Inclusion/Exclusion of Studies
All CCTs, during which acupuncture by means of dry needles
inserted into the skin, electroacupuncture, laser acupuncture,
injections of distilled water into acupuncture points, gold wire
implants or catgut insertion at acupuncture points or moxibustion
was administered, were included by 2 of the authors (GH, EE).
Studies that assessed clinical endpoints in domestic animals were
included. Controlled clinical trials that tested acupuncture during
experimental procedures or under induced clinical conditions also
were included. Studies using laboratory animals such as mice, rats,
rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, or guinea pigs were excluded, as were
studies in which pharmacologic agents were injected into acupuncture
points and duplicate publications.