Moxibustion therapy for treating psoriasis vulgaris: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Psoriasis vulgaris (PV) is an immune-mediated skin disease, which has seriously affected the quality of life of patients. At present, moxibustion therapy has been widely used in the treatment of PV. The purpose of this study is to provide high-quality evidence-based medicine to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion for PV.Methods:We will search the following Electronic databases from their inceptions to February 2021 without any language limitation: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WangFang Database, Chinese Science Journal Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. What''s more, the grey literature and the references of all included literature will also be retrieved manually. Any clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to moxibustion therapy for PV will be taken into. In order to complete data synthesis and assess the risk of bias, we will use the RevMan V.5.3 software.Results:This systematic review will provide an assessment of the current state of moxibustion for PV, aiming to assess the efficacy and safety of moxibustion for patients with PV.Conclusion:This systematic review will establish convincing evidence to prove the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion for PV.INPLASY registration number:INPLASY202120008.     

Different moxibustion therapies for urinary retention after anorectal surgery: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis

Background:Postoperative urinary retention is a disease that seriously affects human daily work and life, and greatly reduces people''s quality of life and affects human health all over the world. Now, many studies have shown that moxibustion has a significant effect on postoperative urinary retention. In this study, network meta-analysis was used to analyze and compare the clinical efficacy and difference of different moxibustion treatments on postoperative urinary retention.Methods:Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) will be included and all patients were diagnosed as postoperative urinary retention. Computer search Chinese databases: CNKI, Wanfang (WANFANG), VIP (VIP), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (SinoMed), English database search PubMed, Cochrane library, Web of Science. The search period limit is from the time the date of database establishment to November 17, 2020. To avoid omissions, we will manually search for relevant reference materials and conference papers. The risk of bias in the final included studies will be assessed according to the guidelines of the Cochrane System Intervention Review Manual. All data analysis will be conducted by Revman5.3, Gemtc 0.14.3, and Stata 14.2.Results:The effectiveness of each intervention was quantified. The main results included effective rate, first urination time, and residual urine volume.Conclusion:Objective to provide evidence-based medicine basis for clinicians to choose more effective moxibustion therapy for postoperative urinary retention.     

Moxibustion for anorexia in COVID-19: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:As the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has rapidly spread over the world, the World Health Organization has declared the outbreak of COVID-19 an international public health emergency. Besides typical respiratory symptoms and signs of COVID-19, digestive symptoms and liver injury have been frequently reported during the course of the disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of moxibustion in the treatment of anorexia in patients with COVID-19.Methods:According to the retrieval strategies, randomized controlled trials on moxibustion therapies for C19-A will be obtained from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, regardless of publication date or language. Studies will be screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the Cochrane risk bias assessment tool will be used to evaluate the quality of the literature. The network meta-analysis will be performed with the Markov chain Monte Carlo method and carried out with Stata 14.2 and WinBUGS 1.4.3 software. Ultimately, the quality of the evidence obtained from the results will be evaluated.Results:This study will evaluate whether moxibustion therapy can effectively treat anorexia in patients with COVID-19.Conclusion:This study will provide evidence for whether moxibustion therapy is beneficial to the treatment of anorexia in patients with COVID-19.Trial registration number:CRD42022302499     

Moxibustion for stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:There is no optimal treatment to alleviate the decline of lung function in the stable phase of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The effectiveness of moxibustion as an adjunctive treatment for COPD in the stable phase has been reported clinically, but the conclusions on efficacy and safety have not been unified. This study will systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of moxibustion on the treatment of COPD in the stable phase, providing clinical-based evidenceMethods:We will systematically search 7 literature databases and 2 clinical trial registration platforms. The searching time will be conducted from the establishment of databases to March 31, 2021, regardless of language. We will include the randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluation of moxibustion combined with basic therapy vs basic therapy alone for the treatment of stable COPD. We will assess the risk of bias for individual RCTs using the Cochrane Handbook 5.1.0 evaluation tool. The primary outcome is forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity. The secondary outcomes include forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced vital capacity, six-minute walking distance, COPD assessment test score, maximum ventilation, response to treatment, and incidence of adverse events. We will collect the effective data of individual RCT through systematic analysis of the random effect model. Heterogeneity will be tested by Cochran Q test and I-squared statistics. Two subgroup analyses will be performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity based on clinical experience. Excluding RCTs with a high risk of bias, fixed-effect model will be used for sensitivity analysis to test the robustness of the meta-analysis results. The publication bias will be assessed by funnel plot and Egger test.Results:This study will provide systematic evidence on the efficacy and safety of moxibustion on the treatment of patients with stable COPD through strict quality assessment and reasonable data synthesis. We hope that the results will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.Conclusion:This systematic review will provide the best current evidence for the adjuvant treatment of stable COPD with moxibustion.INPLASY registration number:INPLASY202140047.     

