04/12/2025
Did you know? Acupuncture has a strong and growing evidence base
Acupuncture has been researched extensively across clinical trials, systematic reviews, and large evidence summaries. If you’d like to explore the research for yourself, there are several reputable places to look.
AcuTrials®
AcuTrials® is a specialist database created specifically for acupuncture research. It indexes more than a thousand English-language randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews. It offers an easy way to search by condition, technique, or study type.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23866767/
PubMed (National Library of Medicine search engine)
PubMed is one of the world’s largest biomedical databases. Searching terms such as “acupuncture systematic review” or “acupuncture RCT” gives access to peer-reviewed studies from around the globe.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
PubMed Central (PMC)
PMC provides free full-text access to many of the studies listed on PubMed. It’s ideal for those who want to read complete research papers rather than abstracts.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
The Cochrane Library
The Cochrane Library is respected internationally for producing high-quality systematic reviews. Searching “acupuncture” here provides an overview of current evidence, including where research shows benefit and where more studies are still needed.
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/
These resources allow practitioners and the public to explore acupuncture’s evidence base in a clear and transparent way, helping to build understanding of how research in this field continues to develop.
