Efficacy and safety of bloodletting therapy for acute herpes zoster: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The high incidence of acute herpes zoster (HZ) and limitations of conventional therapies in pain control necessitate exploration of complementary approaches. Bloodletting therapy (BLT), a traditional intervention with potential analgesic and immunomodulatory effects, has been increasingly applied in China, yet its efficacy remains controversial due to inconsistent clinical evidence.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in databases including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, CNKI, the Wan Fang database, the Chinese clinical trial registry, and VIP Chinese Science from inception to June 2025 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing bloodletting therapy vs. pharmacotherapy in acute HZ (≤10 days post-eruption). Primary outcomes incl

SUBMITTER: Wu D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12554594 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature