The present state of complementary medicine regulation in Saudi Arabia.

The prevalence of use of traditional and complementary medicine in the Saudi Arabia population has reached 75%. The most used therapies are religious healing, herbal medicine and cupping therapy. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is the Saudi national reference for all activities regarding complementary medicine. This article briefly highlights the current state of complementary medicine regulation in Saudi Arabia.

[Current development of acupuncture-moxibustion in India:a case study of West Bengal].

Acupuncture-moxibustion was introduced to India in mid-20th century and has been legislated in two provinces in India where the registration of acupuncture practitioners is implemented at present. In India, the central government recognizes that acupuncture-moxibustion is an approach of treatment and is permitted by the licensed doctor. Because of the weakness of the basic development of acupuncture-moxibustion in India, the go-vernment put great effort to support and protect their national traditional medicine. Acupuncture-moxibustion development is mainly in the folk and in the progression for the provincial and governmental legislation. In the paper, by taking West Bengal as example, the legislation, clinical application, education and scientific research of acupuncture-moxibustion are analyzed so that an approach is explored for the further development of acupuncture-moxibustion in India.

[Strategy programming for acupuncture development along One-Belt-One-Road countries].

Acupuncture has been applied in 183 countries and regions and gradually become a name card as TCM spreads across the world. The international influence of which plays a significant role in enhancing TCM development. The laws and regulations of TCM acupuncture along One-Belt-One-Road countries were compared and analyzed in this article. With comprehensive research and analysis, the international development strategy of acupuncture was rationally proposed. Combined with the historical background of China's national initiative One-Belt-One-Road, the acupuncture was taken as a breakthrough to lead the global spreading of TCM culture and Chinese herbs, so as to enhance China's soft strength, which could further create a fine cultural environment for the economic prosperity of One-Belt-One-Road countries. In addition, the strategy selection for China regarding TCM acupuncture development along One-Belt-One-Road countries was proposed, and the suggestive solution and implementation strategy for the essential missions and significant issues were provided.

[Current situation of acupuncture in New Zealand].

The beginning of TCM acupuncture in New Zealand dates back to the middle of 19th century. After self-improvement for more than 100 years, TCM acupuncture has gained a considerable development. From the perspective of history and current situation, the development of acupuncture in New Zealand was elaborated in this article; in addition, the sustainable development of acupuncture was discussed from the perspective of education and training. In New Zealand, the TCM acupuncture and dry needling have played a dominant role in acupuncture treatments, which are practiced by TCM practitioners and physical therapists. The TCM acupuncture is widely applied in department of internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, and pediatrics, etc., while the dry needling is li-mited for traumatology and pain disorder. Therefore, including TCM acupuncture into the public medical and educational system in New Zealand should be an essential policy of Ministry of Health to provide welfare for the people.

[Present situation and development of acupuncture in the Netherlands].

The development, present situation, educational institution and association, legislation and application of acupuncture therapy in the Netherlands are introduced. Acupuncture was introduced into the Netherlands about 400 years ago. At present, being one of the complementary and alternative medicine, acupuncture has not passed the national legislation yet. The nongovernmental source is given priority to the development of acupuncture and the educational institution is private. Even though acupuncture has not been listed in the basic medical insurance in the Netherlands, it becomes one of the additional items of the insurance company and its expenditure is reimbursed partially. The field of TCM in the Netherlands now is facing to the issues to be solved, including constructing the official medical institution, educating high-quality acupuncturists, promoting national legislation and adopting acupuncture into the basic medical insurance.

[Development of acupuncture in Israel].

By collecting and analyzing information regarding the history development, current situation, legislation, health insurance, education and academic organizations of acupuncture in Israel, the development characteristics of acupuncture in Israel were summarized. The overall traditional medicine developed well in Israel, yet acupuncture have only appeared in Israel for 18 years. The proposal of Israeli Acupuncture Legislation Act improved the development of health insurance, education and public awareness of acupuncture in Israel. However, improvement in areas of education, legislation and health insurance are still in need. Suggestions are proposed to improve the education quality, acupuncture legislation, international cooperation, volunteer activities and cultural exchanges. In addition, the legislative process of acupuncture in the countries of "the Belt and Road", especially the Middle East countries, are promoted.

¿Qué aporta la denominada «medicina integrativa» a la asistencia clínica científica cotidiana? / What does «integrative medicine» provide to daily scientific clinical care?

