Background
Methods
Study design
Patient recruitment
Inclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria
Randomization and allocation concealment
Masking
Interventions
Acupuncture
Acupoints | Locations |
---|---|
Baihui (DU20) | On the midline of the head, 7 cuna directly above the midpoint of the posterior hairline |
Danzhong (RN17) | On the anterior midline, on the level of the 4th intercostal space, at the midpoint of the line joining the two nipples |
Zhongwan (RN12) | On the anterior midline, 4 cun above the umbilicus |
Tianshu (ST25) | On the same level of the umbilicus, and 2 cun lateral to the anterior midline |
Qihai (RN6) | On the anterior midline, 1.5 cun below the umbilicus |
Neiguan (PC6) | On the line joining Daling (PC7) and Quze (PC3), between the tendons of palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis, 2 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist |
Zusanli (ST36) | 3 cun directly below Dubi (ST35), and one finger-breadth lateral to the anterior border of the tibia |
Gongsun (SP4) | On the medial aspect of the foot, anteroinferior to the base of the first metatarsal bone, at the border between the red and white flesh |
Taibai (SP3) | On the medial aspect of the foot, in the depression proximal to the first metatarsophalangeal joint, at the border between the red and white flesh |
Taichong (LR3) | In the depression anterior to the junction of first and second metatarsal bones |
Neiting (ST44) | On the dorsum of the foot, between the second and third toes, posterior to the web margin, at the border between the red and white flesh |
Sham acupuncture
Non-acupoints | Locations |
---|---|
Non-acupoint 1 | In the middle of Touwei (ST8) and Yuyao (EX-HN4) points |
Non-acupoint 2 | 2 cuna above the anterior superior iliac spine |
Non-acupoint 3 | 2 cun below the umbilicus, and 1.0 cun lateral to the anterior midline. cun below the umbilicus, and 1 cun lateral to the anterior midline |
Non-acupoint 4 | In the middle of the medial epicondyle of the humerus and the styloid process of ulna |
Non-acupoint 5 | 3 cun below Yanglingquan (GB34), between the gallbladder and bladder meridian |
Non-acupoint 6 | In the middle of Qiuxu (GB40) and Jiexi (ST41) points |