What do systematic reviews say?

Acupuncture vs sham

• Acupuncture for menopausal hot flushes 2013 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  6 studies · 297 participants
  Very low

Acupuncture vs sham

• Acupuncture for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  4 studies · 281 participants
  Moderate

Acupuncture vs sham

• Acupuncture for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome 2012 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 253 participants
  Moderate

Acupuncture vs sham control

It is very uncertain whether acupuncture changes taste discrimination improvement compared with sham control (deactivated laser sham acupuncture) (very low certainty).

• Interventions for managing taste disturbances 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes

  8 weeks
  MD 2.80 [-1.18, 6.78]
  1 study · 37 participants
  Very low
• Interventions for managing taste disturbances 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Results: There were no data on taste acuity improvement in the included acupuncture trial (Brandt 2008).
  0 studies
  No studies found

Acupuncture vs sham control

• Interventions for managing taste disturbances 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Results (health-related quality of life): Brandt 2008 assessed HRQoL in dysgeusia patients and reported significant improvement in psychological symptoms in the acupuncture group and increased quality of life in both…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Acupuncture vs sham control

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for managing taste disturbances 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Results: The acupuncture trial (Brandt 2008) did not give any data on adverse events in either group.
  0 studies
  No studies found

Acupuncture vs sham

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Acupuncture vs sham

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Acupuncture vs sham

Acupuncture may leads to higher unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) compared with placebo (sham acupuncture) (low certainty).

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  12 months (1 year follow-up)
  MD 0.06 [0.01, 0.11]
  2 studies · 54 participants
  Low
• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  End of treatment (4-6 weeks)
  MD 0.02 [0, 0.04]
  3 studies · 71 participants
  Low

Acupuncture vs sham

Acupuncture may leads to higher stimulated whole saliva (SWS) compared with placebo (sham acupuncture) (low certainty).

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  12 months (1 year follow-up)
  MD 0.28 [0.09, 0.47]
  2 studies · 54 participants
  Low
• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  End of treatment (4-6 weeks)
  MD 0.19 [0.07, 0.31]
  3 studies · 71 participants
  Low

Acupuncture vs sham

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Acupuncture vs sham

Acupuncture showed no clear difference in dry mouth (mouth dryness, different scales) compared with placebo (sham acupuncture) (low certainty).

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes

  End of treatment (4-6 weeks)
  SMD -0.34 [-0.81, 0.14]
  2 studies · 70 participants
  Low

Acupuncture vs sham

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Acupuncture vs sham

• Interventions for the management of dry mouth: non‐pharmacological interventions 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Acupuncture was associated with more adverse effects (tiny bruises and tiredness, mild and temporary); List 1998 noted significant eye discomfort; Pfister 2010 reported temporary increases in pain, minor bruising or…
  4 studies
  GRADE not reported

Low‐frequency electroacupuncture vs physical exercise or no intervention

It is very uncertain whether low‐frequency electroacupuncture changes restored regular menstrual period – low‐frequency electroacupuncture… compared with physical exercise or no intervention (very low certainty).

• Acupuncture for polycystic ovarian syndrome 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  MD 0.22
  1 study · 40 participants
  Very low
• Acupuncture for polycystic ovarian syndrome 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  MD 0.37
  1 study · 31 participants
  Very low

Acupuncture vs sham

True acupuncture showed no clear difference in live birth rate compared with sham acupuncture (low certainty).

• Acupuncture for polycystic ovarian syndrome 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.97 [0.76, 1.24]
  1 study · 926 participants
  Low

Acupuncture vs sham

True acupuncture showed no clear difference in multiple pregnancy rate compared with sham acupuncture (low certainty).

• Acupuncture for polycystic ovarian syndrome 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.89 [0.33, 2.45]
  1 study · 926 participants
  Low

Acupuncture vs sham

• Acupuncture for polycystic ovarian syndrome 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 1010 participants
  Low

Acupuncture vs sham

True acupuncture showed no clear difference in clinical pregnancy rate compared with sham acupuncture (low certainty).

• Acupuncture for polycystic ovarian syndrome 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.03 [0.82, 1.29]
  3 studies · 1117 participants
  Low

Acupuncture vs sham

• Acupuncture for polycystic ovarian syndrome 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 141 participants
  Low