La medicina integrativa es un intento ambicioso y, a la vez, generoso de suplir las deficiencias del sistema de salud operativo en nuestras sociedades occidentales, lastradas por la limitación de tiempo disponible, sobre todo en consultas externas. Por otro lado, supone no finiquitar las posibilidades de cierta utilidad terapéutica contrastada a través de los siglos (China, India, etc.), amén de algunos recursos que no alcanzan el nivel de fiabilidad científica deseable, pero que suponen un cierto apoyo terapéutico en determinados casos (homeopatía, acupuntura, etc.), y que siguen requiriendo un abordaje científico. Finalmente, el recurso de productos botánicos (fitoterapia) constituye un amplio mundo de posibilidades en el que se debe avanzar por parte de las universidades —y se está haciendo— al ir adquiriendo dichas sustancias un marchamo farmacológico asentado en el método científico y en los criterios de la medicina basada en la evidencia. Con ello se evitaría la sinrazón que supone el enfrentamiento cotidiano entre la medicina convencional científica, a la que nos sometemos la inmensa mayoría de los pacientes, y las otras «orientaciones» diagnóstico-terapéuticas (medicina naturista, medicina alternativa, medicina complementaria, medicina centrada en el paciente y otras) (AU)

Integrative medicine is an ambitious and noble-minded attempt to address the shortcomings of the current public health systems in our Western societies, which is restricted by the limited time available, especially in outpatient clinics. Integrative medicine also does not limit the possibilities of useful therapies that have been tested over the centuries (from China, India, etc.) or of certain resources that do not achieve the level of desired scientific credibility but that present certain therapeutic support in specific cases (homeopathy, acupuncture, etc.) but still require a scientific approach. Finally, the resource of botanical products (phytotherapy) constitutes a wide range of possibilities that universities can (and do) make progress on by providing drug brands for these products through the use of the scientific method and evidence-based medical criteria. This approach will help avoid the irrationality of the daily struggle between conventional scientific medicine (which we apply to the immense majority of patients) and the other diagnostic-therapeutic «guidelines» (natural medicine, alternative medicine, complementary medicine, patient-focused medicine and others) (AU)

[Current situation and problems in school study of acupuncture and moxibustion].

By taking the evaluations made by scholars such as Wang Yongyan, et al. on status of TCM academic research as the introduction, various influencing factors in acupuncture school development are separately discussed, and the overall trend and existential state are described in modern acupuncture academic area. By displaying the opinions of acupuncture schools in recent years, the relationship among specific therapy, school and schools is analyzed to explain the similarities and differences of school and schools as well as their respective characteristics. It is proposed that the obstacles that lay before acupuncture school researchers are not the rights and wrongs of school and schools, but the evaluation criterion and development patterns that is appropriate for acupuncture research and development.

Eficácia da acupuntura e moxabustão no tratamento de cadela com doença do disco intervertebral: Relato de caso / Acupuncture and moxibustion effectiveness in treatment of female dog with intervertebral disc disease: Case report / Eficacia de la acupuntura y moxibustión en tratamiento de perra con enfermidad de disco intervertebral: Relato de caso

Existem relatos do uso terapêutico de acupuntura e moxabustão para a doença do disco intervertebral, muitas vezes, inclusive como terapia complementar. Neste estudo, relatou-se a eficácia da acupuntura e moxabustão no tratamento de uma cadela diagnosticada com doença do disco intervertebral. De acordo com a Medicina Tradicional Chinesa (MTC), o animal foi diagnosticado com deficiência de Yang do Rim, gerando deficiência de Qi do Baço e um quadro geral de Frio por deficiência, com acúmulo de Umidade. Para o tratamento, foram prescritas seis sessões semanais de acupuntura, além de estímulo dos acupontos com bastão de moxa três vezes por semana. A evolução do quadro foi evidente após a segunda sessão de acupuntura, com a melhora progressiva da propriocepção e da coordenação motora na marcha observadas antes mesmo da quinta sessão de acupuntura, apenas permanecendo uma leve ataxia. Assim, comprovou-se que a associação da acupuntura e moxabustão como tratamento de eleição de discopatia toracolombar em cão foi efetiva no restabelecimento da saúde do paciente. Considerando a visão holística da MTC, os benefícios da acupuntura e moxabustão incluem não só a solução da doença manifestada, como também o re-equilíbrio do indivíduo como um todo, ajudando no restabelecimento completo da saúde e bem-estar do paciente.

