The Role of Acupuncture and Its Related Mechanism in Treating Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

Figures & data

Table 1 PubMed Search Strategy

No.	Search Item
#1	Acupuncture [Title/Abstract]
#2	Acupuncture treatment [Title/Abstract]
#3	Electroacupuncture [Title/Abstract]
#4	Acupuncture therapy [Title/Abstract]
#5	Fire needling [Title/Abstract]
#6	Scalp acupuncture [Title/Abstract]
#7	Ear acupuncture [Title/Abstract]
#8	Or/#1-#7
#9	Prostatitis [Title/Abstract]
#10	Chronic pelvic pain syndrome [Title/Abstract]
#11	Nonbacterial prostatitis [Title/Abstract]
#12	Chronic prostatitis [Title/Abstract]
#13	Or/#9-#12
#14	Clinical trial [Publication Type]
#15	Clinical article [Publication Type]
#16	Clinical study [Publication Type]
#17	Controlled study [Publication Type]
#18	Randomized controlled trial [Publication Type]
#19	Or/#14-#18
#20	#8 and #13 and #19

Figure 1 Flow chart of the study search.

Table 2 Summary of the Included Studies

References	Sample	Acupuncture Points	Intervention	Pain	NIH-CPSI
Sun et al (2021)^Citation21	220	BL33 (Zhongliao), BL35 (Huiyang), BL23 (Shenshu), SP6 (Sanyinjiao)	AC, 30 min 20 sessions over 8 weeks	16.4 ± 2.6 Adjusted mean change: −2.1 (−2.4 to −1.9)	31.0 ± 4.8 Adjusted mean change: −7.4 (−8.0 to −6.8)
Qin et al (2018)^Citation22	34	BL33 (Zhongliao), BL23 (Shenshu), BL35 (Huiyang), SP6 (Sanyinjiao)	AC, 20–25 min 3/week for 8 weeks	12.4 ± 2.8 to 6.9 ± 0.9	28.0 ± 4.8 to 17.0 ± 1.7
Zhou et al (2017)^Citation23	77	BL30 (Baihuanshu), BL35 (Huiyang)	EA, 30 min 6 sessions for 2 weeks	TA: 11.1 ± 2.8 to 6.6 ± 4.0 LA: 11.1 ± 3.1 to 3.3 ± 3.8	TA: 26.7 ± 4.9 to 17.3 ± 9.1 LA: 26.6 ± 5.8 to 9.4 ± 8.6
Sahin et al (2015)^Citation24	50	BL33 (Zhongliao), BL34 (Xialiao), BL54 (Zhibian), CV1 (Huiyin), CV4 (Guanyuan), SP6 (Sanyinjiao), SP9 (Yinlingquan)	AC, 20 min 1/week for 6 weeks	13.2 ± 2.3 to 6.14 ± 1.49	27.0 ± 3.5 to 10.84 ± 1.92
Kucuk et al (2015)^Citation25	26	BL28 (Pangguangshu), GB41 (Zulinqi), LR3 (Taichong), LI4 (Hegu), SP6 (Sanyinjiao), SP8 (Diji)	EA, 2/week for 7 weeks	11.07 ± 3.58 to 6.65 ± 3.73	20.36 ± 7.35 to 12.54 ± 4.95
Tugcu et al (2010)^Citation26	97	BL33 (Zhongliao)	AC, 20 min 1/week for 6 weeks	11.6 ± 2.2 to 5.9 ± 2.4	26.6 ± 2.9 to 10.6 ± 5.4
Lee et al (2009)^Citation27	12	BL32 (Ciliao), BL33 (Zhongliao), GB30 (Huantiao)	EA, 20 min 2/week for 6 weeks	12.2 ± 2.5 Variable: −5.2 ± 1.9	26.9 ± 5.2 Variable: −9.5 ± 3.7
Lee et al (2008)^Citation28	44	CV1 (Huiyin), CV4 (GuanYuan), SP6 (Saninjiao), SP9 (Yinlingquan)	AC, 30 min 2/week for 10 weeks	11.4 ± 3.4 to 7.0 ± 4.5	24.8 ± 6.2 to 14.5 ± 8.7
Capodice et al (2007)^Citation29	10	SJ5 (Waiguan), GB41 (Zulinqi), LR3 (Taichong), LI4 (Hegu), SP8 (Diji), SP6 (Sanyinjiao)	AC, 20–25 min 2/week for 6 weeks	9.9 ± 3.1 to 2.1 ± 2.0	25.1 ± 6.6 to 6.6 ± 4.3
Honjo et al (2004)^Citation30	10	BL33 (Zhongliao)	AC, 10 min 1/week for 5 weeks	Not reported	11.6 ± 4.5 to 8.8 ± 6.3
Chen et al (2003)^Citation31	12	BL10 (Tianzhu), BL23 (Shenshu), BL28 (Pangguangshu), BL40 (Weizhong), KI10 (Yingu), KI1 (Yongquan), BL67 (Zhiyin), CV4 (Guanyuan), CV3 (Zhongji), SP6 (Sanyinjiao), BL54 (Zhibian), BL35 (Huiyang), BL39 (Weiyang)	AC + EA, 20 min 2/week for 6 weeks	14.1 ± 2.2 to 4.2 ± 2.9	28.2 ± 4.8 to 8.5 ± 5.1

