Table 1 Search Strategy

1

randomized controlled trial.pt.

2

controlled clinical trial.pt.

3

randomized controlled trials.sh.

4

random allocation.sh.

5

double blind method.sh.

6

single blind method.sh.

7

1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6

8

clinical trial.pt.

9

exp clinical trials/

10

(clin$ adj trial$).ti, ab.

11

((singl$ or doubl$ or trebl$ or tripl$) adj (blind$ or mask$)).ti, ab.

12

placebos.sh.

13

Placebo$.ti, ab.

14

random$.ti, ab.

15

Research design.sh.

16

or/8–15

17

comparative study.sh.

18

exp evaluation studies/

19

follow up studies.sh.

20

prospective studies.sh.

21

(control$ or prospective$ or volunteer$).ti, ab.

22

or/17–21

23

7 or 16 or 22

24

neck pain.mp. or exp Neck Pain/

25

exp CERVICAL VERTEBRAE/

26

24 or 25

27

exp alternative medicine/

28

exp plants, medicinal/

29

exp plant oils/

30

exp plant extracts/

31

exp formularies, homeopathic/

32

((complementary or unconventional or folk or alternative) adj (med$ or ther$ or treat$ or care)).ti, ab.

33

exp holistic health/

34

exp Physical Therapy Techniques/

35

(physical ther$ or physiother$).ti, ab.

36

exp osteopathy/or exp osteopathic medicine/

37

(chiropract$ or naturopath$ or osteopath$ or homeopath$ or acupunct$).ti, ab.

38

or/27–37

39

23 and 26 and 38

40

limit 39 to english language