There are reports of the therapeutic use of acupuncture and moxibustion for the intervertebral disc disease, often including as complementary therapy. In this study, we have reported the efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of a dog diagnosed with intervertebral disc disease. As the history and clinical signs, the animal had the presumptive diagnosis of thoracolumbar discopathy. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the animal was diagnosed with Kidney Yang deficiency generating Spleen Qi deficiency and a general clinical condition for cold by deficiency, with accumulation of Damp. For treatment, six sessions of acupuncture were required weekly, and stimulation of the acupoints with moxa stick three times a week. The evolution of the clinical condition was evident after the second acupuncture session, progressive improvement of proprioception and coordination in gait was observed even before the fifth session of acupuncture, remaining only a mild ataxia. Thus, it was shown that the combination of acupuncture and moxibustion as a treatment of choice for thoracolumbar disc disease in dog was effective in restoring the health of the patient. Considering the holistic view of TCM, the benefits of acupuncture and moxibustion include not only the solution of the manifested disease, as well as the re-balancing of the individual as a whole, helping in the full restoration of health and the patient's well-being.

Hay informes sobre el uso terapéutico de la acupuntura y moxibustión para la enfermedad de disco intervertebral, a menudo incluido como terapia complementaria. En este estudio, se informó la eficacia de la acupuntura y la moxibustión en el tratamiento de una perra diagnosticado con enfermedad de disco intervertebral. Según la Medicina Tradicional China (MTC), el animal fue diagnosticado con deficiencia de Yang del Riñón generando deficiencia de Qi del Bazo y un cuadro general de Frío por discapacidad, con acumulo de Humedad. Para el tratamiento, fueron prescritas seis sesiones semanales de acupuntura, además de estímulos de los puntos de acupuntura con bastón de moxa tres veces a la semana. La evolución del cuadro clínico fue evidente después de la segunda sección de acupuntura, con mejora progresiva de la propiocepción y de la coordinación motora en marcha, observadas antes de la quinta sesión de acupuntura, permaneciendo solamente una ligera ataxia. Así, se comprobó que la combinación de la acupuntura y moxibustión como tratamiento elegido de la enfermedad discal toracolumbar en perro ha sido eficaz en la restauración de la salud del paciente. Considerando la visión holística de la MTC, los beneficios de la acupuntura y moxibustión incluyen no solamente la solución de la enfermedad manifestada, así como el reequilibrio del individuo en su conjunto, lo que ayuda el restablecimiento de la salud y bienestar del paciente.

[Status quo and progress of Chinese acupuncture in Algeria].

The development of Chinese acupuncture in Algeria and realistic working status in recent years is in- troduced. From five aspects, including general condition of acupuncture in Algeria, clinical application and analysis, of acupuncture, promotion and publicity of acupuncture, existing problem and deficiency, and awards and honor, the status quo and progress of Chinese acupuncture in Algeria are discussed in detail.

Standardisation of moxibustion: challenges and future development.

International organisations such as WHO and the International Organization for Standardization are increasingly committed to the development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Moxibustion is an integral modality of acupuncture that has been in use for thousands of years. It stands out as a health choice due to its potential effects in disease prevention, health promotion and maintenance, as well as affordability and accessibility. As the use of moxibustion increases, concerns are being raised regarding its safety and quality. The need to establish standards to protect patient safety is paramount in all medical fields. As a form of medical practice, it is essential to develop moxibustion standards in the areas of terminology, moxibustion products, treatment rooms and practice to ensure its harmonisation and safe usage. The evidence base guiding policy and decision making has to be based on evidence from basic and clinical research. Promoting strategic basic and clinical research on the safety and effectiveness of moxibustion will answer some of the fundamental questions surrounding moxibustion, create a climate of awareness and acceptance and, in turn, drive its standardisation.

Acupuntura no SUS: realidade e perspectivas / Acupuncture in SUS: Reality and Prospects

