Acupuncture for benign prostatic hyperplasia in the elderly: A systematic review of acupoints.

BACKGROUND

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) affects >50% of males aged ≥50 years, causing lower urinary tract symptoms that significantly impair quality of life. While acupuncture is increasingly used for BPH management, its acupoint selection patterns remain unstandardized.

METHODS

Clinical studies on acupuncture/moxibustion for BPH published before September 30, 2024, were retrieved from CNKI, WANFANG, VIP, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. Acupoint patterns were analyzed using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Assistance Platform (TCMISS).

RESULTS

Among 270 articles, 85 met the inclusion criteria. Sixty-one acupoints were identified, with high-frequency selections including Guanyuan (CV4), Zhongji (CV3), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Qihai (CV6), Shenshu (BL23), Shuidao (ST28), Pangguangshu (BL28), Yinlingquan (SP9), Qugu (CV2), and Ciliao (BL32). The Conception Vessel (CV), Bladder (BL), and Spleen (SP) meridians were predominantly used, primarily distributed in the chest/abdomen (EX-CA) and back/waist (EX-BW) regions. Association rule analysis revealed strong correlations among acupoints, with key combinations being Zhongji (CV3)-Sanyinjiao (SP6), Guanyuan (CV4)-Qihai (CV6), and Guanyuan (CV4)-Sanyinjiao (SP6). Core therapeutic clusters centered on Zhongji (CV3), Guanyuan (CV4), and Shenshu (BL23), integrated with Sanyinjiao (SP6), Shuidao (ST28), and Yinlingquan (SP9).

CONCLUSIONS

Acupuncture for BPH primarily targets CV4, CV3, SP6, CV6, BL23, ST28, BL28, SP9, CV2, and BL32, reflecting their strong therapeutic relevance. These findings highlight meridians and acupoints potentially critical for symptom alleviation. However, rigorous clinical trials are warranted to validate efficacy and optimize protocols. This review provides a foundation for advancing evidence-based acupuncture interventions in BPH management.