Search strategy used in the PubMed database
| Number | Search items |
|---|---|
| 1 | randomized controlled trial.pt |
| 2 | controlled clinical trial.pt |
| 3 | randomized.ti,ab |
| 4 | randomly.ti,ab |
| 5 | groups.ti,ab |
| 6 | trial.ti,ab |
| 7 | or 1-6 |
| 8 | acupuncture.ti,ab |
| 9 | electro-acupuncture.ti,ab |
| 10 | elongated needle.ti,ab |
| 11 | three edged needle.ti,ab |
| 12 | (fire needle or warming needle).ti,ab |
| 13 | auricular acupuncture.ti,ab |
| 14 | abdominal acupuncture.ti,ab |
| 15 | warm acupuncture.ti,ab |
| 16 | pyonex.ti,ab |
| 17 | or 8-16 |
| 18 | sciatica.ti,ab |
| 19 | sciatic neuralgia.ti,ab |
| 20 | discogenic sciatica.ti,ab |
| 21 | bilateral sciatica.ti,ab |
| 22 | disc herniation-induced sciatica.ti,ab |
| 23 | or 18–22 |
| 24 | 7 and 17 and 23 |
This search strategy will be modified as required for other electronic databases.