A acupuntura, uma importante modalidade terapêutica da Medicina Tradicional Chinesa, é utilizada em mais de 130 países, e o panorama atual evidencia que o desenvolvimento mundial da acupuntura necessita incluí-la nos sistemas nacionais de saúde e no suporte governamental e acadêmico para sua legalização, normatização e inserção nas políticas públicas. No Brasil, a acupuntura é contemplada pela Política Nacional de Práticas Integrativas e Complementares (PNPIC) no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) que inseriu o país na vanguarda das práticas integrativas no sistema oficial de saúde, no âmbito das Américas. A PNPIC, publicada na forma da Portaria Ministerial nº 971 de maio de 2006, por meio de seus objetivos, diretrizes e ações, tem possibilitado conhecer, apoiar, incorporar e implementar experiências que já vêm sendo desenvolvidas na rede pública de saúde, em municípios de praticamente todos os Estados. Embora a acupuntura já estivesse inserida nos serviços públicos de saúde de alguns municípios, antes da publicação da PNPIC, sua incorporação na rede pública estadual e municipal mostra que experiências têm ocorrido de modo desigual, descontinuado e, muitas vezes, sem o devido registro, com fornecimento inadequado de insumos ou ações de acompanhamento e avaliação. Nesse sentido, a presente investigação constitui-se em um estudo de natureza analítica, com abordagem qualitativa, cujo objetivo foi analisar o processo de implantação da acupuntura nos serviços públicos de saúde dos municípios integrantes do Departamento Regional de Saúde XIII (DRS XIII) do Estado de São Paulo, no período de 2001 a 2011. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de análise documental, onde nesse recorte temporal foram analisados instrumentos de gestão, entre eles os Planos Municipais de Saúde (PMS), Relatórios Anuais de Gestão (RAG) e as bases do Sistema de Informação do Departamento de Informação e Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde (DATASUS), como o Cadastro Nacional dos Estabelecimentos de Saúde (CNES) e o Sistema de Informação Ambulatorial do SUS (SIA/SUS) e, também, por meio de entrevista semiestruturada com 11 sujeitos dos municípios onde a oferta da acupuntura no sistema público municipal da saúde foi identificada. Os dados da entrevista semiestruturada foram analisados a partir da matriz analítica formulada por Araújo e Maciel (2001), por meio das categorias: atores, conteúdo, contexto e processo. A análise do macro contexto possibilitou identificar semelhanças, guardando as devidas proporções, entre a PNPIC e o SUS, tanto no processo de criação quanto na implementação. A análise do micro contexto assinala que as PIC tiveram avanços, valendo-se das oportunidades do contexto político-social da saúde pública no Brasil, um exemplo é a própria elaboração e publicação da PNPIC. No entanto, seus princípios e diretrizes ainda estão distantes de serem considerados e valorizados como recursos tecnológicos em ascendência na conformação das práticas de saúde do SUS. Essas considerações sinalizam um cenário de fragilidades, contradições e contrassensos que podem comprometer a construção e a consolidação de espaços de ampliação da prática da acupuntura, nos serviços integrantes do SUS, incluindo os da Atenção Básica. Nesse sentido, destacamos a necessidade de se investir na definição do financiamento para a implantação e implementação das PIC, investir em estratégias de políticas indutoras, bem como envidar esforços na área de formação de saúde, contemplando desde a graduação até essas outras racionalidades. Também ressaltamos a importância de priorizar a acupuntura e as PIC na agenda política dos formuladores e implementadores, pautar a discussão sobre a acupuntura nos diferentes espaços de discussão e decisão, fomentar uma mobilização maciça com a participação de diversos atores e sujeitos sociais no desenvolvimento desse processo político. Nessa perspectiva, é fundamental induzir processos de implantação, implementação e avaliação, institucionalizar uma estratégia periódica de avaliação da incorporação ou não de ações das PIC/RM, assumindo publicamente, inclusive, por meio dos diferentes instrumentos de gestão, o compromisso político com a institucionalização das PIC/RM, no SUS. Esse processo de buscar fortalecer a acupuntura e demais PIC/RM no SUS pode se constituir em uma estratégia de fortalecimento de diversas políticas de saúde e, consequentemente, de fortalecimento e consolidação do Sistema Único de Saúde.(AU)