Moxibustion for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis

Background:Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is commonly accompanied by intestinal dysfunction, and diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome accounts for approximately 23.4% of all cases of IBS. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of moxibustion in the treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.Methods:According to the retrieval strategies, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on moxibustion therapies for IBS-D will be obtained from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, regardless of publication date or language. Studies will be screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the Cochrane risk bias assessment tool will be used to evaluate the quality of the literature. The network meta-analysis will be performed with the Markov chain Monte Carlo method and carried out with Stata 14.2 and WinBUGS 1.4.3 software. Ultimately, the quality of the evidence obtained from the results will be evaluated.Results:This study will evaluate whether moxibustion therapy can effectively treat diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.Conclusion:This study will provide evidence for whether moxibustion therapy is beneficial to the treatment of human diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.INPLASY registration number:INPLASY202180003.     

Efficacy and safety of moxibustion in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is one of the common diseases in female urinary system diseases, and the incidence is increasing year by year. Moxibustion therapy, as a kind of acupuncture therapy, has been widely used in the clinical treatment of SUI, but its therapeutic effect and safety have not been scientifically and systematically evaluated. Therefore, the protocol of this systematic review we propose this time is to scientifically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (FSUI).Methods:The following 8 electronic databases will be searched from establishment to December 2021: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Database, Wanfang Database, China Biology Medicine disc. All randomized controlled trials of moxibustion in the treatment of FSUI will be searched in the above electronic databases. Two reviewers will independently complete research selection, data extraction, and research quality evaluation. After screening the studies, the quality of the included studies will be evaluated according to the quality standards specified in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (version 5.1.0). The primary outcome of included studies is the change from baseline in urine leakage measured by the 1-hour pad test. Secondary outcomes include: the short-form of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire, the mean 72-hour urinary incontinence episode frequency, self-assessment of the patient''s treatment effect, severity of urinary incontinence, and adverse events. Two reviewers will independently conduct study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and study quality assessment. And the STATA 14.0 software will be implemented for data synthesis and meta-analysis.Results:The result of this meta-analysis will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals for publication, and a comprehensive review of current evidence will be conducted.Conclusions:The conclusion of this systematic review will provide evidence for judging whether moxibustion is a safer and more effective intervention for female stress urinary incontinence.Trial registration number:The protocol has been registered on INPLASY2021120052.     

The effectiveness of iron supplementation for postpartum depression: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Postpartum depression (PPD) is one of the most common postpartum psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of PPD ranges from approximately 10% to 30%. In recent years, iron supplementation has emerged as potential means to treat PPD, and an increasing number of studies have been published to support the effectiveness of iron supplementation for PPD. we will conduct a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the evidence of randomized controlled trials for iron supplementation treatment of PPD.Methods:PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science, and Technology Journal Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database will be searched from their inception of databases to December 31, 2020. Two reviewers will select articles, extract data and assess the risk of bias independently. Any disagreement will be resolved by discussion with the third reviewer. Review Manager 5.3 software will be used for data synthesis. The Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool will be used to assess the risk of bias.Results:This study will conduct a comprehensive literature search and provide a systematic synthesis of current published data to explore the effectiveness of iron supplementation for PPD.Conclusions:This systematic review and meta-analysis will provide clinical evidence for the effectiveness of iron supplementation for PPD, inform our understanding of the value of iron supplementation in improving PPD symptoms, and help clinicians to make better decisions regarding the appropriate role of iron supplementation as a part of prevention and treatment routines.Study registration number:INPLASY2020110007     

