Study ID No. [ref] Author, year [location] N participants (baseline); mean (SD) age at baseline in years; (M/F); N groups; Duration and frequency of treatment Conventional treatment, cancer type Acupuncture therapy Control intervention Acupuncture points 1 [36 ] Chao HL et al ., 2013 66; T: 61.9(13.3), C: 62.8(15.7); (31/35) 2; from postoperative days 1-5, three-mins, three times per day Open surgery, CRC Acupressure Sham acupressure ST36 Zusanli 足三里, NS 2 [14 ] Deng G et al ., 2013 90; T: 56, C: 59; (52/38) 2; from postoperative days 1-3, 30 min, twice daily Open surgery, CRC Acupuncture + electro-acupuncture + ear acupuncture Sham acupuncture + sham electro-acupuncture + sham ear acupuncture ST36 Zusanli 足三里, PC6 Neiguan 内关 , LI4 Hegu 合谷, SP6 Sanyinjiao 三阴交 , SP9 Yinglingquan 阴陵 泉, ST25 Tianshu 天枢 and ear point TF4 Shenmen 神门 , bilateral 3 [15 ] Hong X 2017 80; T: 61.2(7.2), C: 58.8(9.4); (47/33) 2; ear acupressure: press Vaccaria seeds 5 times per day for 7 days, change to other ear every 2 days; moxibustion: once a day for 7 days Dixon surgery, rectal cancer Moxibustion + ear acupressure no acupuncture therapy Moxibustion points: ST36 Zusanli 足三里 and CV12 Zhongwan 中脘; ear points: CO4 Wei 胃, TF4 Shenmen 神门 , CO6 Xiaochang 小肠 , CO3 Benmen贲门 , unilateral 4 [16 ] Li JM et al ., 2016 160; T: 51.3(3.16), C: 52.17(3.34) 2; press Vaccaria seeds 30-60s per point, three-five times per day, change to other ear every 3-7 days Open radical surgery, rectal cancer Ear acupressure no acupuncture therapy Ear points: CO4 Wei 胃, CO5 Shierzhichang 十二指肠 , CO6 Xiaochang 小肠 ,CO7 Dachang 大肠 , CO13 Pi 脾 , CO3 Benmen贲门 , unilateral 5 [17 ] Lu JY & Jin HM 2011 78; T: 62.25(9.38), C: 61.21(10.16); (43/35) 2; Vaccaria seeds attached immediately after surgery, point pressure for 30-60s per point every 2-3 hours (more than 5 min/cycle); until recovery Radical surgery excluding Miles surgery, CRC Ear acupressure no acupuncture therapy Ear points: CO13 Pi 脾 , CO4 Wei 胃, CO7 Dachang 大肠 , CO6 Xiaochang 小肠 , AH6a Jiaogan交感 , CO18 Neifenmi 内分泌 , AT4 Pizhixia 皮质 下, bilateral 6 [18 ] Meng ZQ et al ., 2010 85; T: 54.3, C: 53.1; (47/38) 2; from postoperative days 1-6, 20 min, once a day, until first bowel movement or day 6, whichever came first Intraperitoneal surgery, epidural anaesthesia, colon cancer Electro-acupuncture no acupuncture therapy ST36 Zusanli 足三里, ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚 , TE6 Zhigou支沟 , GB34 Yanglingquan 阳陵 泉, bilateral 7 [34 , 35 ] Ng SSM et al ., 2013 165; T: 67.4(9.7), C1: 67.4(10.7), C2:68.5(10.6); (99/66) 3; T & C1: from postoperative days 1-4, 20 min, once a day, until defaecation occurred or day 4, whichever was earlier Laparoscopic surgery, CRC Electro-acupuncture C1: sham electro-acupuncture, C2: no acupuncture therapy ST36 Zusanli 足三里, SP6 Sanyinjiao 三阴交 , LI4 Hegu 合谷, TE6 Zhigou支沟 , NS 8 [19 ] Niu CF et al ., 2008 32; T & C: 52; (21/11) 2; from postoperative day 1, 15 min. twice daily Radical surgery excluding Miles surgery, CRC Electro-acupuncture no acupuncture therapy ST36 Zusanli 足三里, ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚 , PC6 Neiguan 内关 , NS 9 [20 ] Si JG & Ding RS 2015 40; T: 45, C: 46; (23/17) 2; from 24 hours after surgery, 20 min once a day, till bowel sounds and passing flatus occurred Radical surgery, CRC Electro-acupuncture no acupuncture therapy ST36 Zusanli 足三里, ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚 , SP6 Sanyinjiao 三阴交 , ST25 Tianshu 天枢 , LI4 Hegu 合谷, bilateral 10 [21 ] Tan S & Zheng CM 2015 76; T: 63.8(11.2), C: 63.2(10.5); (43/33) 2; ear acupressure: Vaccaria seeds attached after surgery, pressure for 5 min every 2-3 hours; acupuncture: after surgery, 20 min once a day; until recovery Radical surgery, CRC Acupuncture no acupuncture therapy ST36 Zusanli 足三里 and ear sensitive points 敏感点 , NS 11 [22 ] Tong WY et al ., 2014 84; T: 58.6(15.1), C: 59.2(14.7); (50/34) 2; from 2 hours after surgery, 30 min, once a day Open surgery, FTP, rectal