Acupuncture, an important therapeutic modality of traditional Chinese medicine, is used in over 130 countries, and the current situation shows that the global development of acupuncture needs to include it in the national health systems and government and academic support for its legalization, standardization and integration in public policy. In Brazil, acupuncture is covered by the National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices (PNPIC) in the Unified Health System (SUS), which entered the country at the forefront of integrative practices in the public health system in the context of the Americas. The PNPIC, published in the form of Ministerial Decree No. 971 of May 2006, through its objectives, guidelines and actions, has allowed to know, support, incorporate and implement experiences that have been developed in the public health system in the municipalities of almost all states. Although acupuncture has been inserted in the public health services of some municipalities, before the publication of PNPIC, their incorporation into state and municipal public network shows that experiments have been uneven, discontinued, and so often with poor or lack of registration, with inadequate supply of inputs or actions of monitoring and evaluation. In this sense, this research consists in a study of analytical nature, with a qualitative approach whose objective was to analyze the process of deployment of acupuncture in public health services of member municipalities of the Regional Department of Health XIII (DRS XIII) of the State of São Paulo, in the period 2001-2011. Data were collected through documentary analysis, and at this time frame, management instruments were analyzed, including the Municipal Health Plans (PMS), Management Annual Reports (RAG) and the databases of the Information System of the Department of Information and Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS), as the National Register of Health Service Establishments (CNES) and the SUS Ambulatory info System of SUS (SIA/SUS), and also through semi-structured interviews with 11 individuals of the municipalities where the offer of acupuncture in the municipal public health system was identified. Data from semi-structured interviews were analyzed using the analytical framework formulated by Araújo and Maciel (2001), through the following categories: actors, content, context and process. The analysis of the macro- context enabled us to identify similarities, keeping the proper proportions, between PNPIC and the SUS, both in the creation process and the implementation. The analysis of the micro- context notes that the PIC had advances, taking advantage of the opportunities of the political and social context of public health in Brazil, one example is the actual preparation and publication of PNPIC. However, its principles and guidelines are still far from being considered and valued as technological resources in ascension in order to shape health practices of SUS. These considerations point to a scenario of weaknesses, contradictions and nonsense that can compromise the construction and consolidation of spaces of expansion of the practice of acupuncture, in those integrating services of SUS, including Primary Care. In this regard, we highlight the need to invest in setting funding for the deployment and implementation of PIC, invest in strategies of inducing policies as well as efforts in the area of health education, contemplating since undergraduation until these other rationalities. We note the importance of prioritizing acupuncture and PIC on the political agenda of policymakers and implementers, include the theme about acupuncture in different spaces for discussion and decision, promote a massive mobilization to encourage the participation of various actors and social individuals in the development of this political process. From this perspective, it is essential to induce processes of deployment, implementation and evaluation, institutionalize a strategy of periodic reviewing and evaluating of the incorporation or not of actions of PIC/RM, assuming publicly, including by means of different management tools, the political commitment to the institutionalization of the PIC / RM, in the SUS. This process of seeking to strengthen acupuncture and other PIC/RM in the SUS can serve as a strategy for strengthening various health policies and, consequently, strengthen and consolidate of the Unified Health System.(AU)

[The present situation and development of acupuncture and moxibustion in Portugal].

The development courses of acupuncture and moxibustion as well as the present situation, education and legislation in Portugal were reviewed in this article. Acupuncture and Moxibustion has been developed in Portugal since 1980's. The first acupuncture school appeared in the year of 1992. Until now, courses on Chinese medicine and acupuncture has already been set up in about six universities. Acupuncture legislation started in the year 2003. At present, professional levels of acupuncture practitioners vary a lot. There are over 50 indications currently. And acupuncture treatment is basically at one's own expense.

[Progression of the study on the acupoints from 2006 to 2010 overseas].

With retrieval of MEDLINE database (from Jan 2006 to Dec 2010) and supplementary search on other important literatures, 29 overseas articles that were in accord with inclusive criteria were included. The results showed that the overseas scholars issued the international standard on human acupoint locations and proposed the localization system of animal acupoint model; discovered the new acupoint structure, characteristic of acupoint microcirculation, the states of the diseases could be specifically reflected through acupoint temperature, electric resistance, pressure and pain threshold, and the specific brainstem reaction could be induced by electroacupuncture at acupoints; verified initially the effect on nausea and vomiting with the related acupuncture methods at acupoints and explained the mechanisms on the local analgesia of acupuncture at acupoints; suggested that a further study should be expected on the low electric resistance property of acupoints and the effect specificity in the treatment of disease. Additionally, they were proposed that the domestic study should focus on the symptom treatment, correct application of logic reasoning, the secondary literature study and international exchange and cooperation. It is indicated that the overseas study has made the great progression on the acupoint locations, morphological structure, biological and physical properties, pathological reaction, stimulation effect, therapeutic effect and mechanism, and it provides the references for the domestic study in terms of study clues and methods.

[Present situation and development of acupuncture and moxibustion in Singapore].

The development history, education, legislation, charge and institutes of acupuncture and moxibustion in Singapore are introduced in this article. Acupuncture and moxibustion has been developed in Singapore since 1840. Nowadays there are three universities that set up standard Chinese medicine courses and two acupuncture-moxibustion associations. Legislation of acupuncture and moxibustion is published in 2000. The acupuncture and moxibustion is applied for approximately 50 kinds of diseases. The acupuncture and moxibustion is at one's own expense in public or private institutions, but cheap or completely free in charity.