The effectiveness of Tai Chi for postpartum depression: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:As a specific type of depression, postpartum depression (PPD) causes an adverse hazard to the mother''s physical and mental health. Considering the safety requirements for lactation and the expectation of the rapid response to treatment, the search for safe and effective alternative therapies has attracted wide attention. Tai Chi, a traditional Chinese exercise therapy, has been widely used to relieve the symptoms and complications of patients with PPD, which the clinical efficacy is questioned. We conduct a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to find clinical medical evidence of Tai Chi in the treatment of PPD.Methods:PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science, and Technology Journal Database and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database will be searched from their inception of databases to September 30, 2021. Two reviewers will select articles, extract data, and assess the risk of bias independently. Any disagreement will be resolved by discussion with the third reviewer. Review Manager 5.3 software will be used for data synthesis. The Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool will be used to assess the risk of bias.Results:This study will conduct a comprehensive literature search and provide a systematic synthesis of current published data to explore the effectiveness of Tai Chi for PPD.Conclusions:The findings of our study will provide updated evidence to determine whether Tai Chi is an effective intervention for patients with PPD, which will help clinicians make a better alternative treatment schedule of PPD patients and provide a reliable basis for health-related policymakers.Study registration number:CRD42021276676.     

Effects of moxibustion for obesity: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Obesity is a chronic disease associated with lethal health conditions. Moxibustion, a frequently used treatment in traditional Chinese medicine, is effective and safe for the treatment of obesity. However, the evidence has not been systematically collected and combined to date. This systematic review and meta-analysis will analyze the effects of moxibustion on obesity.Methods:The following databases will be searched: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, 1 Chinese database (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure), 1 Japanese database (Citation Information by the National Institute of Informatics), and 3 Korean databases (Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, ScienceON, and KoreaMed). The quality of the included studies will be assessed according to the Cochrane Assessment Tool for Risk of Bias. Data from the included studies will be synthesized for meta-analysis. The primary outcome will be body weight, and the secondary outcomes will be body mass index, waist-hip ratio, waist circumference, hip circumference, and effective rate.Results and Conclusion:Ethical approval is not necessary for this study because it will not include any patient information. The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis will be publicly available and published in a peer-reviewed journal.Registration number:DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/NTKDF (https://osf.io/ntkdf).     

The effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion for treating tenosynovitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Background:De Quervain''s tenosynovitis is an overuse disease that involves a thickening of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons. Evidence shows that acupuncture and moxibustion (AM) could remarkably relieve the pain of De Quervain''s tenosynovitis patients. The aim of this protocol is to determine the efficacy and safety of AM for treating De Quervain''s tenosynovitis.Methods:Several online databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Chinese Biomedical Literatures Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WangFang Database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database will be searched from their establishment to July 1, 2020. We will include all randomized controlled trials using AM as the method for treating De Quervain''s tenosynovitis, regardless of blinding or publication types. The selection of studies, data extraction and the assessment of the studies quality will be conducted by 2 reviewers separately. When there is sufficient available data for meta-analysis, we will use the RevMan V.5.3 statistical software for data synthesis. The total effective rate, range of motion of wrist ulnar deviation will be the primary outcomes, and the secondary outcomes contain Visual Analog Scale, Coney Wrist Score and side effects. We will express the result by using Risk ratio for dichotomous data and mean differences with a 95% confidence interval for continuous data.Results:The results of this study be presented in corresponding journal or conferences.Conclusions:This study is designed to provide sufficient evidence to assess the exact effectiveness of AM on De Quervain''s tenosynovitis.PROSPERO registration number:CRD42020158764.     

Moxibustion for diarrhea in children: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Infantile Diarrhea is a common and frequent digestive tract disease in children. The causes of this disease are relatively complex and the onset time is relatively long. At present, there is no specific treatment method in Western medicine. Moxibustion is a simple and painless external treatment. However, due to the lack of high-quality evidence to support the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion therapy for pediatric diarrhea. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to verify the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion in the treatment of pediatric diarrhea.Methods:We will use PubMed, Cochrane Library, Wan Fang Database, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Chinese Science Journal Database, China Biomedical Literature Database to carry out a progressive search of diseases. The study will be screened according to eligibility criteria, and quality of the study will be assessed by using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool.Results:Through this study, we will systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion in the treatment of pediatric diarrhea.Conclusion:The results of this study will provide reliable evidence of the safety and effectiveness of moxibustion in the treatment of infantile diarrhea, and provide a therapeutic basis for the future clinical application.Ethics and dissemination:Since this paper does not involve ethical issues, it does not need to pass the review of the ethics committee. It can only collect relevant literature and study.INPLASY Registration number:INPLASY202130091     

