Objective: to identify and synthesize the evidence from randomized clinical trials that
tested the effectiveness of traditional Chinese acupuncture in relation to sham
acupuncture for the treatment of hot flashes in menopausal women with breast
cancer.Method: systematic review guided by the recommendations of the Cochrane Collaboration.
Citations were searched in the following databases: MEDLINE via PubMed, Web of
Science, CENTRAL, CINAHL, and LILACS. A combination of the following keywords was
used: breast neoplasm, acupuncture, acupuncture therapy, acupuncture points,
placebos, sham treatment, hot flashes, hot flushes, menopause, climacteric, and
vasomotor symptoms. Results: a total of 272 studies were identified, five of which were selected and analyzed.
Slight superiority of traditional acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture was
observed; however, there were no strong statistical associations. Conclusions: the evidence gathered was not sufficient to affirm the effectiveness of
traditional acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture.