Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Volume 2015 (2015), Article ID 671242, 14 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/671242

Review Article

Analysis and Thoughts about the Negative Results of International Clinical Trials on Acupuncture

Wei-hong Liu, Yang Hao, Yan-jing Han, Xiao-hong Wang, Chen Li, and Wan-ning Liu

Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China

Received 22 July 2014; Revised 1 December 2014; Accepted 3 February 2015

Academic Editor: Chong-Zhi Wang

Copyright © 2015 Wei-hong Liu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

An increasing number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture have proved the clinical benefits of acupuncture; however, there are some results that have shown negative results or placebo effects. The paper carried out an in-depth analysis on 33 RCTs in the 2011 SCI database, the quality of the reports was judged according to Jadad scores, and the “Necessary Information Included in Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA 2010)” was taken as the standard to analyze the rationality of the therapeutic principle. The difference between the methodology (Jadad) scores of the two types of research reports did not constitute statistical significance (). The studies with negative results or placebo effects showed the following deficiencies with respect to intervention details: (1) incompletely rational acupoint selection; (2) inconsistent ability of acupuncturists; (3) negligible needling response to needling; (4) acupuncture treatment frequency too low in most studies; and (5) irrational setting of placebo control. Thus, the primary basis for the negative results or placebo effects of international clinical trials on acupuncture is not in the quality of the methodology, but in noncompliance with the essential requirements proposed by acupuncture theory in terms of clinical manipulation details.

1. Introduction

As an integral part to the Chinese medical and health care system, acupuncture therapy is widely applied in clinical applications, effective in treatment, economical, and safe and thereby generally accepted by Chinese people. Since the sixth century AD, acupuncture has successively spread to various countries of the world, making considerable contributions to relieving people from diseases worldwide. Along with the development of evidence-based medicine, international clinical trials on acupuncture have been increasing in number and raising greater controversies on whether or not acupuncture is effective. While the majority of international clinical trial reports on acupuncture have demonstrated that acupuncture therapy is indeed effective, some research has shown that acupuncture therapy benefits patients, but is equivalent to the placebo effect [1], and some people consider acupuncture therapy to be ineffective [2]. Currently, it is widely believed that such a result is a product of the higher-quality methodology for international randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture. The purpose of the current study was to determine the basis for the negative results or placebo effects in published acupuncture RCTs from the perspective of methodology and interventions after comprehensively reading and analyzing the published acupuncture RCTs retrieved from the 2011 SCIE database, with the exception of research conducted in China.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Search Strategy

The computer retrieval was carried out in “Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE)” and the retrieval type was “(‘acupuncture’ [MeSH Terms] OR ‘acupuncture’ [All Fields] OR ‘acupuncture therapy’ [MeSH Terms] OR (‘acupuncture’ [All Fields] AND ‘therapy’ [All Fields]) OR ‘acupuncture therapy’ [All Fields] OR (‘moxibustion’ [MeSH Terms] OR ‘moxibustion’ [All Fields] AND ‘2011/1/1’ [PDat]: ‘2011/12/31’ [PDat] AND English [lang]).”

2.2. Inclusion Criteria

The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) randomized controlled acupuncture, acupressure, or moxibustion trials published in 2011 from the SCIE database; (2) patients underwent the trial regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or course of disease; and (3) intervention of the observation or controlled group was based on the theory of meridians and collaterals and the patients were treated by acupuncture, acupressure, and/or moxibustion.

2.3. Exclusion Criteria

The exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) nonrandomized trials; (2) nonclinical trials; (3) the intervention did not conform to the objective of the research; (4) duplicated articles; and (5) the first author was from China or the trial was conducted in China.

2.4. Data Collection and Analysis

Evaluation was performed independently by two authors (Yang Hao and Wan-ning Liu). Relevant full articles were sorted and cross-examined. Any discrepancies were discussed or further evaluated by a 3rd author (Wei-hong Liu). Methodology was evaluated based on the Jadad score [3]. The specific evaluation standard is shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Jadad score standard.

Items
Score standard

0
1
2

Randomization
Not randomized or inappropriate method of randomization
The study was described as randomized
The method of randomization was described and it was appropriate

Double blinding
Not blind or inappropriate method of blinding
The study was described as double blind
The method of double blinding was described and it was appropriate

Withdraws and drop outs
Not describing the follow-up
A description of withdraws and dropouts
—

3. Results

3.1. Articles Included

Of the 867 articles retrieved, 33 studies [2, 4–35] met the inclusion criteria for the current analysis (Figure 1).

Figure 1: The flow diagram of the research.

3.2. Features of the Studies

Features of the included trials are detailed in Table 2.

Table 2: Features of the studies.

Number
Title
Disease
Intervention of the observation group
Intervention of the control group
Sample size
Outcome
Follow-up phase

001
“The Effectiveness of Moxibustion for the Treatment of Functional Constipation: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled, Patient Blinded, Pilot Clinical Trial”
Constipation
Moxibustion
Heat insulation moxa-moxibustion (place a heat insulator under the true moxa-moxibustion)
26
Invalid
2 weeks

002
“The efficacy of Acupressure at the Sanyinjiao Point in the Improvement of Women’s General Health”
Woman health
Acupressure at SP 6
Sham acupuncture
86
Both valid, the real is the better
No mention

003
“Preliminary Research Article Electroacupuncture Is Not Effective in Chronic
Painful Neuropathies”
Chronic neuralgia
Electroacupuncture for 12 weeks
Press the nonacupoint (not touch the tendo calcaneus in any meridian vessel on the back of leg)
16
Invalid
No mention

004
“Feeding, Stooling and Sleeping Pattern in Infants with Colic- A Randomized Controlled Trial of Minimal Acupuncture”
Infantile colic
Acupuncture
Blank
90
The symptoms improved, but no statistical difference
No mention

005
“The Effect of Acupuncture on Psychosocial Outcomes for Women Experiencing Infertility: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial”
Women experiencing infertility
Acupuncture
No intervention
32
Valid
No mention

006
“Effect of Acupuncture on Nausea and/or Vomiting during and after Cesarean Section in Comparison with Ondansetron”
Nausea and vomiting when delivery
Wrist band stimulative to acupoint
Wrist band nonstimulative to PC 6
450
Invalid
No mention

007
“Acupuncture in Children and Adolescents with Bronchial Asthma: A Randomised Controlled Study”
Bronchial asthma
Acupuncture
Conventional treatment of western medicine
93
Partial response
4 months

008
“True and Sham Acupuncture Produced Similar Frequency of Ovulation and Improved LH to FSH Ratios in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome”
Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Electroacupuncture
Stick on the skin by sham needle tubing and adjust the current to 0
96
Both valid
3 months

009
“Effects of Auricular Acupuncture on Anthropometric, Lipid Profile, Inflammatory and Immunologic Markers: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study”
Obesity
Auricular acupuncture
Sham auricular acupuncture
204
Valid
No mention

010
“Acupuncture for “Frequent Attenders” with
Medically Unexplained Symptoms:
A Randomised Controlled Trial (CACTUS Study)”
Neurosis
Acupuncture
Conventional treatment
80
Valid
52 weeks

011
“The Effects of Acupuncture on the Inner Ear Originated Tinnitus”
Inner ear originated tinnitus
Acupuncture
Sham acupuncture (the Park sham acupuncture instrument)
63
Someone has valid in a short time
No mention

012
“Evaluation of Wet-Cupping Therapy for Persistent
Non-Specific Low Back Pain: A Randomised,
Waiting-List Controlled, Open-Label, Parallel-Group
Pilot Trial”
Persistent
nonspecific low back pain
Wet-cupping + excise + analgesic-antipyretic
Excise + analgesic-antipyretic
32
Valid
2 weeks

013
“Acupuncture in Preterm Babies during Minor Painful Procedures”
Acupuncture
Acupuncture
Without any measure
10
Valid
No mention

014
“Moxibustion for Cephalic Version: A Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial”
Malposition
Moxibustion
Without any measure
20
Invalid
No mention

015
“Patient Education Integrated with Acupuncture for Relief of Cancer-Related Fatigue Randomized Controlled Feasibility Study”
Cancer-related fatigue
Patient education integrated with acupuncture
Self-management
13
Valid
No mention

016
“Effectiveness of Acupressure and Acustimulation in Minimizing
Driving Simulation Adaptation Syndrome”
Minimizing
driving simulation adaptation syndrome
Acupressure and acustimulation
Sham wristband stimulation
25
Valid
No mention

017
“Comparative Effects of Acupressure at Local and Distal Acupuncture Points on Pain Conditions and Autonomic Function in Females with Chronic Neck Pain”
Chronic neck pain
Acupuncture at local points
Acupuncture at distal points and blank control
33
Valid and the local points intervention is better
No

018
“Electroacupuncture for Cervical Ripening Prior to Labor Induction: A Randomized Clinical Trial”
Cervical ripening prior to labor induction
Electroacupuncture
Moxibustion
72
Valid
No mention

019
“Effects of Acupuncture in Reducing Attrition and Mortality in HIV-Infected Men with Peripheral Neuropathy”
HIV-infected men with peripheral neuropathy
Acupuncture
Sham acupuncture
114
Valid in relieve of the pain and the mortality reduction, but the severe is not better than sham acupuncture
14 weeks

020
“Acupuncture Versus Paroxetine for the Treatment of Premature Ejaculation: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial”
Premature ejaculation
Acupuncture
Paroxetine
90
Valid
No

021
“Ear Acupuncture in the Treatment of Migraine Attacks: A Randomized Trial on the Efficacy of Appropriate Versus Inappropriate Acupoints”
Migraine attacks
Acupuncture on auricular point
Acupuncture on inappropriate auricular point
94
Valid
120 minutes

022
“Cost-Effectiveness of Acupuncture Care as an Adjunct to Exercise-Based Physical Therapy for Osteoarthritis of the Knee”
Osteoarthritis of the knee
Acupuncture care as an adjunct to exercise-based physical therapy
Education and excise
352
Valid
12 months

023
“A Randomised, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study of Acupressure Wristbands for the Prevention of Nausea and Vomiting During Labour and Delivery”
Nausea and vomiting when delivery
Wrist band stimulative to acupoint
Wrist band nonstimulative to PC 6
340
Invalid
No mention

