Different Acupuncture Therapies for Allergic Rhinitis: Overview of Systematic Reviews and Network Meta-Analysis

Table 1

Definitions of different acupuncture therapies.

Type of acupuncture	Definitions
Manual acupuncture	A needle is inserted into a specific acupoint at a certain angle according to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture techniques such as twisting and lifting are used to stimulate specific parts of the body to treat diseases
Appoint catgut embedding	This approach involves implantation of a sheep gut or other absorbable thread to acupuncture points in line with the theory of acupuncture and meridian. The medical sheep gut is buried into the corresponding acupoint area to treat diseases
Acupoint herb application	In this type of acupuncture, a special Chinese medicine is applied to specific acupoints on the human body. This method produces both acupoint stimulation and pharmacological effects.
San-Fu-Tie	San-Fu-Tie is a plaster that is applied on the dog days. “San-Fu” is a collective term for first, second, and third dog day, and it is the hottest season of the year
Acupuncturing at sphenopalatine ganglion acupoint	Acupuncture at the sphenopalatine ganglion acupoint, combined with the theory of traditional Chinese and western medicine. This acupuncture is used to stimulate the sphenopalatine ganglion, to balance sympathetic and parasympathetic functions