Ancient Literature Study of Regularities in Point Selection for Acupuncture Treatment of Epigastric Pain / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To seek the ancients’ method for acupuncture treatment of epigastric pain and explore the ancients’ regularities in point selection for acupuncture treatment of this disease to provide a reference and basis for guidance of modern clinical treatment. Method Search words related to epigastric pain were established. A database was set up. Frequency analysis and data mining technique-associated rules were used to investigate the use frequencies of different acupoints and meridians, and regularities in acupoint combination in ancient acupuncture treatment of epigastric pain. Result In ancient acupuncture treatment of epigastric pain, the points more frequently used and more accepted were Zhongwan (CV12), Zusanli (ST36), Neiguan (PC6), Shangwan (CV13), Geshu (BL17), Gongsun (SP4) and Jianli (CV11). Meridian points were the main ones. The points of meridians going through the epigastrium were often selected. Acupoint combination was mainly based on syndrome differentiation-based point selection plus symptomatic point selection.