[Acupoints selection rules analysis of ancient acupuncture for urinary incontinence based on data mining technology]

Area of Science:

• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
• Acupuncture Research
• Data Mining in Health Sciences

Context:

• Ancient acupuncture literature, specifically the Canon of Chinese Medicine (4th edition), was analyzed.
• Urinary incontinence treatment using acupuncture was the focus of the study.
• A database of 356 articles was established for analysis.

Purpose:

• To analyze acupoint selection characteristics and rules in ancient acupuncture for urinary incontinence using data mining.
• To identify patterns and key acupoints used historically for this condition.
• To compare ancient practices with modern approaches.

Summary:

• Analysis of 356 articles identified 41 acupoints, with a strong emphasis on yin-meridians (2.6 times more frequent than yang-meridians).
• The liver meridian of the foot (Foot-Jueyin) and the bladder meridian of the foot (Foot-Taiyang) were frequently selected.
• Acqupoints in the lower limbs and abdomen were common, with specific acupoints dominating usage.

Impact:

• Findings suggest urinary incontinence is viewed as a condition requiring treatment via yin-meridians, emphasizing specific acupoint selection.
• The study highlights a discrepancy between ancient and modern acupuncture practices, particularly regarding the acupoint Zhongji (CV 3).
• Applying data mining to TCM literature provides a theoretical basis for clinical treatment, encouraging both inheritance and innovation.