Effects of cupping therapy for obesity: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Obesity is a prevalent disease in modern society. Despite the various interventions available in conventional medicine, their success rates are not satisfactory because of the complex mechanisms involved in obesity. Cupping therapy is a traditional Chinese medicinal intervention, and it has become widely used in various clinical settings for the treatment of obesity. This systematic review and meta-analysis will investigate the effects of cupping on obesity.Methods:Three Korean databases (KoreaMed, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, and ScienceON), 1 Japanese database (Citation Information by the National Institute of Informatics), 1 Chinese database (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure), MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials will be searched for studies published until March 2021. The primary outcome is body weight. The secondary outcomes will be body mass index, waist-hip ratio, waist circumference, hip circumference, body fat mass, body fat percentage, and adverse events.Results:This systematic review and meta-analysis will evaluate the effects of cupping therapy for obesity.Conclusion:The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis will then be discussed in a related journal for clinicians working with obese patients to apply the interventions in this article.Trial registration number:DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/P8JVM (https://osf.io/p8jvm).     

External therapy of Chinese medicine for postherpetic neuralgia: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication of herpes zoster, brings about a health-care burden at both the individual and societal levels. External therapy of Chinese medicine (ETCM) is an effective treatment of PHN generally available in China, yet there is incomplete evidence to evaluate the efficacy and safety of it.Methods:This protocol is based on the previous reporting items. We will search 3 English databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library) and 3 Chinese databases (CNKI, CBM, and Wan Fang Database) until January 2020. RCTs to evaluate the efficacy and safety of external therapy of Chinese medicine for postherpetic neuralgia will be included. The primary outcome will be assessed by VAS or NRS. We will use the criteria provided by Cochrane Handbook 5.3.0 for quality evaluation and risk assessment, and use the Revman 5.3 software for meta-analysis.Ethics and dissemination:Ethical approval is not required for systematic review and meta- analysis. The results of this review will be disseminated in a peer-review journal.PROSPERO registration number:CRD42020163511.     

Efficacy and safety of Tian moxibustion in treating allergic rhinitis: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Allergic rhinitis, abbreviated AR, modern medicine considers AR to be a chronic inflammatory reactive disease of the nasal mucosa mediated by exposure to allergens such as pollen and mites immunoglobulin E. AR not only affects patients’ daily life, sleep, work, and study, but also brings huge economic burden to patients and society. At present, desensitization therapy, antiallergic drugs, antihistamines, hormones, and other drugs are used to improve symptoms or immune regulation, but the clinical short-term and long-term efficacy is general, the symptoms are easy to be repeated after drug withdrawal, and the long-term toxicity and side effects of drugs are obviously insufficient. Tian moxibustion therapy has a good effect on AR. Therefore, this paper will carry out a systematic evaluation and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of moxibustion in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.Methods:Eight electronic databases will be searched, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), Wanfang Database (WF), and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM). We will search above electronic databases from the beginning to November 2020, without any language restriction, but involving only the human subjects. Clinical efficacy, including total effective rate or cure rate, and recurrence rate will be accepted as the primary outcomes. The Rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionaire (RQLQ) score, symptom score (nasal congestion, snot, continuous sneezing) will be used as secondary outcomes. The Cochrane Handbook of Systematic Review (5.3.0) randomized controlled trials (RCT) risk assessment tool will be used to evaluate the risk of bias by 2 independent researchers.Results:After the completion of this study, the results will be reported, so it is not possible to give accurate results at present.Conclusions:The results of this study will provide reliable evidence for the efficacy and safety of Tian moxibustion in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.Ethics and dissemination:This paper does not need to be approved by the Ethics Committee, because this paper is a systematic review and quality evaluation of relevant literature. The results of this study will be disseminated in the form of a paper to help better guide the clinical practice of Tian moxibustion in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.INPLASY Registration number:INPLASY2020110058.     

Effects and safety of massage therapy for patients with metatarsal pain: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Metatarsalgia refers to localized or generalized forefoot pain in the region of the metatarsal heads. Often this pain is plantar, beneath the metatarsal heads, and arises from either mechanical or iatrogenic causes. The treatment of metatarsalgia remains controversial. A thorough understanding of the biomechanics of the forefoot and the underlying pathology of the particular type of metatarsalgia affecting the patient is a prerequisite to selecting the proper treatment. In recent years, massage therapy has been increasingly accepted by patients due to its lower costs, fewer unwanted side effects, and safety for clinical use. In this systematic review, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of massage therapy for patients with metatarsal pain.Methods:We will search the following electronic databases for randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of massage therapy in treating metatarsal pain: Wanfang and PubMed Database, CNKI, CENTRAL, CINAHL, and EMBASE. Each database will be searched from inception to October 2020. The entire process will include study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and meta-analyses.Results:This proposed study will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of massage therapy for patients with metatarsal pain. The outcomes will include changes in metatarsal pain relief and adverse effect.Conclusions:This proposed systematic review will evaluate the existing evidence on the effectiveness and safety of massage therapy for patients with metatarsalgia.Dissemination and ethics:The results of this review will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication. Because all of the data used in this systematic review and meta-analysis has been published, this review does not require ethical approval. Furthermore, all data will be analyzed anonymously during the review process.OSF Registration number:DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/C6KFJ     