Status quo, issues, and challenges for acupuncture research evidence: an overview of clinical and fundamental studies.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the status quo, issues, and challenges from home and abroad for acupuncture research evidence, in order to identify global acupuncture research datum lines and policy-making evidence for future research direction. METHOD: To carry out computed searching through the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, CNKI, SCI, WHO-ICTRP, and Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR) (up to January, 2010) for acupuncture-related secondary studies (systematic reviews and meta-analysis), animal randomized controlled trials (RCTs), published human RCTs (fundamental research with the human body or human body specimens as subjects), and registered on-going clinical trials (regardless of subject recruiting), and to analyze yearly publishing trends and research hotspots on subject headings for secondary studies and published and registered RCTs. RESULT: (1) 63.7% of acupuncture clinical RCTs were published in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), while RCTs published in MEDLINE, SCI, and CNKI each accounted for a third of all acupuncture fundamental RCTs. Publishing trends of acupuncture clinical RCTs indicated three periods - a period of slow growth before 1998, a period of gradual growth between 1999 and 2005, and a period of rapid growth after 2005. While few fundamental acupuncture RCTs were published before 2004, the period after 2005 demonstrated an increasing trend, but did not exhibit the same rapid growth as with clinical RCTs. Publication of Cochrane systematic reviews (CSRs) exhibited a time-dependent effect with acupuncture clinical RCTs, a trend that became more pronounced as time passed, while time intervals between CSR and acupuncture clinical RCT publications decreased. (2) Nine SRs were published in China, accounting for 30% of the global total of 29, while China's 68 RCTs accounted for 21% of global RCTs. Among five CSRs affirming the effects of acupuncture, only one contained four RCTs from China, which accounted for 10% of all RCTs included in that CSR. All information provided above demonstrates a deficiency of high-quality evidence from China affirming the efficiency of acupuncture. (3) Nine CSRs published by Chinese researchers included 38 RCTs (44%) from China, as well as 48 foreign RCTs; four of these CSRs included RCTs from China only. (4) Over 70% of acupuncture fundamental RCTs were carried out by China alone while only 11% of acupuncture clinical RCTs included in SCI were from China, both of which suggest the methodology quality of acupuncture clinical RCTs in China should be raised to meet international standards. (5) Clinical research was the primary focus of acupuncture studies in Europe and the US. (6) Acupuncture studies were divided into nine research areas according to the top 50 disease-related high-frequency words in acupuncture RCTs. The first three disease categories, comprehensively ranked using published clinical RCTs, were pain and analgesia, cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, and the neuropsychological system. The top three disease categories of both on-going clinical RCTs and acupuncture fundamental RCTs, respectively, were in accordance with those of published clinical RCTs. CONCLUSION: (1) CL CTRD is the key database in searching for published acupuncture clinical RCTs, and thus should be used first. Databases such as MEDLINE, SCI, and CNKI are all indispensable in retrieving acupuncture fundamental RCTs. (2) China leads the world in terms of both clinical and acupuncture fundamental RCTs, but while publication occurs rapidly, there is a lack of high-quality RCTs, suggesting future acupuncture clinical RCTs in China should place a higher emphasis on quality. Further development of acupuncture fundamental studies with little clinical research is a coming challenge for China. The US provides many of the RCTs published in SCI and on-going RCTs registered in WHO-ICTRP. Its small but high-quality publication will increasingly strengthen its impact on acupuncture research. (3) The fact that the top three disease categories of on-going clinical RCTs and of acupuncture fundamental RCTs, respectively, were in accordance with published clinical RCTs indicate that pain, cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, and neuropsychological diseases are major treatment disease categories for acupuncture and also primary development directions for the future. (4) CSRs will achieve synchronized updates with acupuncture clinical RCTs and its influence in guiding acupuncture clinical RCTs will grow clearer day by day. (5) Though registration of on-going RCTs is still in its initial stage and the number of RCTs registered is still relatively small, that the continued operation of the WHO-ICTRP will boost both the number of acupuncture RCTs registered and their quality. Innovation and time in acupuncture methodology will definitely advance the development of acupuncture research, while national and international cooperative programs in acupuncture research need evidence to support their claims throughout the course of project approval to implementation to inspection and acceptance to transformation to follow-up appraisal, in order to supply scientific and transparent research, thus improving credibility and practicality of the results.