024
“Effect of Acupuncture on Allergen-Induced Basophil
Activation in Patients with Atopic Eczema: A Pilot Trial”
Atopic eczema
Acupuncture
Blank
10
Valid
No mention

025
“Acupuncture to Treat Primary Dysmenorrhea in Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial”
Primary dysmenorrhea
Acupuncture
Sham acupuncture (2–4 cm beside acupoints and Streitberger sham acupuncture)
92
Valid
1 year

026
“Getting the Grip on Nonspecific Treatment Effects: Emesis in Patients Randomized to Acupuncture or Sham Compared to Patients Receiving Standard Care”
Emesis
Acupuncture
Sham acupuncture (2 cm beside acupoints and park sham acupuncture)
277
Both better than conventional therapy
No mention

027
“Perioperative Acupuncture and Postoperative Acupressure Can Prevent Postoperative Vomiting following Paediatric Tonsillectomy or Adenoidectomy: A Pragmatic Randomised Controlled Trial”
Postoperative vomiting
Acupuncture + conventional therapy
Conventional therapy
154
Valid
Yes

028
“The Effect of Acupuncture on Postmenopausal Symptoms and Reproductive Hormones: A Sham Controlled Clinical Trial”
Postmenopausal symptoms and reproductive hormones
Acupuncture
Sham acupuncture (the Streitberger sham acupuncture instrument)
55
Valid
No

029
“Efficacy of Acupuncture in Preventing Atrial Fibrillation Recurrences after Electrical Cardioversion”
Atrial fibrillation
Acupuncture
Sham acupuncture
54
Valid
12 months

030
“Acupuncture for the Induction of Labour: A Double-Blind Randomised Controlled Study”
Accouching
Acupuncture
Sham acupuncture (the Park sham acupuncture instrument)
125
Invalid
Yes

031
“Comparison between the Effects of Trigger Point Mesotherapy Versus Acupuncture Points Mesotherapy in the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Short Term Randomized Controlled Trial”
Lumbago and backache
Lidocaine injection at acupoint
Lidocaine injection at trigger point
62
The trigger point mesoderm has good effect
12 weeks

032
“Relaxation Acupressure Reduces Persistent Cancer-Related Fatigue”
Cancer-related fatigue
Relaxation acupressure
High frequency of acupuncture and low frequency of acupuncture
43
Relaxation acupressure valid
No mention

033
“Delayed Effect of Acupuncture Treatment in OA of the Knee: A Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Trial”
OA of the knee
Acupuncture and conventional therapy
Sham acupuncture and conventional therapy
55
Valid
One month

3.3. Jadad Score of the Trials

According to the research results, the 33 reports were classified into two types (positive results and negative results or placebo effects). The 33 reports were read and the key points were extracted. According to the Jadad score, the lowest methodology quality was scored 0, while the highest methodology quality was scored 5. The clinical trial was considered low in quality if the score was ≤2 and was considered high in quality if the score was ≥3. The Jadad scores of the research report methodologies are shown in Table 3, and the Jadad score comparison of the acupuncture RCT methodologies is shown in Table 4.

Table 3: Jadad scores of the research.

Research
Randomization
Double blinding
Withdraws and drop outs
Jadad score

Park et al. [4]
Computer generated random table in a 1 : 1 ratio with block size 4, and using a sealed envelope
Patient blinded
2
5

Kashefi et al. [2]
Randomized
Single blinded
10
3

Penza et al. [5]
Randomized
Patient and examiner blinded
Not mentioned
2

Landgren et al. [6]
Not mentioned
Nurse and parents blinded
5
2

Smith et al. [7]
Computer generated randomization schedule
Statistician blinded
2
4

El-Deeb and Ahmady [8]
Not mentioned
Double blinded
Not mentioned
3

Scheewe et al. [9]
Not mentioned
Not mentioned
27%
2

Pastore et al. [10]
Block randomization
double blinded
14
4

Hamid et al. [11]
Not mentioned
Not mentioned
35
1

Paterson et al. [12]
Simple randomization
Statistician blinded
3,1
4

Rogha et al. [13]
Not mentioned
Not mentioned
9
1

Kim et al. [14]
Block randomization
open
3
3

Ecevit et al. [15]
Not mentioned
Not mentioned
Not mentioned
0

Do et al. [16]
Computer generated randomization
Not mentioned
1
2

Johnston et al. [17]
Block randomization
Open
1
3

Cox et al. [18]
Not mentioned
Not mentioned
1
0

Matsubara et al. [19]
Not mentioned
Not mentioned
Not mentioned
0

Gribel et al. [20]
Block randomization
Open
0
2

Shiflett and Schwartz [21]
Randomized
Patient and assessor blinded
19
4

Sunay et al. [22]
Simple randomization
Single blinded
0
3

Allais et al. [23]
Simple randomization
Single blinded
1
2

Whitehurst et al. [24]
Not mentioned
Researcher blinded
49
0

Sinha et al. [25]
Simple randomization
Double blinded
11
4

Pfab et al. [26]
Block randomization
Researcher blinded
0
3

Smith et al. [27]
Block randomization
Patient and assessor blinded
2
3

Enblom et al. [28]
Not mentioned
Assessor and nurse blinded
32
2

Liodden et al. [29]
Block randomization
Double blinded
32
4

Sunay et al. [30]
Not mentioned
Single blinded
2
2

Lomuscio et al. [31]
Not mentioned
Patient, assessor, and statistician blinded
0
3

Modlock et al. [32]
Block randomization
Patient, assessor, and statistician blinded
19
4

di Cesare et al. [33]
Block randomization
Assessor blinded
2
3

Zick et al. [34]
Computer generated randomization
Patient blinded
8
3

Lev-Ari et al. [35]
Not mentioned
Patient and assessor blinded
14
2

Table 4: Jadad score comparison of the acupuncture RCT methodologies in the 2011 SCI database.

Result
Total number of reports
Number of reports scoring at 1-2
Proportion (%)
Number of reports scoring at 3–5
Proportion (%)

Positive
23
9
39.13%
14
60.87%

Negative/placebo
10
4
40.00%
6
60.00%

By adoption of SPSS 13.0, data in Table 4 was subjected to a test; the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (). The quality of the clinical trial report methodology on acupuncture with positive results is similar to the clinical trial reports with negative results or placebo effects, which indicates that the difference in quality of the methodology is not the primary reason for the different clinical research results of acupuncture.

3.4. Analysis of Acupuncture RCTs Intervention Details with Positive Results, Negative Results, and Placebo Effects

The intervention details of the RCTs with positive results, negative results, and placebo effects were compared. Due to the small number of RCTs with negative results or placebo effects collected in 2011, the acupuncture RCTs from 2005 to 2010 in the SCIE database were retrieved. The retrieval terms were as follows: “acupuncture” [MeSH terms] OR “acupuncture” [all fields] OR “acupuncture therapy” [MeSH terms] OR “acupuncture” [all fields] AND “therapy” [all fields] OR “acupuncture therapy” [all fields] OR “moxibustion” [MeSH terms] OR “moxibustion” [all fields] AND “2005/1/1” [PDat]: “2010/12/31” [PDat] AND randomized controlled trial [PDat] AND English [lang]. Seven reports [36–42] with negative results or placebo effects were analyzed together with the 10 reports with negative results or placebo effects.

According to the “Necessary Information Included in Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA 2010),” the authors designed an intervention table for the RCTs and compared the intervention details of the RCTs with positive results, negative results, and placebo effects. The detailed information of the reports is shown in Tables 5 and 6.

Table 5: Intervention of 17 research reports with negative results or placebo effects.

Number 
Disease
Intervention
Acupoint
Treatment frequency
Needling response
Qualification of acupuncturist

1
Constipation
Moxibustion
ST 23, ST 27
3 times/week
Unmentioned
Experience of more than five years

2
Chronic neuralgia
Sham-electroacupuncture after electroacupuncture for 12 weeks
ST36, SP6, LR3, BL60
1 time/week
Unmentioned
Unmentioned

3
Infantile colic
Acupuncture
LI 4
2 times/week
Unmentioned
Certificated nurse practitioner

4
Malposition
Moxibustion
BL 67
2 times/day
Unmentioned
Operation by patients themselves who are trained

5
Nausea and vomiting when delivery
Wrist band stimulating to acupoint
PC 6
1 time/week
Unmentioned
Unmentioned

6
Aids to delivery
Acupuncture
BL 67, LI 4, SP 6 and DU 20
2 times/day
Unmentioned
Acupuncturists and midwives, who often implement acupuncture treatment

7
Lumbago and backache
Lidocaine acupoint injection
GB30, BL31, BL52, GV3, ā shì points, GB34, GB 41, BL60, KI4, TE5
1 time/week
Unmentioned
3-year training and 8-year clinical experience

8
Knee osteoarthritis
Physical therapy plus verum acupuncture
Selecting 6 to 10 acupoints from SP9, SP10, ST 34, ST35, ST36, EX-LE5, GB 34, ā shì points, remote end: LI 4, SP 6, LR 3, ST 44, KI 3, BL 60, and GB 41
2 times/week
Yes
67 physical therapists reaching the lowest acupuncture level required by Acupuncture Association.

9
Knee joint pain of postmenopause women
Routine nursing plus acupressure
EX-LE4, ST35, SP 10, ST 34, ST 36, SP 9, GB 34, and EX-LE2
1 time/day
Unmentioned
Operation by patients themselves

10
Emergency treatment
Routine treatment plus acupuncture
Operation according to traditional Chinese medical standards
1 time/day
Unmentioned
Eligible acupuncturists having the experience of 6–22 years

11
Irritable bowel syndrome
Acupuncture
8-16 acupoints (no specific acupoints are mentioned)
1 time/week
Yes
Members approved by British Acupuncture Association

12
Woman health
Acupressure at SP 6
SP 6
Every day during menstrual period
Unmentioned
Trained about finger force practice

13
Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Electroacupuncture
Electroacupuncture: BL23 on two sides, BL 28, SP 6, and SP 9
Two times/week within the first four weeks, and one time/week within later four weeks
Unmentioned
Acupuncturists with the experience of five years

14
Emesis
Acupuncture
PC 6
Three times/week to two times/week
Yes
Unmentioned

15
Irritable bowel syndrome
Acupuncture
CV10, ST25, LR 3, SP4, PC6, ST 37
Unmentioned
Yes
2000-hour training and experience of more than four years

16
Low back pain
Acupuncture
Unmentioned
Two times/week
Yes
Physicians from various majors, trained about acupuncture more than 140 hours

17
Smoking cessation
Acupuncture
HT 7, PC 7, HT 8, KI 3, and KI 6
Three times/week
Yes
Unmentioned

Table 6: Intervention of 23 research reports with positive results.

