[Acupoint selection and medication rules analysis for allergic rhinitis treated with acupoint application-based on...

Area of Science:

• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Integrative Medicine
• Pharmacology

Context:

• Allergic rhinitis is a common condition with significant impact on quality of life.
• Acupoint application is a therapeutic modality within Traditional Chinese Medicine.
• Systematic review of clinical research on acupoint application for allergic rhinitis since 2000.

Purpose:

• To systematically study acupoint selection and medication rules for allergic rhinitis treated with acupoint application.
• To identify frequently used herbs and acupoints in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.
• To analyze the underlying principles of herb and acupoint selection.

Summary:

• A total of 37 studies were analyzed, involving 27 herbs and 33 acupoints.
• Key herbs include Baijiezi, Xixin, and Baizhi, primarily targeting lung, spleen, and kidney meridians.
• Main acupoints identified were Feishu (BL 13), Dazhui (GV 14), Shenshu (BL 23), and Pishu (BL 20), clustered into distinct therapeutic groups.
• The strategy involves selecting pungent, epispastic herbs and acupoints from lung, bladder, spleen, and kidney meridians to address both primary and secondary symptoms.

Impact:

• Provides evidence-based insights into effective acupoint application strategies for allergic rhinitis.
• Highlights the importance of meridian tropism and herb properties in treatment.
• Offers a framework for clinicians to select appropriate herbs and acupoints for personalized treatment plans.