Abbreviations: AC, acupuncture; EA, electroacupuncture; LA, long-needle acupuncture; TA, traditional acupuncture.

Figure 2 The location and distribution of the acupoints. Created with BioRender.com.

Notes: The black, gray, red, yellow, green, blue, purple, and brown circles or lines represent the frequency/acupoint of bladder meridian of foot-taiyang, ren meridian, kidney meridian of foot-shaoyin, gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang, spleen meridian of foot-taiyin, liver meridian of foot-jueyin, large intestinal meridian of hand-yangming, and triple energizer meridian of hand-shaoyang, respectively.

Sun Y, Liu Y, Liu B, et al. Efficacy of acupuncture for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2021;174(10):1357–1366. doi:10.7326/M21-1814

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Qin Z, Zang Z, Zhou K, et al. Acupuncture for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a randomized, sham acupuncture controlled trial. J Urol. 2018;200(4):815–822. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2018.05.001

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Zhou M, Yang M, Chen L, et al. The effectiveness of long-needle acupuncture at acupoints BL30 and BL35 for CP/CPPS: a randomized controlled pilot study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017;17(1):263. doi:10.1186/s12906-017-1768-2

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Sahin S, Bicer M, Eren GA, et al. Acupuncture relieves symptoms in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a randomized, sham-controlled trial. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2015;18(3):249–254. doi:10.1038/pcan.2015.13

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Küçük EV, Suçeken FY, Bindayı A, Boylu U, Onol FF, Gümüş E. Effectiveness of acupuncture on chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome category IIIB patients: a prospective, randomized, nonblinded, clinical trial. Urology. 2015;85(3):636–640. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2014.11.004

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Tugcu V, Tas S, Eren G, Bedirhan B, Karadag S, Tasci A. Effectiveness of acupuncture in patients with category IIIB chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a report of 97 patients. Pain Med. 2010;11(4):518–523. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4637.2009.00794.x

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Lee SH, Lee BC. Electroacupuncture relieves pain in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: three-arm randomized trial. Urology. 2009;73(5):1036–1041. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2008.10.047

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Lee SW, Liong ML, Yuen KH, et al. Acupuncture versus sham acupuncture for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain. Am J Med. 2008;121(1):79.e71–77. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2007.07.033

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Capodice JL, Jin Z, Bemis DL, et al. A pilot study on acupuncture for lower urinary tract symptoms related to chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain. Chin Med. 2007;2(1):1. doi:10.1186/1749-8546-2-1

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Honjo H, Kamoi K, Naya Y, et al. Effects of acupuncture for chronic pelvic pain syndrome with intrapelvic venous congestion: preliminary results. Int J Urol. 2004;11(8):607–612. doi:10.1111/j.1442-2042.2004.00868.x

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Chen R, Nickel JC. Acupuncture ameliorates symptoms in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Urology. 2003;61(6):1156–1159; discussion 1159. doi:10.1016/S0090-4295(03)00141-9

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