Analysis of acupoint selection rules of acupuncture and moxibustion in ancient medical books for the treatment of somnolence: A review.

This study aimed to explore the rule of acupoint selection in the treatment of somnolence by ancient acupuncture and moxibustion. Using "Duomei" and other words as search terms in the Encyclopaedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a table containing elements such as literature sources, acupoint names, and frequency of acupoint selection was created. The table data was imported into the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Calculation Platform Software V3.5 (TCMICS) for statistical analysis to summarize the rules of acupoint selection. In the ancient medical books, the high-frequency acupoints of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of somnolence were KI(Kidney)4(Dazhong)(24times,9.76%),KI3(Taixi)(23times,9.35%),LI(Large Intestine)3Sanjian(23times,9.35%) from high to low, and the high-frequency acupoints used for specific acupoints were Shu, Luo, and Bahui points from high to low. Association rule analysis showed that the core combination of high-frequency related acupoints was 3 groups, namely,"KI3(Taixi)KI6(Zhaohai)"(5times,2.03%),"KI4(Dazhong)HT(Heart)5(Tongli)"(5times,2.03%), and "LI3(Sanjian) ST(Stomach)45(Lidui) SJ(SanJiao)10(Tianjing)"(5times,2.03%). Cluster analysis showed that the effective cluster combination of acupoints was "LI3(Sanjian), LI2(Erjian),KI3(Taixi),ST45(Lidui),SJ10(Tianjing),KI6(Zhaohai),""HT5(Tongli),KI4(Dazhong),""RN(Ren) 12(Zhongwan),BL(Bladder)43(Gaohuang),ST36(Zusanli),RN6(Qihai)." In the ancient medical books, acupuncture and moxibustion was used to treat somnolence with distal point selection, and acupuncture and moxibustion prescriptions often used "KI3(Taixi)KI6(Zhaohai)" and other core acupoint combinations from the perspective of tonifying deficiency, relieving excess and giving consideration to both deficiency and excess, combined with acupoint selection and coordination based on syndrome differentiation and meridian differentiation, and focused on overall adjustment.