Background: Cupping therapy (CT) on acupoint CV8 Shenque is a potential treatment of urticaria. This review will analyze the efficacy and safety of CT on CV8 Shenque.
Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CT on CV8 Shenque with other treatments were retrieved from 14 worldwide databases from their inception to June 2024. Primary outcomes were symptom scores (SS), quality of life (QoL), and effective rate (ER). Using Review Manager, results were presented as risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD), with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane "risk of bias" tool, and the quality of evidence was evaluated with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE).
Results: A total of six RCTs with 409 patients were included. Compared with other treatments, CT on CV8 Shenque significantly improved ER (RR = 1.20, 95% CI [1.07, 1.35], P = .002, 6 RCTs, n = 409), SS (including wheal scores (MD = -0.64, 95% CI [-0.91, -0.37], 2 RCTs, n = 123), symptom duration scores (MD = -0.37, 95% CI [-0.62, -0.12], 2 RCTs, n = 123), and QoL (MD = -2.08, 95% CI [-3.28, -0.88], 1 RCT, n = 66).
Conclusion: CT on CV8 Shenque can be a potential therapy for urticaria. Since the overall quality and quantity of the included RCTs were not satisfactory, high-quality research is necessary to further verify the results in the future.