Analysis of acupoint selection patterns for moxibustion intervention in diabetic peripheral neuropathy based on data mining

WANG Yuge; BAI Jing; LANG Ruijiao

doi:10.12102/j.issn.1009-6493.2025.21.015

Abstract：Objective:To explore the common acupoints and their compatibility in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN)by data mining technology.Methods:Systematic search of observational studies on the clinical efficacy of moxibustion intervention for DPN indexed in China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),WanFang Data,VIP Database,China Biology Medicine disc(CBM),PubMed,EMbase,and Web of Science from September 1,2014,to September 1,2024.And then we used Excel 2021 to establish a database of moxibustion intervention programs for DPN,and counted the treatment methods,types of moxibustion methods,moxibustion amount,and treatment frequency of each acupoint program,The frequency of use of acupoints of each syndrome type was analyzed by Rstudio for association rule analysis,cluster analysis and visual analysis.Results:A total of 64 articles were included.Moxibustion was the most commonly used moxibustion method for the treatment of DPN,followed by mild moxibustion,thunder fire moxibustion,and heat-sensitive moxibustion,with a moxibustion amount of 21-30 min,and the most treatment frequency was once a day.Zusanli,Sanyinjiao,Kidney Yu,Yanglingquan and other acupoints are high-frequency acupoints with strong correlation,and the acupoints were concentrated in the bladder meridian,stomach meridian and spleen meridian.They could be mainly classified into three acupoint clusters:Zusanli-Sanyinjiao,Qihai-Feishu-Fenglong-Xuehai-Ganshu-Yinlingquan-Waiguan-Guanyuan,Shenshu-Yanglingquan-Quchi-Taixi-Pishu-Jiexi-Hegu-Yongquan.Conclusions:Data mining could provide references for the acupoint selection and compatibility rules of moxibustion in the treatment of DPN.We suggest the clinical moxibustion intervention of DPN should follow the principle of"following the meridian to take acupoints,and matching acupoints from far and near",so as to give full play to the unique advantages of moxibustion in the treatment of DPN.