Data Mining-Based Study on Characteristics of Acupoints Selection on Ancient Acupuncture Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia

Objective:Data mining was applied to investigate the characteristics and rules of acupoints selection in ancient acupuncture literature on functional dyspepsia.Methods:We established Acupuncture Prescription Database through collecting ancient acupuncture literature on therapy of functional dyspepsia(FD).The characteristics and rules of acupoints selection were investigated by means of association rule mining method.Results:After data mining-based analysis on acupuncture therapy of FD we have discovered the frequently used acupoints,combined use rule of acupoints,distribution rule of acupoints,as well as the rules of meridians and special points selection.Conclusion:It is feasible to investigate characteristics and rules of acupoints selection by means of data mining.And the results revealed that ancient acupuncture therapies of FD took acupoints selection along diseased meridian as the basis of selecting acupoints and the special points as the major component of prescriptions.