Application of expertise-based randomized controlled trials in acupuncture studies

Conventional randomized controlled trial is considered as the gold standard of clinical trials in evalua ting pharmacologic effectiveness. Whereas, it still has some faults in the non-pharmacy interventions, such as surgery, acupuncture, massage, etc. Expertise-based randomized controlled trial makes up for some deficiencies of conventional randomized controlled trial, which has made better developments in the field of surgery, however, there is no any relevant retrieval literature found in the acupuncture field. It is feasible and practical of the expertise-based randomized controlled trial to be applied and promoted in the acupuncture-moxibustion clinical research for a further degree. Expertise-based randomized controlled trials might become the trend of acupuncture-moxibustion clinical stu dies in the future.