Manual acupuncture for the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

The benefits and risks of manual acupuncture for treating chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) remain unclear. To address this gap, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of manual acupuncture for treating CSU.

METHODS

Seven major databases were searched for relevant literature published up to 1 January 2025. Studies were selected based on pre-specified criteria, and relevant information was extracted. A meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.3.

RESULTS

Six randomized controlled trials involving 615 participants were included. Compared with sham or non-acupuncture, a 4-week manual acupuncture treatment significantly reduced the values of the urticaria activity score over 7 days (weighted mean difference [WMD] -3.43; 95% confidence interval [CI] -5.27 to -1.60; P = 0.0002), Dermatology Life Quality Index (WMD -2.16; 95% CI -3.78 to -0.54; P = 0.009), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (WMD -1.25; 95% CI -1.69 to -0.81; P < 0.00001), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (WMD -2.97; 95% CI -4.05 to -1.89; P < 0.00001), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (WMD -2.55; 95% CI -3.43 to -1.66; P < 0.00001). These improvements remained significantly different at 4-weeks post-treatment. Although manual acupuncture was associated with an increased incidence of subcutaneous hemorrhage (risk ratio 4.52; 95% CI 1.06 to 19.29; P = 0.04), no significant effect on the incidence of total adverse events, dizziness, fatigue, or acupuncture-related pain was observed.

CONCLUSION

Manual acupuncture has the potential to improve skin symptoms, emotional well-being, sleep quality, and overall quality of life in patients with CSU, without increasing the risk of adverse events, potentially serving as a beneficial complementary therapy.