Author
Disease
Intervention
Acupoint
Treatment frequency
Needling response
Qualification of acupuncturist

Smith et al. [7]
Infertility
Acupuncture
PC 6, PC 5, HT 5, HT 7
1 time/week
Yes
Certificated acupuncturist, experience of more than 14 years

El-Deeb and Ahmady [8]
Nausea and vomiting after cesarean
Electroacupuncture
PC 6
Single time
Unmentioned
Unmentioned

Scheewe et al. [9]
Bronchial asthma
Acupuncture
BL 13, CV 17, LU 7 and acupoint selection according to syndrome differentiation
3 times/week
Yes
Experience of many years

Hamid et al. [11]
Obesity
Auricular acupuncture
HT 7, CO4, CO1, HX1, CO17
2 times/day
Unmentioned
Unmentioned

Paterson et al. [12]
Psychoneurosis
Acupuncture and moxibustion
Not mentioned
According to syndrome differentiation
Yes
Member of British Medical Acupuncture Society

Rogha et al. [13]
Endogenous tinnitus
Acupuncture
TE 17, GB 2, SI 19, and TE 21
3 times/day
Unmentioned
Unmentioned

Kim et al. [14]
Low back pain
Cupping
BL 23, BL 24, BL 25
3 times/week
Unmentioned
3-year training and 6-year clinical experience

Ecevit et al. [15]
Analgesia
Acupuncture
EX-HN3
1 time/week
Unmentioned
Qualified acupuncturist

Kim et al. [14]
Cancer fatigue
Acupuncture
LI 4, SP 6, ST 36, KI 3
Not mentioned
Yes
Phd of TCM in the US, with 20 years of clinical experience

Cox et al. [18]
Motion sickness
Auricular acupuncture
TF4
Single time
Unmentioned
Unmentioned

Matsubara et al. [19]
Neck pain
Acupressure
GB 21, SI 14, SI 15, LI 4, LI 10, LI 11
Single time
Unmentioned
Unmentioned

Gribel et al. [20]
Cervical dilatation
Electroacupuncture
LI 4, ST 36, LR 3, SP 6, BL 23, BL 32
3 times/day
Unmentioned
With 20 years of clinical experience

Shiflett and Schwartz [21]
Peripheral neuropathy in ADIS patients
Acupuncture
SP 6, SP 7, SP 9, and acupoint selection according to syndrome differentiation
2 times/week
Unmentioned
Has received standardized training

Sunay et al. [22]
Premature ejaculation
Acupuncture
LI 4, ST 36, KI 3, LR 3, EX-HN3, CV 3
2 times/week
Unmentioned
Certificated and experienced acupuncturist

Allais et al. [23]
Migraine
Blunt needle
AT4
Single time
With
Experienced acupuncturist

Whitehurst et al. [24]
Knee osteoarthritis
Acupuncture
Conventional acupoints used for knee osteoarthritis
Not mentioned
Yes
Member of British Medical Acupuncture Society, physiotherapist

Pfab et al. [26]
Eczema
Acupuncture
LI 11, LI 4, ST 36, SP 10
2 times/week
Unmentioned
Experienced acupuncturist

Smith et al. [27]
Dysmenorrhea
Acupuncture
SP 4, CV 3, ST 29, SP 6, BL 32, SP 8
3 times/week
Yes
Certificated acupuncturist of CMASA

Liodden et al. [29]
Postoperative nause
Acupuncture + acupressure
PC 6
For 24 hours
Unmentioned
Experienced acupuncturist

Sunay et al. [30]
Perimenopausal syndrome
Acupuncture
ST 36, LI 4, KI 3, LR 3, EX-HN3, CV 3
2 times/week
Yes
Certificated acupuncturist of 6 years

Lomuscio et al. [31]
Atrial fibrillation
Acupuncture
PC 6, HT 7, BL 15
1 time/week
Unmentioned
Trained acupuncturist

Zick et al. [34]
Cancer fatigue
Acupressure
ST 36, SP 6, KI 3, LI 4, CV 6 GV 20, EX-HN3, HT 7, LR 3, SP 6
2 times a day, 3 times/week
Yes
Certificated acupuncturist with B.S. degree

Lev-Ari et al. [35]
Knee osteoarthritis
Acupuncture
GB 34, SP 5, ST 35, EX-LE5, LI 4, local points, ST 43, ST 34
2 times/week
Unmentioned
Unmentioned

It is known that the clinical treatment process of acupuncture involves not only the operation of acupuncture–moxibustion therapy, but also the rational selection of therapeutic principles and methods, rational application of acupoints, manipulation, and the correct setting of the therapy, and so on. It is apparent from the analysis of items displayed in Tables 5 and 6 that the intervention process in the negative results and placebo effects was replete with defects.

