Application of acupoints and meridians for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: a data mining-based literature study.

Siyi Yu,Jiao Chen,Jie Yang,Liang Chen,Fanrong Liang,Yan Gao,Yulan Ren,Mingxiao Yang,Leixiao Zhang,Youping Hu

doi:10.1155/2015/752194

Abstract

Background. Dysmenorrhea is a common problem for which acupuncture provides effective analgesia. Although acupoint selection affects the effectiveness of acupuncture, the basic rules of acupoint selection are little understood. This study aims to investigate the principles of acupoint selection and characteristics of acupoints used for primary dysmenorrhea. Methods. PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Biomedical Database were searched for clinical trials published in English or Chinese from January 1978 to April 2014 evaluating the effect of acupuncture on primary dysmenorrhea, with or without methods of randomization and/or control. Three authors extracted information and two reviewers inputted information on titles, journals, interventions, main acupoints, and outcomes using the self-established Data Excavation Platform of Acupoint Specificity for data mining. Results. Sanyinjiao (SP06), Guanyuan (CV04), and Qihai (CV06) were used most frequently. The most frequently used meridians were Conception Vessel, Spleen Meridian of Foot Taiyin, and Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang. 67.24% of acupoints used were specific acupoints. Acupoints on lower limbs were most frequently used. Conclusion. Data mining is a feasible approach to identify the characteristics of acupoint selection. Our study indicated that modern acupuncture treatment for primary dysmenorrhea is based on selection of specific acupoints according to traditional acupuncture theory.

Highlights

Dysmenorrhea is a common problem for adolescent girls and women of reproductive age [1]
The aims of this study were to (1) discover the basic rules of acupoint selection in meridians and specify acupoints in different body parts used for treating Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) in modern literature and (2) investigate the association rule of acupoints based on data mining, so as to provide relatively standard treatment guidelines in the application of meridian points for PD
The majority of acupoints used were specific acupoints (67.24%), with acupoints on the lower limbs being most frequently used

Summary

Introduction

Dysmenorrhea is a common problem for adolescent girls and women of reproductive age [1]. Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is medically defined as those menstrual periods when females feel pain without any organic change in the uterus. Dysmenorrhea is a common problem for which acupuncture provides effective analgesia. This study aims to investigate the principles of acupoint selection and characteristics of acupoints used for primary dysmenorrhea. PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Biomedical Database were searched for clinical trials published in English or Chinese from January 1978 to April 2014 evaluating the effect of acupuncture on primary dysmenorrhea, with or without methods of randomization and/or control. Acupoints on lower limbs were most frequently used. Data mining is a feasible approach to identify the characteristics of acupoint selection. Our study indicated that modern acupuncture treatment for primary dysmenorrhea is based on selection of specific acupoints according to traditional acupuncture theory

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion