Acupuncture and moxibustion clinical research registration aims to promote transparency in the early stages of acupuncture clinical research by publicly disclosing trial protocols, ethical information, statistical analyses, and other clinical trial details and ensuring timely updates during the research process [1]. To fully safeguard the rights of clinical trial participants, ensure authenticity of clinical trials, and minimize selective reporting, the World Health Organization (WHO) has established 17 primary clinical trial registration agencies in different regions worldwide in 2005 and provided open registration links. With the establishment of the Chinese Clinical Trial Register (ChiCTR), the number of registered clinical trials of acupuncture and moxibustion has been increasing. To meet the demands for managing clinical trials of acupuncture and moxibustion, the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences established the Acupuncture-Moxibustion Clinical Trial Registry (AMCTR) in August 2016 and received certification as a WHO secondary clinical trial registration agency.

The AMCTR collaborates with ChiCTR and globally accepts clinical research registrations focusing on acupuncture and moxibustion as the primary intervention. To provide tailored guidance for acupuncture and moxibustion clinical research registration, the Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences has developed the Guideline for Acupuncture-Moxibustion Clinical Research Registration. The guideline aims to explain and standardize key issues in acupuncture and moxibustion clinical trial registration and enhance both the quantity and quantity of clinical trials of acupuncture and moxibustion. In this study, we interpret the content of the Guideline for Acupuncture-Moxibustion Clinical Research Registration, aiming to provide a reference for clinicians and researchers involved in practicing acupuncture and moxibustion, thereby promoting transparency, application and dissemination of acupuncture and moxibustion clinical trial registration.