Different kinds of acupuncture methods such as fire needling, electroacupuncture, surrounding needling, pyonex, pricking blood and cupping are in use for the treatment of PHN in hospitals in China. In the past selleck chem Erlotinib 5 years, acupuncture for treating PHN has been used in more than 137 studies. The benefit of the treatment group was reported between 84.1% and 97.5%.22–24 The clinical trials indicate that acupuncture could reduce pain and discomfort among most patients and also remove pain and discomfort among some patients. However, there is a lack of high-quality current evidence for acupuncture

in the treatment of PHN. Thus, this systematic review is conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for PHN in pain relieving and pain removing. Methods and analysis Criteria for considering

studies for this review Type of studies Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) will be included without restriction of language or publication type. Moreover, the trials using open label, single blind and double blind design will all be included, while crossover designs and quasi-RCTs will be excluded. Type of participants Participants who had been diagnosed as PHN defined as pain persisting over 3 months after resolution of the rush will be all focused on. No restrictions on age, gender or race. Types of interventions Any form of acupuncture therapy used in an experimental group will be included, involving acupuncture, electroacupuncture, an elongated needle, a three-edged needle, fire needling, auricular acupuncture, pyonex, moxibustion, pricking blood and cupping. Control interventions with no treatment control, sham acupuncture control (non-point acupuncture, minimal acupuncture), placebo control and drug

therapy control will be included. Studies with the following comparisons will be included: Acupuncture versus another therapy. Acupuncture with another therapy versus the same other therapy. Acupuncture versus no active intervention. Acupuncture versus sham acupuncture. Types of outcome measures Primary outcomes Pain intensityStudies which applied scales such as the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Verbal Rating Scale (VRS), the Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R), etc Cilengitide that were used to measure the intensity of pain will be included. Secondary outcomes Global impression (the proportion of participants whose symptoms improved after treatments); Quality of life; Safety as measured by the incidence and severity of adverse effects; Costs. Search methods for identification of studies A search strategy will be designed and conducted according to the guidance of the Cochrane handbook.25 Electronic searches We will search the following databases: The Cochrane Skin Group Trials Register (the inception to 2014.1); MEDLINE (the inception to 2014.1); EMBASE (the inception to 2014.1); The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; the inception to 2014.