The effectiveness of acupuncture treatment in the management of chronic urticaria has been evaluated from database of randomized controlled trials.

Databases of CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, CBM, PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials of acupuncture treatment of chronic urticaria that were published from January of 2008 to October of 2018 by using key words "urticaria" "acupuncture therapy or treatment" and "randomized controlled trial (RCT)".

A total of 1,095 articles were retrieved, and 16 RCTs were included. The meta-analysis exhibited that the total therapeutic efficacy was OR＝3.85, 95% CI [2.61, 5.69], P<0.000 01. The equilaterals for assessment between the acupuncture and control (medication) groups in the "Feng Tuan"(urticaria) number, onset duration, itching, swelling and scratch test scores were on the right side of the invalid line of forest maps. The recurrence rate was lesser in the acupuncture group than in the control group (OR＝0.28, 95% CI being [0.14, 0.55], P＝0.000 3).

The meta-analysis concluded that acupuncture treatment is considerably better than antihistamine administration alone in the therapy of chronic urticaria. It also has shown lower recurrence rate.

Source: Jun Qiao Zhao and Tie Ming Ma. A Meta-analysis of Acupuncture Therapy for Chronic Urticaria. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2020; 45(1):66‐73. doi:10.13702/j.1000-0607.1904826