3.4.1. Interventions of Some Trials Are Improper

To select a proper therapeutic method is the key to assuring a curative effect; however, the authors showed that some interventions in the 17 reports were improper. For example, in item 001, moxibustion was adopted to treat constipation; in item 009, which involved the treatment of postmenopausal women suffering knee joint pain, women without medical knowledge performed acupressure by themselves at home; and in item 005, when treating the nausea and vomiting associated with labor and delivery, only a wrist band that slightly stimulates PC 6 was used. Despite certain therapeutic function, these measures are all not the most proper choice. For example, constipation is most often treated clinically with acupuncture; however, for excess syndrome or heat syndrome constipation, it is improper to use moxibustion. Similarly, it is doubtful that the wrist band which stimulates PC 6 is satisfactory to achieve a therapeutic effect like acupuncture. With respect to the studies with positive results, the applied methods were effective intervention, such as filiform needles, electroacupuncture, blunt needles, or auricular acupuncture. Clearly, effective intervention is an important factor for the results of the trial.

3.4.2. Acupoint Selection in Some Studies Is Not Completely Rational

Each acupoint has its therapeutic effect. Rich experiences in acupuncture have been accumulated through the inheritance for thousands of years in China. For example, the most effective acupoints for constipation treatment are ST25, ST36, ST28, ST29, and TE6, while the researcher for item 001 selected ST23 and ST27. Clinically, ST23 is often involved in the treatment of gastric diseases or mental diseases, such as vexation and manic-depressive psychosis, while ST27 is mainly used in the treatment of hypogastrium distention and fullness, difficult urination, hernia, spermatorrhoea, premature ejaculation, and other male diseases. The selection of improper acupoints results in a low clinical curative effect. In item 003, the researcher only selected LI4 to treat infantile colic. LI4 belongs to the large intestine meridian and plays a role in treating intestinal disease, but it is clinically known for its effect on head/face diseases, sweating disorders, and gynecologic diseases, including menstrual disorders, vaginal discharge, and parturition. If GV12 and ST36 are added in the prescription, the effect would be significantly improved. Thus, the researcher may select a single acupoint by reducing confounding factors in interventions as much as possible, but not considering that acupuncture therapy needs the compatibility of acupoints for enhancement of effect and improvement of curative effect in a practical environment. The acupoints selected in the studies with positive results were correct and most effective according to clinical experiences. The comparison indicated that the rational selection of acupoints is directly related to the validity of the trial.

3.4.3. Needling Response Is Neglected in Most Studies

The famous acupuncture work, Biaoyoufu, in ancient China says, “Quick needling response results in quick action, otherwise the late needling response causes treatment failure,” which means that the patients’ meridian-qi circulation should be considered when needling to realize the needling response. Of 17 reports with negative results or placebo effects, 65% (11/17) did not mention whether or not the needling response was achieved. This is a problem that should be addressed by the research design and execution staff. The physicians of acupuncture and moxibustion in China mostly have such experiences that immediately after needle insertion they must observe the patient’s response, earnestly feel the sense beneath the needle tip, and repeatedly operate the needle body so that the endurable feelings of sourness, numbness, swelling, heaviness, and pain can be felt by the patients. Meanwhile, the operator also feels heaviness and tightening beneath the needle tip, which is called the needling response. If such a feeling is generated, a good curative effect can be realized, whereas if it is not, the effect is slow or not apparent. As an intervention in the observation group, no needling response suggests no real or ineffective stimulation to the acupoint. In this way, the curative effect will be reduced greatly and a negative result may be more likely to occur. It is noteworthy that 65% (15/23) of the studies with positive results did not mention whether or not the needling response was achieved. As a complicated intervention, the effectiveness of acupuncture is influenced by multiple factors.

3.4.4. The Requirements of the Acupuncturist Is Neglected in Many Studies

As shown in Table 5, acupuncturists involved in the clinical trials had inconsistent qualifications. The proportion of excellent acupuncturists in the studies with negative results or placebo effects was 65% (11/17). Some of the acupuncturists work part-time and are actually nurse practitioners (003), some have achieved the lowest requirements (008), some are midwives without acupuncturist qualifications (006), and some ask the patients to operate on themselves at home (004, 009, and 012). Because of low-level acupuncturists and such simple treatments, it is really difficult to fully realize the curative effect of acupuncture. The proportion of excellent acupuncturists in the studies with positive results was 74% (17/23), which was significantly higher than the studies with negative results and placebo effects. Acupuncture is a therapeutic method that has high technical skill requirements. He [43] concluded that the proficiency and level of clinical acupuncture skill constitute decisive factors of a clinical curative effect, as well as the advantages of famous veteran physicians of traditional Chinese medicine. Inexperienced or unqualified acupuncturists undoubtedly lower the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture treatment, especially when patients are asked to treat themselves.

3.4.5. The Acupuncture Treatment Frequency Is Too Low in Most Studies

Among the 17 studies listed in Table 5, eight had a treatment frequency of 1-2 times/week (002, 003, 005, 007, 008, 011, 013, and 016), accounting for 47% of the studies; 53% of the studies had a treatment frequency ≥3 times/week (001, 014, and 017). Among the studies with positive results, eight had a treatment frequency of 1-2 times/week, accounting for 35%; 65% of studies with positive results had a treatment frequency ≥3 times/week. Indeed, the studies with positive results had a significantly higher treatment frequency. According to Cai and Ma [44], the influence of acupuncture at BL23 on urinary function peaks after the acupuncture is implemented for 1 hour and then slowly declines and recovers to the original level, with the effect lasting 2–6 hours. This finding is consistent with the metabolic principles in the human body. The curative effect of acupuncture is determined by the duration of the acupuncture effect remaining in the human body and the accumulation of multiple therapeutic effects. Therefore, the best treatment frequency of acupuncture is 1-2 times per day. In the event of one treatment per 2 days or an extended interval of time, it takes more time to accumulate the acupuncture effect, leading to a slower onset of effect. Moreover, different diseases require different treatment frequencies; for chronic diseases and permanent symptoms, the treatment frequency should be higher, and for chronic neuralgia (001), irritable bowel syndrome (011), and smoking cessation (017), it is evident that a good effect is difficult to realize if the frequency is one time per week.

In addition to all the factors above, based on the research demonstrating a clinical curative effect, the diseases which are best to be treated are selected. For example, for smoking cessation, a worldwide problem which is difficult to eradicate, if acupuncture is adopted at a frequency of one time per week, the effect is weak.

3.5. Reflections on Placebo Acupuncture Settings

The 17 studies with negative results or placebo effects are generated in comparison with other therapeutic measures. At the same time, the suitability of the control settings is also worthy of further analysis. The authors have analyzed the control setting list (Table 7) in these research reports and divided the control methods into the following three types: (1) no penetration into the skin (the Park sham needle) or heat insulation acupuncture; (2) slight penetration into the skin or press; and (3) stimulation of the nonacupoint parts. These three points will be analyzed one-by-one as follows.

Table 7: Control design in research report with negative or placebo result.

Number
Disease
Intervention of observation group
Intervention of control group

1
Constipation
Moxibustion
Heat insulation moxa-moxibustion (place a heat insulator under the true moxa-moxibustion)

2
Chronic neuralgia
Electroacupuncture for 12 weeks
Sham electroacupuncture (around the acupoint)

3
Infantile colic
Acupuncture
Without any measure

4
Malposition
Moxibustion
Without any measure

5
Nausea and vomiting when delivery
Wrist band stimulative to acupoint
Wrist band nonstimulative to PC 6

6
Accouching
Acupuncture
Sham acupuncture (the Park sham acupuncture instrument)

7
Lumbago and backache
Lidocaine injection at acupoint
Lidocaine injection at trigger point

8
Knee osteoarthritis
Physiotherapy and verum acupuncture
Physiotherapy and placebo acupuncture, or just physiotherapy

9
Knee joint pain of postmenopausal women
Usual care and acupressure
Usual care

10
Emergency treatment
Conventional treatment and acupuncture
Conventional therapy

11
Irritable bowel syndrome
Acupuncture
Sham acupuncture (unrelated to meridian points, without needling response)

12
Woman health
Acupressure at SP 6
Press the nonacupoint (not touch the tendo calcaneus in any meridian vessel on the back of leg)

13
Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Electroacupuncture
Stick on the skin by sham needle tubing, adjust the current to 0

14
Emesis
Acupuncture and moxibustion
Antinausea drug or sham acupuncture (two inches close to the acupoint by Park sham acupuncture instrument)

15
Irritable bowel syndrome
Acupuncture
Park sham needle, the nonacupoint close to acupoints

16
Low back pain
Acupuncture
Nonacupoint shallow penetration (1–3 mm)

17
Smoking cessation
Acupuncture
Nonacupoint shallow penetration (1–3 mm)

3.5.1. No Penetration into the Skin as a Control

Park sham acupuncture instruments were used in items 006, 013, 014, and 015, which is the control that did not penetrate into the skin. The instrument incorporates a round and blunt needle head which can be retracted into the needle handle and does not penetrate into the skin when the needle is touching the skin. The outer surface of the needle is fixed by double-faced adhesive tape and equipped with a small pipe to prevent the patient from seeing the truth. Park et al. [45] reported that the needle head would inevitably stimulate the skin and have a vivid effect on the skin, which will result in a physiologic effect. The Park sham acupuncture changes the method and tools of stimulation; thus the control method can also generate some therapeutic effect, but the researcher considers it as the control measure that cannot generate an effect or only shows a placebo effect. Therefore, when the measures of the observation group indicate the same curative effect as that of the control group, the measure of the observation group is considered to be invalid or have placebo effect only. The measure of the control group has some therapeutic effect, so the result of the observation group is false-negative. The Park sham acupuncture method is similar to a pressing method. The acupressure is referred to as the “indicator” in acupuncture theory and exclusively used for infants, people afraid of acupuncture, nervous patients, or when the needle is lacking; acupressure is also a simple method with a treatment effect.

