BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The new Yamamoto craniopuncture is consistently linked to systemic acupuncture or erroneously described as the Chinese craniopuncture (Chiao Shu Fa). Its use is mostly described in neurological conditions (i.e., stroke). However, there is no single study reviewing its capacity for analgesic effects compared to other groups, which application points are the most used and the quality of the research developed. CONTENTS: For this analysis, the databases Pubmed, Pedro database, Scielo and LILACS were accessed searching for clinical trials with the following keywords: Craniopuncture; Scalp Acupuncture; Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture; Pain (English, Portuguese and Spanish). The AND Boolean index was used between the selected keyword and pain (e.g., Scalp Acupuncture AND pain). The only three selected studies were evaluated by the Jadad score for clinical trials, and most of them have been considered of poor methodological quality. The Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture was superior to the groups compared (placebo and control), similar in effects to other interventions (systemic acupuncture and Ai Chi) and the basic points (A-I) were the most used. CONCLUSION: At presents, the Yamamoto New Scalp Acupuncture present itself as a promising alternative therapy, but further studies of higher methodological quality are needed for further conclusions.

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