Exploring the clinical application patterns of auricular therapy for cold coagulation and blood stasis type primary dysmenorrhea based on data mining technology

HUANG Qi; FANG Yanchun

doi:10.12102/j.issn.2095-8668.2025.16.019

Abstract：Objective: To explore the selection and clinical application patterns of ear acupoints in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea of cold stasis syndrome using data mining technology. Methods: Randomized controlled trials on ear acupoint therapy for primary dysmenorrhea of cold stasis syndrome were retrieved from CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, CBM, PubMed, and Web of Science. Relevant ear acupoint prescriptions and intervention methods were extracted to establish an ear acupoint scheme database. Frequency statistics, association rule analysis, and cluster analysis were performed on high-frequency ear acupoints and intervention methods, and a decision tree model was constructed. Results: A total of 42 articles were included, extracting 42 ear acupoint prescriptions containing 19 ear acupoints. The clinical research on ear acupoint therapy for primary dysmenorrhea of cold stasis syndrome mainly used ear acupoint pressing, with 3-5 presses per day, each lasting about 1 minute, with appropriate intensity characterized by pain or distension. The intervention time usually started 2-3 days before menstruation and continued until the end of menstruation. Ear acupoints were changed every 3 days, with unilateral pressing and alternating sides, for a total of three menstrual cycles. Frequency analysis showed that the high-frequency ear acupoints were Endocrine, Internal Genitalia, Kidney, Shenmen, and Sympathetic. In the association rule analysis, the top three support values were Internal Genitalia-Kidney, Internal Genitalia-Shenmen, and Endocrine-Shenmen. Cluster analysis yielded two clusters. The ear acupoint model built based on the decision tree used age 25 as a threshold for selecting acupoints and interventions. Conclusion: Ear acupoint therapy shows obvious effects in treating primary dysmenorrhea of cold stasis syndrome. The selection of acupoints should follow the principle of integrating traditional Chinese medicine with modern data analysis technology. Currently, there is significant variation in ear acupoint intervention methods, which requires further standardization. However, this study can provide references for clinical medical research.