BACKGROUND: Jiaji points plus surrounding needling has received good therapeutic effect in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia. However, whether its effect is superior to the western medicine remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the curative efficacy of Jiaji points plus surrounding needling on treating postherpetic neuralgia. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving Jiaji points and surrounding needling on postherpetic neuralgia were identified from CNKI, VIP, and CBM. We also hand searched relevant journals and conference proceedings. The Cochrane Collaboration's RevMan 4.2.2 software was used for data analyses. Total effective rate, clinical cure rate, visual analog scale, and clinical symptom score served as outcome assessment indexes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 13 trials involving 858 patients were included. Meta-analyses showed that, Jiaji points plus surrounding needling on treating postherpetic neuralgia showed superiority to the control group in total effective rate (RR 1.26, 95%CI 1.19 to 1.34), clinical cure rate (RR 1.93, 95%CI 1.64 to 2.27), and visual analog scale (WMD 3.13, 95%CI 2.38 to 3.87). There was no significant difference between the Jiaji points plus surrounding needling and physical therapy (RR 1.60, 95%CI 0.43 to 6.02), but superior to carbamazepine (RR 1.45, 95%CI 1.22 to 1.72). The profit treated by Jiaji points plus surrounding needling on postherpetic neuralgia is superior to western medicine. However, further large-scale trials are required to define therapeutic effects.

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