cancer Acupuncture no acupuncture therapy ST36 Zusanli 足三里, PC6 Neiguan 内关 , ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚 , SP4 Gongsun公孙 , NS 12 [23 ] Wang EM 2012 60; T: 57.4(13.6), C: 56.6(12.3); (34/26) 2; Vaccaria seeds attached 4 hours after surgery, pressure for 1 min on each point, every 6 hours, until recovery Usual surgery, colon cancer Ear acupressure no acupuncture therapy Ear points: TF4 Shenmen 神门 , AH6a Jiaogan 交感 , AT4 Pizhixia 皮质 下,CO7 Dachang 大肠 , CO4 Wei 胃, Ashixue 阿 是穴 (sensitive point); unilateral, change side every 4 days 13 [24 ] Wang HM 2011 30; T: 60.4(11.01), C: 58(10.24); (20/10) 2; from 24 hours after surgery, 30 min, once a day, for 5 days Open surgery, FTP, CRC Acupuncture no acupuncture therapy ST36 Zusanli 足三里, PC6 Neiguan 内关 , ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚 , SP4 Gongsun公孙 , NS 14 [25 ] Xiao C 2014 90; T1: 55.87(10.49), T2: 55.33(10.83), C: 54.63(10.25); (51/39) 3; from 24 hours after surgery, 20 min, once a day, for 5 days Open radical surgery excluding Miles surgery, CRC T1:acupuncture; no acupuncture therapy ST36 Zusanli 足三里, ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚 , bilateral 15 [26 ] Xiao L et al ., 2016 60; T: 67.43(16.35), C: 68.52(17.16); (33/27) 2; from postoperative days 1-14, 30 min twice daily Radical surgery, colon cancer in elderly patients Acupuncture no acupuncture therapy ST36 Zusanli 足三里, LI4 Hegu 合谷, SP6 Sanyinjiao 三阴交 , LU5 Chize 尺泽 (all electro); TE6 Zhigou支沟 , LU7 Lieque 列缺 (both manual); all bilateral 16 [27 ] Yan YB 2011 30; T: 50.73(6.076), C: 50.33(5.802); (9/21) 2; from postoperative days 3-7, 30 min, once a day Laparoscopic Miles surgery, rectal cancer Dukes A-C1, recovery of urinary function Acupuncture + moxibustion no acupuncture therapy ST36 Zusanli 足三里, LI4 Hegu 合谷, SP10 Xuehai 血海, SP9 Yinglingquan 阴陵 泉, SP6 Sanyinjiao 三阴交 , LR3 Taichong 太冲 , CV4 Guanyuan关元 (moxa), CV8 Shenque 神阙 (moxa), NS 17 [28 ] Yang JJ et al ., 2011 60; T: 60.9(6.63), C: 62(6.98); (39/21) 2; from postoperative day 1, 30 min, once a day, until 3 days after defecation occurred Radical surgery, CRC Electro-acupuncture no acupuncture therapy ST36 Zusanli 足三里, ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚 , ST39 Xiajuxu 下巨虚 , bilateral 18 [29 ] Yang JF et al ., 2016 72; T: 72(5.4), C: 73.4(5.6); (44/28) 2; performed three times at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours after surgery, application for 6 hours each time Open surgery, CRC in elderly patients Point application with warming cataplasm Point application with non-warming cataplasm ST36 Zusanli 足三里, bilateral 19 [30 ] Zhang SY & Du YQ 2011 70; T: 57.1(11.7), C: 59.1(8.5); (52/18) 2; from postoperative days 1-10, 45 min, once a day Radical surgery, CRC Warm needling no acupuncture therapy ST36 Zusanli 足三里, ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚 , ST39 Xiajuxu 下巨虚 , SP6 Sanyinjiao 三阴交 , SP9 Yinglingquan 阴陵 泉, NS 20 [31 ] Zhang XY & Lu JB 2017 80; T: 64.8(5.6), C: 67.5(6.0); (42/38) 2; from 6 hours after surgery, 1 min pressure for each point, three times per day, 1 hour after meals, until postoperative day 5 Radical surgery excluding Miles surgery, CRC Acupressure no acupuncture therapy ST36 Zusanli 足三里, LI4 Hegu 合谷, ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚 , NS 21 [32 ] Zhang ZD et al ., 2014 40; T: 63(9), C: 60(10); (22/18) 2; at 30 min after surgery, then postoperative days 1–4, 30 min, once a day Open surgery, CRC Electro-acupuncture Sham electro-acupuncture ST36 Zusanli 足三里, bilateral 22 [33 ] Zhang XY et al ., 2016 80; T: 64.8(6.8), C: 67.5(4.2); (41/39) 2; from 6 hours after surgery, 1 min pressure for each point, three times per day, 1 hour after meals, until postoperative day 5, change ear every 2 days Usual surgery, CRC Acupressure no acupuncture therapy Acupressure points: ST36 Zusanli 足三里, LI4 Hegu 合谷, ST37 Shangjuxu 上巨虚 , NS; ear points: CO4 Wei 胃, CO6 Xiaochang 小肠 , CO7 Dachang 大肠 , unilateral
