Complex network analysis on the clinical application characteristics of acupuncture and moxibustion in treatment of hiccups

To analyze the clinical application characteristics of acupuncture in treatment of hiccup, using data mining and complex network technology so as to provide better therapeutic regimen for the patients.

Using computer retrieval, the articles of clinical study for the treatment of hiccup with acupuncture and moxibustion were searched in CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP Database and PubMed from January 2002 to December 2022. The eligible articles were collected in compliance with the exclusion and inclusion criteria, and “clinical literature database of acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of hiccup” was established. The data were sorted in Microsoft Excel and analyzed using IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 and Gephi-0.9.2.

A total of 920 articles were included, with 204 acupoints involved, and the selection frequency of acupoints was 9024 times. The top five meridians with the high use frequency included conception vessel, bladder meridian of foot-taiyang, stomach meridian of foot-yangming, pericardium meridian of hand-jueyin and spleen meridian of foot-taiyin. Based on the association rule analysis, “Zusanli (ST36)→Neiguan (PC6)”, “Zhongwan (CV12)→PC6” and “CV12→ST36” were the most relevant acupoint combinations, which was coincident with the principles of acupoint selection, e.g. the selection of local acupoints, the selection of distal acupoints, and the combination of the acupoints located in the upper and lower parts of the body. Regarding the high use frequency of single therapy in treatment, filiform needle acupuncture, acupoint injection, moxibustion, auricular acupuncture and electroacupuncture were listed. Concerning to the compound therapy, “filiform needle acupuncture→acupoint injection” was the most correlated, followed by “filiform needle acupuncture→moxibustion” and “filiform needle acupuncture→auricular acupuncture”. Through the K-core analytic hierarchy process and community analysis, 3 core acupoint prescriptions, 5 supplementary acupoint prescriptions based on syndrome differentiation, and 3 acupoint prescriptions for reinforcing and reducing were obtained.

Using the complex network analysis, the rules of acupoint selection and the acupuncture-moxibustion techniques are found in treatment of hiccup. Acupoint selection is based on the acupoint location, syndrome differentiation and symptoms. Auricular acupuncture is predominated in terms of the micro-acupuncture system, and filiform needle acupuncture is the most common technique in treatment. For the application of compound therapy, the combination of filiform needle acupuncture with acupoint injection is the highest in use frequency.