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The role of acupuncture as a complementary therapy for sepsis: a narrative review of the evidence and future trial directions

Die Rolle der Akupunktur als Komplementärtherapie bei Sepsis: eine narrative Übersichtsarbeit zur Evidenzlage und zukünftigen Studienrichtungen

Abstract

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Current interventions are insufficient to halt rising morbidity and mortality, prompting interest in complementary therapies including acupuncture.
This narrative review systematically searched clinical studies published from 2010 to 2026 evaluating acupuncture as a complementary therapy for sepsis. Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria. We analyzed study design, participant characteristics, intervention modalities, acupoint selection, outcome measures, and safety, and explored connections between traditional Chinese medicine and modern biomedical mechanisms. The available evidence is insufficient to recommend routine acupuncture use for sepsis. High-quality trials are needed, adhering to Standard for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) and Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines, and using the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine Level of Evidence Scale to screen optimal acupoint combinations. This review synthesizes existing clinical evidence and provides a rigorous reference for designing future trials.

Autoren
Li-Yuan Zhuo, Xin Bao, Ming-Xi Lai, M. Adeel Alam Shah, Xiao-Feng Chen, Shan Jiang, Zhen-Yang Wei, Rong-Lin Chen, Shan-Qiang Zhang

Journal
Frontiers in Medicine

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2026.1823604

Verwendete Punkte (Auswahl):

  • Magen 25, 36, 37, 39, 40
  • Perikard 6
  • Leber 3
  • Milz 9, 10
  • Dickdarm 4, 11
  • Lunge 5
  • Gallenblase 34, 39
  • Lenkergefäß 20, 26
  • Ren Mai (Konzeptionsgefäß) 4, 12
  • San Jiao (Dreifacher Erwärmer) 17

 

Quelle: Zhuo, L.-Y., Bao, X., Lai, M.-X., Shah, M. A. A., Chen, X.-F., Jiang, S., Wei, Z.-Y., Chen, R.-L., & Zhang, S.-Q. (2026). The role of acupuncture as a complementary therapy for sepsis: A narrative review of the evidence and future trial directions. Frontiers in Medicine, 13, 1823604. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2026.1823604