OBJECTIVE

To analyze the compatible rules of acupoints in the treatment of migraine with acupuncture and moxibustion based on complex network technique so as to provide a reference for composing best acupoint recipes.

METHODS

Clinical papers about acupuncture treatment of migraine published from January of 2010 to October of 2020 were searched from Chinese and English databases including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and Pubmed by using keywords of acupuncture, moxibustion and migraine. According to our inclusive and exclusive criteria, the collected papers were screened out to set up a database. The SPSS Modeler 18.0 software was used to analyze the association rules of acupoints, and the Gephi 0.9.2 software was used to conduct a complex network analysis about the compatibility rules of acupoints and their application characteristics of moxibustion and needling methods in the treatment of migraine.

RESULTS

In the end, 572 articles meeting the conclusive criteria were selected, and a total of 1 091 acupoint prescriptions for the treatment of migraine were extracted, including 230 acupoints with a total appea-rance frequency of 7 902. Those acupoints most frequently used were mainly attributed to the Gallbladder Meridian, with Fengchi (GB20) being the highest in the cumulative frequency. The association rule analysis showed that the highest supporting degree acupoints was GB20-Taiyang(EX-HN5). The highest levels of confidence were EX-HN5-Touwei(ST8), GB20-Baihui(GV20), and GB20-ST8. The analysis of complex network topology showed that a total of 17 acupoints including GB20, EX-HN5, Shuaigu(GB8), Taichong(LR3), GV20, Ashi point, etc. were the core node acupoints for acupuncture treatment of migraine.

CONCLUSION

In the treatment of migraine, the acupoints selected are mainly distributed in the head region. When the specific acupoints chosen, the five Shu acupoints, Yuan (source) acupoints and the confluent acupoints of eight meridians are frequently used. In terms of composing acupoint recipes, the acupoints in the local and distant part of the body are often used in combination. These outcomes may have a certain guiding significance for clinical treatment of migraine.