SP6, ST36, KI3, SP9, 20 min, qd; 21 days | 4 | 60.5 ± 8.2 | 5.10 ± 3.30 | ① ② ④ | Low; unclear; unclear; unclear; low; low; unclear |
| 30 (34.3%) | Control | Electroacupuncture | Ashi point, Jiaji point, SP6, ST36, KI3, SP9, 3/90 Hz dilatational wave, 20 min, qd; 21 days | 61.2 ± 7.8 | 4.90 ± 3.50 | ||||
| Duan, 2014 | 30 (56.7%) | Treatment | Electroacupuncture | Ashi point, Jiaji point, 30 mins, bid; 18 days | 4 | 61.30 ± 8.35 | 5.83 ± 10.0 | ① ④ | Low; unclear; unclear; unclear; low; low; unclear |
| 30 (60.0%) | Control | Manual acupuncture | Ashi point, Jiaji point, 30 min, bid; 18 days | 62.20 ± 9.76 | 5.90 ± 9.29 | ||||
| Sheng et al., 2014 | 20 (55.5%) | Treatment | Electroacupuncture | Ashi point, Jiaji point, 30 min, bid; 18 days | / | 46 to 77 | 3 to 8 | ① ④ | Low; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear |
| 20 (65.5%) | Control | Manual acupuncture | Ashi point, Jiaji point, 30 min, bid; 18 days | 42 to 80 | 3 to 6 | ||||
| Sun and Li, 2015 | 45 (57.8%) | Treatment | Electroacupuncture | Ashi point, Jiaji point, 30 mins, qd; 10 days | / | 20 to 69 | 1 to 7 | ① ④ | Low; unclear; unclear; unclear; low; low; unclear |
| 45 (51.1%) | Control | Manual acupuncture | Ashi point, Jiaji point, 30 mins, qd; 10 days | 33 to 58 | 2 to 9 | ||||
| Zhang, 2015 | 20 (60.0%) | Treatment | Fire needling | Ashi point, qod; 30 days | 4 | 60.0 ± 7.0 | 3.62 ± 0.54 | ① ④ ⑤ | Low; high; unclear; unclear; low; low; unclear |
| 20 (35.5%) | Control | Manual acupuncture | Ashi point, 30 min, qd; 30 days | 60.0 ± 7.0 | 3.76 ± 0.43 | ||||
| 20 (40.0%) | Control | Pricking and cupping | Ashi point, qod; 30 days | 61.0 ± 7.0 | 3.59 ± 0.68 | ||||
| 20 (55.0%) | Control | Antiepileptics | Pregabalin, 150mg, bidpo; 30 days | 60.0 ± 8.0 | 3.65 ± 0.51 | ||||
| Lei, 2015 | 20 (75.0%) | Treatment | Electroacupuncture plus Antiepileptics | Ashi point, SJ6, GB34, ST36 30 min, 5 times per 7 days plus Gabapentin; 14 days | 4 | 62.55 ± 7.48 | 3.1 | ① ② ③ ④ ⑤ | Low; unclear; unclear; unclear; low; low; unclear |
| 20 (55.0%) | Control | Electroacupuncture | Ashi point, SJ6, GB34, 30 min, 5 times per 7 days; 14 days | 64.20 ± 10.81 | 3.2 | ||||
| 19 (42.1%) | Control | Antiepileptics | Gabapentin, maximum dose 1800 mg per day; 14 days | 66.79 ± 11.25 | 3 | ||||
| Yang and Pan, 2016 | 34 (35.3%) | Treatment | Electroacupuncture plus Antiepileptics | Ashi point, Jiaji point, 50 Hz, 30 min, qd plus Gabapentin; 28 days | 4 | 56.8 ± 14.9 | 4.90 ± 3.80 | ① ④ ⑤ | Low; unclear; unclear; unclear; low; low; unclear |
| 34 (32.4%) | Control | Antiepileptics | Gabapentin, maximum dose 1800 mg per day; 28 days | 54.3 ± 12.4 | 5.60 ± 3.40 | ||||
| Wu and Zhao, 2016 | 25 (64.0%) | Treatment | Fu’s subcutaneous needling | Ashi point; 14 days | / | 40 to 70 | 2 to 8 | ① ⑤ | Low; high; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear |
| 25 (56.0%) | Control | Antiepileptics | Pregabalin, 150 mg, bidpo; 14 days | 38 to 70 | 2 to 7 | ||||
| Hong, 2016 | 29 | Treatment | Pricking and cupping | Ashi point, qod; 28 days | / | 61 | 5.1 | ① ⑤ | Low; unclear; unclear; unclear; low; low; unclear |
| 29 | Control | Antiepileptics | Gabapentin, maximum dose 1800 mg per day; 28 days | 61 | 5.3 | ||||
| Zhou and Huang, 2018 | 30 | Treatment | Fire needling plus Antiepileptics | BL15, BL17, qod plus Pregabalin; 10 days | / | 52.78 ± 8.12 | 6.85 ± 4.48 | ① ④ | Low; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear |
| 30 | Control | Antiepileptics | Pregabalin, 150 mg, bidpo; 10 days | 53.34 ± 7.60 | 6.62 ± 4.13 | ||||
| Xu, 2018 | 34 (58.8%) | Treatment | Fire needling | Ashi point, qod; 14 days | 1&4 | 60.06 ± 7.34 | 3.63 ± 2.31 | ① ④ ⑤ | Low; unclear; unclear; unclear; low; low; unclear |
| 34 (52.9%) | Control | Manual acupuncture | Ashi point, Jiaji point, 30 min, qd; 14 days | 59.91 ± 7.46 | 3.75 ± 2.77 | ||||
| Xie et al., 2018 | 40 (47.5%) | Treatment | Electroacupuncture plus antiepileptics | Ashi point, Jiaji point, 50 Hz, 60 min, 1 time per 3 days plus Gabapentin; 42 days | / | 65.3 ± 10.4 | 5.15 | ① ④ ⑤ | Low; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear |
| 40 (55.0%) | Control | Antiepileptics | Gabapentin, maximum dose 1800 mg per day; 42 days | 65.8 ± 10.8 | 5.50 | ||||
| Chen et al., 2018 | 45 (31.1%) | Treatment | Fire needling | Ashi point, Jiaji point, qod; 20 days | / | 61.24 ± 3.65 | 3.42 ± 0.39 | ① ② ④ | Low; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear |
| 45 (32.0%) | Control | Manual acupuncture | Ashi point, Jiaji point, 30 min, qd; 20 days | 61.15 ± 3.74 | 3.35 ± 0.37 | ||||
| Han et al., 2018 | 32 (50.0%) | Treatment | Pricking and cupping | Jiaji point, 15 min, 1 time per 3 days; 60 days | / | 46.91 ± 13.88 | 3.90 ± 3.70 | ① | Low; low; unclear; low; unclear; unclear; low |
| 32 (53.1%) | Control | Antiepileptics | Gabapentin, maximum dose 1800 mg per day; 60 days | 47.91 ± 13.94 | 3.2 ± 4.10 | ||||
| Mo, 2019 | 19 (52.6%) | Treatment | Pricking and cupping | Jiaji point, 10 min, 1 time per 3 days; 60 days | / | 47.05 ± 12.75 | 2.9 | ① ④ | Low; low; unclear; unclear; low; low; unclear |
| 18 (55.6%) | Control | Antiepileptics | Gabapentin, maximum dose 1800 mg per day; 60 days | 48.17 ± 11.17 | 2.8 | ||||
| Zhong, 2019 | 33 (51.5%) | Treatment | Fire needling | Ashi point, Jiaji point, qod; 28 days | / | 60.03 ± 3.09 | 3.61 ± 1.00 | ① ② ③ ④ ⑤ | Low; low; unclear; unclear; low; low; unclear |
| 33 (54.5%) | Control | Antiepileptics | Pregabalin, 75 mg, bidpo; 28 days | 59.55 ± 5.36 | 3.58 ± 1.00 | ||||
| Chen, 2019 | 30 (50.0%) | Treatment | Catgut embedding plus antiepileptics | Jiaji point, 1 time per 14 days plus Antiepileptics; 28 days | / | 55.17 ± 10.88 | 6.23 ± 1.61 | ① ② ④ | Low; unclear; unclear; unclear; low; low; unclear |
| 28 (53.6%) | Control | Antiepileptics | Pregabalin, 75 mg, bidpo; 28 days | 52.93 ± 10.04 | 6.41 ± 1.92 | ||||
| Pang, 2020 | 34 (55.9%) | Treatment | Fire needling plus antiepileptics | Wrist ankle point, 1 time per 4 days plus Gabapentin; 20 days | 4 | 60 | 3 | ① ② ④ ⑤ | Low; low; high; low; low; low; low |
| 33 (45.5%) | Control | Antiepileptics | Gabapentin, maximum dose 900 mg; 20 days | 60 | 3 | ||||
| Zhang et al., 2020 | 54 (46.3%) | Treatment | Fire needling | Ashi point, qod; 14 days | / | 54.1 ± 13.7 | 6.20 ± 2.60 | ① ④ | Low; high; unclear; unclear; low; low; unclear |
| 53 (49.1%) | Control | Fu’s subcutaneous needling | Ashi point, qod; 14 days | 58.3 ± 11.4 | 6.30 ± 2.70 | ||||
| Xu, 2020 | 29 (55.2%) | Treatment | Manual acupuncture | Regulating mind points, 30 min, qd; 14 days | 4&12 | 50.55 ± 10.02 | 5.06 ± 2.39 | ① ④ | Low; high; unclear; unclear; low; low; unclear |
| 28 (50.0%) | Control | Electroacupuncture | Ashi point, Jiaji point, dilatational wave, 2/100 Hz, 30 min, qd; 14 days | 53.07 ± 9.49 | 5.54 ± 2.83 | ||||
| Wang et al., 2020 | 34 (51.4%) | Treatment | Pricking and cupping | Ashi point, 20 min, qod; 16 days | / | 40 to 70 | 3.09 | ① ④ | Low; unclear; unclear; unclear; low; low; unclear |
| 32 (54.3%) | Control | Antiepileptics | Gabapentin, maximum dose 900 mg; 16 days | 40 to 69 | 3.06 | ||||
| Zhao et al., 2020 | 28 (60.7%) | Treatment | Pricking and cupping | Ashi poinrt, 30 min, qod; 40 days | / | 65.45 ± 2.23 | 6.02 ± 2.50 | ① ② ④ ⑤ | Low; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear |
| 28 (64.3%) | Control | Manual acupuncture | Ashi poinrt, 5 min, qod; 40 days | 65.67 ± 2.32 | 5.79 ± 2.45 | ||||
| Ding et al., 2021 | 57 (56.1%) | Treatment | Pricking and cupping plus antiepileptics | Ashi point, Jiaji point, 2 to 3 times per 7 days plus Gabapentin plus Mecobalamine 0.5 mg tidpo; 28 days | / | 59.33 ± 6.25 | 3.71 ± 0.49 | ① ④ ⑤ | Low; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear |
| 58 (53.4%) | Control | Antiepileptics | Gabapentin, maximum dose 1800 mg per day plus Mecobalamine 0.5 mg, tidpo; 28 days | 62.45 ± 9.23 | 3.49 ± 0.63 | ||||
| Zhang et al., 2021 | 31 (48.4%) | Treatment | Pricking and cupping plus antiepileptics | Ashi point, 20 min, qod plus Pregabalin; 30 days | / | 61.69 ± 8.43 | 7.43 ± 1.49 | ① ④ ⑤ | Low; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear; unclear |
| 30 (43.3%) | Control | Antiepileptics | Pregabalin, 150 mg, bidpo; 28 days | 61.42 ± 7.96 | 7.68 ± 1.52 |
① = VAS; ② = PSQI; ③ = SDS; ④ = response rate; ⑤ = adverse events.