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for urinary retention after hysterectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of urinary retention after hysterectomy in women.Methods:This research searched for 6 database documents, and the deadline is July 23, 2020. This study included a randomized controlled trial of women with urinary retention after hysterectomy. These randomized controlled trials compare acupuncture with bladder function training or other nonacupuncture treatments, and measure urodynamics, effectiveness (BR), and urinary tract infection rates (UIR). Four independent reviewers participated in data extraction and evaluation. Assess the risk of bias in each article, and conduct a meta-analysis according to the type of acupuncture. The result is expressed as a mean difference (MD) or relative risk (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI).Results:The meta-analysis contains 12 studies. Most studies indicate low risk or unknown risk, but the GRADE scores of the combined results show low or moderate levels. After the combined analysis, we found that acupuncture versus bladder function exercise and other nonacupuncture therapies can significantly improve the values of post voided residual urine (PVR) (MD = −25.29; 95% CI [−30.45 to −20.73]), maximal cystometric capacity (MD = 39.54; 95% CI [10.30–68.78]), bladder capacity for first voiding desire (MD = −61.98; 95% CI [−90.69 to −33.26]) and maximal flow rate (MFR) (MD = 7.58; 95% CI [5.19–9.97]). And compared with the control group, acupuncture still has advantages in BR (RR = 1.36; 95% CI [1.18–1.56]) and UIR (RR = 0.22; 95% CI [0.08–0.82]). These heterogeneities have been resolved through subgroup analysis, and their main sources are related to different intervention times, the time to start the intervention, and different PVR requirements.Conclusions:There is insufficient evidence that acupuncture can increase the patient''s MFR, BR, and UIR. However, acupuncture can effectively improve the PVR, maximal cystometric capacity, and bladder capacity for first voiding desire values of patients with urinary retention after hysterectomy. Although limited due to the quality and methodological limitations of the included studies, acupuncture can still be used as an effective and safe treatment for women with urinary retention after hysterectomy.Registration:The research has been registered and approved on the PROSPERO website. The registration number is CRD42019119238.     

Clinical acupuncture therapy for chronic cholecystitis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Chronic cholecystitis is a common chronic disease in clinical practice. The incidence of chronic cholecystitis is gradually increasing due to changes in eating habits and even if acute infections aren’t treated in time, it can cause serious complications, continue to plague people''s daily life and become an economic burden to society. Currently, the curative effect of chronic cholecystitis under the control of western medicine is still lacking and there are adverse reactions. However, based on current clinical controlled trials acupuncture therapy for chronic cholecystitis has gradually become a complementary treatment. Therefore, this systematic review aims to explore the safety and feasibility of acupuncture therapy in the treatment of chronic cholecystitis.Methods:We will search the following databases: Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Embase, Chinese Biomedical Literatures Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wang Fang Database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database from inception to February 2021 without any language restriction. At the same time, relevant literature will be searched manually. The main search terms include: “Acupuncture,” “Cholecystitis.” Data entry will be completed by 2 researchers separately. After entry, cross-checking will be performed to ensure the authenticity of the information. The main outcome criteria include: including the total effective rate of the patient; the traditional Chinese medicine symptom score of the patient includes: abdominal pain, tenderness in the right upper abdomen, and so on; secondary outcome criteria include: gallbladder contraction function and gallbladder thickness, VAS scores, recurrence rate, adverse reactions; use Cochrane risk bias assessment to evaluate and score the included randomized controlled trial; meta-analysis will be performed using RevMan 5.4.0 software. The heterogeneity test is based on the thresholds of P and I², In order to use solid or random effects models.Results:This systematic review only evaluates the safety and limitations of acupuncture therapy in the treatment of chronic cholecystitis. We will report the full text in the near future.Conclusion:This study will explore the safety and limitations of acupuncture therapy in the treatment of chronic cholecystitis, so that acupuncture therapy will be more widely used clinically.Trial registration number:INPLASY202120020