3.5.2. Slight Penetration into the Skin as a Control

The 016 and 017 studies carried out the control using the shallow stimulation method; however, in clinical acupuncture and moxibustion, shallow acupuncture itself is an effective therapeutic method. The Miraculous Pivot has recorded that the light stimulation just stimulates the skin, while the semipenetration involves the skin, but not the muscle. The A-B Classic of Acu-moxibustion has clearly described that 14 acupoints can be penetrated by one fen (approximately 3.3 mm) and 20 acupoints can be penetrated by 2 fen (approximately 6.6 mm) [46]. Another study [47] indicates that 42 patients with wrist myofascial pain were randomly distributed to the deep acupuncture group and the shallow acupuncture group with the same acupoints, and the acupuncture depth for the deep acupuncture group was 1.5 cm compared to 2 mm for the shallow acupuncture group. The McGill pain questionnaire was used as the evaluating indicator. The scores for the two groups before the treatment were and , respectively, compared to and after the treatment. The results indicate that the two groups can relieve the pain, and the curative effect was not statistically different. Therefore, with respect to pain-related disease and disease suitable for shallow acupuncture, shallow acupuncture is unsuitable for the acupuncture control without a curative effect because it will result in false-negative properties of the observation group.

3.5.3. Nonacupoint and Nonmeridian Acupoint as Controls

The researchers performing seven studies (002, 011, 012, 014, 015, 016, and 017) avoid or depart the known acupoints and meridians as the placebo control. The question involves how many acupoints the people have in their body. The WHO has approved that there are 361 meridian points and 48 extraordinary points; however, >2200 extraordinary acupoints have been collected [48] with formal names and main functions. Owing to all types of unfixed a shì points, it is easy to avoid the meridians, but hard to avoid the acupoints when designing the nonacupoint and nonmeridian controls. The parts avoiding the familiar meridians and acupoints are just defined as the nonmeridian and nonacupoint parts [49]. Furthermore, the area of the acupoints has not been measured until now, and the distance between the meridian or acupoint and the nonmeridian and nonacupoint part has not been determined. Therefore, the control with nonmeridian and nonacupoint parts is highly possible to apply the “point” with a therapeutic effect as the control, and the result of the observation group has a high possibility of a false-negative.

In summary, all of the three above-mentioned control methods showed a therapeutic effect; however, the researchers only think the therapeutic effect was from the placebo control and when the therapeutic effect of the observation group is similar to that of the control group, the conclusion is incorrect that the observation group therapy had no effect or was equal to the placebo. The other reason for the researcher to design the placebo control like this is possibly related to the “blind.” In view of the particularity of acupuncture, it is impossible to identify the placebo therapy meeting the blind requirement and being similar to acupuncture. Many experts [50–52] have written articles to discuss the methods of setting the control group in acupuncture RCTs; however, Liu [53] suggests using modern medical methods as the standard control and aiming at the most effective and most advanced method in mainstream medicine to directly discover the advantage or disadvantage of acupuncture and give full attention to the medical development of acupuncture.

4. Discussion

By analyzing acupuncture RCTs in the SCI database, it is discovered that the methodologic quality of research with positive results is not different from that of research with negative results or placebo effects. The methodologic quality is not the primary reason contributing to the difference in research results; however, each study with negative results or placebo effects has disadvantages on the intervention side, such as incomplete rational acupoint selection, inconsistent ability of acupuncturists, negligence of the needling response to needling, low frequency of the acupuncture treatment, and irrational setting of placebo control. Those directly weaken the positive property of the results in the observation group, and the setting of the placebo acupuncture control is opposite to the theory of acupuncture. The placebo acupuncture method has certain therapeutic effects instead of purely a placebo effect, thereby causing the false-negative property of the results in the observation group. It was shown that the sham acupuncture (placebo acupuncture) in the current acupuncture RCTs and the placebo control method was not reached by consensus. The Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion gradually found that the clinical trials under ideal conditions are not suitable for acupuncture and moxibustion. Seeking the clinical research methods in the practical world, practical clinical research may be able to break the limit of the placebo acupuncture control and find the advantage of acupuncture therapy.

We can see that the current clinical research for acupuncture and moxibustion still reflects many methodologic problems and is not mature in terms of theory and practices. It is necessary to establish a clinical research method for acupuncture and moxibustion to meet the requirements of the acupoint theory, practice features, and clinical trials so that the clinical trial results for acupuncture and moxibustion are scientific, comply with medical ethics, completely meet the treatment effect advantages of acupuncture, and promote acupuncture to mainstream medicine.

The limitations of the research are as follows: (1) the research report is of limited duration, thus this paper inevitably suggests selection bias; (2) a common phenomenon exists in the sector that the probability of publishing of a negative article is lower than for a positive article, which will cause bias to the research conclusion; and (3) the Jadad scale is used to evaluate the methodologic quality of the article. The greatest strength of the scale is directly evaluating the verified test features related to the bias in the test effect evaluation, which is simple and clear; however, the Jadad score will be too general and arbitrary if most of the research is not defined, whether or not they are random or double blind.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Authors’ Contribution

Wei-hong Liu conceived and designed the work; Yang Hao, Wan-ning Liu, Yan-jing Han, Xiao-hong Wang, and Chen Li performed the work; Wei-hong Liu and Yang Hao wrote the paper.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to give special thanks to Haoning Ma for his help in data retrieval. This work was funded by Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Grant no. ZZ07006, URL: http://www.acuworld.net/. The funders had no role in study design, data collection, and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the paper.

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