Overview of the acupuncture parts in the Cochrane Database of systematic reviews and the Cochrane Collaboration

By analyzing and summarizing the acupuncture reviews published in the CDSR before 2014, we found that current research shows acupuncture treatment is most effective for treating pain and related symptoms (57.89%). However, studies showing lack of efficacy or uncertain results far outweighed the studies with positive results. We discuss the possible reasons for this and beleive it is related to the overall quality of research, poorly designed sham acupuncture, lack of standard procedures for locating points and needling, and lack of attention to individual differences.