The role of acupuncture as a complementary therapy for sepsis: a narrative review of the evidence and future trial directions.

Abstract

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Current interventions are insufficient to halt rising morbidity and mortality, prompting interest in complementary therapies including acupuncture. This narrative review systematically searched clinical studies published from 2010 to 2026 evaluating acupuncture as a complementary therapy for sepsis. Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria. We analyzed study design, participant characteristics, intervention modalities, acupoint selection, outcome measures, and safety, and explored connections between traditional Chinese medicine and modern biomedical mechanisms. The available evidence is insufficient to recommend routine acupuncture use for sepsis. High-quality trials are needed, adhering to Standard for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) and Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines, and using the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine Level of Evidence Scale to screen optimal acupoint combinations. This review synthesizes existing clinical evidence and provides a rigorous reference for designing future trials.