Add-On Effect of Plum-Blossom Needling in Alopecia Areata: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis

The study synthesized evidence from 11 randomized controlled trials with 1,192 patients to evaluate the add-on effect of plum-blossom needling in treating alopecia areata (AA). Results showed that combining plum-blossom needling with conventional therapies significantly improved hair regrowth rates compared to conventional treatments alone, with relative risks (RR) of 1.331 for complete regrowth, 1.403 for major regrowth, and 1.198 for any regrowth. The studies had medium to low quality, with unclear randomization and no blinding. The add-on effect was significant when used with topical treatments but not without them. Plum-blossom needling was well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported. Further well-designed research was recommended to optimize treatment procedures and assess long-term efficacy.