Perspectives on Integrative Medicine

Protocol

Chinese Herbal Medicine Treatment for Restless Legs Syndrome: A Protocol for a Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis: Yadi Liu, Xiaoqin Wu, Yue Wang, Guoyan Yang, Di Wang, Yoann Birling; Perspect Integr Med. 2026;5(1):65-71. Published online February 11, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.56986/pim.2026.02.010

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Graphical Abstract Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Background
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) significantly impairs sleep and daily life. Conventional treatments often cause side effects leading patients to seek alternative treatments like Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM). A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies which used CHM treatment for RLS will facilitate the evaluation of its efficacy and safety.
Methods
Randomized controlled trials will be retrieved systematically from electronic databases including PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang and Chongqing Value-added Information Platform. Comparisons between the effects of CHM (as monotherapy or adjunct therapy), placebos, and conventional interventions will be made. Two reviewers will independently perform study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessments using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool. The primary outcomes will be RLS symptom severity (e.g., IRLSSG rating scale), quality of life, and adverse events. Data will be pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis, and the overall certainty of evidence will be assessed for quality of evidence and strength of recommendation using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system.
Conclusion
This review aims to synthesize high-quality evidence to determine the effectiveness and safety of CHM treatment for RLS, provide valuable insights for clinicians, patients, and policymakers, and identify gaps for future research.

Original Article

Effects of Needling Acupoint SI3 on Pressure Pain Threshold in Healthy Participants: Xiaoqin Wu, Chi Eung Danforn Lim, Shuai Zheng, Christopher Zaslawski; Perspect Integr Med. 2025;4(1):39-50. Published online February 21, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.56986/pim.2025.02.005

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Background
There has been a surge in prescribing opioids for pain-related conditions and it has resulted in a prescription "opioid epidemic." It is critical for researchers and clinicians to explore nonpharmacological approaches to manage pain and mitigate the reliance on opioid analgesics. Acupuncture could be an effective therapy to modulate pain. This study examined the effects on regional pressure pain threshold (PPT) following needling of the Small Intestine 3 (SI3 -Houxi) acupoint in healthy participants.
Methods
In a randomized, three-arm cross-over design study, 32 healthy participants enrolled between November 2018 and March 2019, received 3 different acupuncture interventions, in different sequences, to the right hand at SI3: (1) SI3 without manual manipulation (SI3m-); (2) SI3 with manual needle manipulation (SI3m+); and (3) sham laser, to assess changes in PPT following the interventions. The mean change in PPT was measured at 10 different regional acupoint sites using an algometer. All PPT scores were reported as a percentage change from the mean preintervention value, the mean of the 3 PPT measurements obtained prior to receiving the intervention.
Results
The SI3m+ and SI3m- interventions for the 31 participants (drop out n=1), showed that the postintervention mean % PPT scores were significantly elevated compared to the control (sham laser; p < 0.001). The SI3m+ intervention significantly increased % PPT compared with the SI3m- intervention (p < 0.001).
Conclusion
The needling intervention was an important contributor raising regional PPT in healthy participants.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

The Relationship Between Deqi and the Effect of Acupuncture on Pressure Pain Threshold: A Randomized Crossover-Controlled Study—Short Report
Xiaoqin Wu, Christopher Zaslawski, Shuai Zheng, Chi Eung Danforn Lim
Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Research: Inter.2026;[Epub] CrossRef

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