The study aims to identifying and exploring the methods and rules of the syndrome/pattern differentiation and treatment of headache through collating acupuncture-moxibustion prescriptions recorded earliest in ancient literature. Using Excel2016 software

the structural data table was prepared with "name of disease"

"location of disease"

"etiology and pathogenesis"

"complicated symptoms"

"sites for acupuncture and moxibustion" and "techniques of acupuncture and moxibustion" included. The normative approach was conduced on "name of disease"

"etiology and pathogenesis"

"complicated symptoms" and "nomenclature of acupoint". Using conventional literature statistical method

combined with Apriori algorithm of association rule

the implicit multi-dimensional correlation rules were explored among various elements of syndrome/pattern differentiation of headache and corresponding therapeutic methods. Based on the findings of the study

the regularity was distinct regarding the treatment at "distal acupoints along the affected meridian and the local acupoints at the affected area" after identifying the location of headache; the strong association was presented between "etiology and pathogenesis" and "acupoint selection"

and between "etiology and pathogenesis" and "therapeutic methods"

including 9 and 12 rules

respectively. Guanyuan (CV 4) selected in treatment of headache was associated with kidney deficiency

the combination of Zhongwan (CV 12) and Zusanli (ST 36) was with phlegm

Fengfu (GV 16)

Fengchi (GB 20)

Xinghui (GV 22) and Baihui (GV 20) was with wind

and Hegu (LI 4) was with cold. Moxibustion was dominant in treatment if headache was caused by pathogenic cold or related to deficiency syndrome; acupuncture was used specially for the case caused by phlegm

or interaction of wind and phlegm or wind and heat. For heat syndrome

either acupuncture or moxibustion was applicable

in general

acupuncture was more commonly used in comparison with moxibustion for headache. There were 6 association rules regarding the acupoint selection and the techniques of acupuncture and moxibustion. Moxibustion was generally applied to Xinghui (GV 22)

Shangxing (GV 23) and Baihui (GV 20) ; and acupuncture was to Fengfu (GV 16)

Hegu (LI 4) and Zusanli (ST 36). There were few association rules between the complicated symptoms and acupoint selection. Among nearly 100 complications

there were only 3 feature associations. Zhongwan (CV 12) was selected for the case with poor appetite

Chengjiang (CV 24) was with neck stiffness

and Fengchic （GB 20） combined with Fenglong (ST 40) or Jiexi (ST 41) was used if vertigo was present. In the ancient time

regarding the treatment of headache

acupuncture and moxibustion are delivered based on the three aspects

i.e. the location of illness

the etiology and pathogenesis

and the complicated symptoms. For acupoint selection

in line with the courses of affected meridians

the adjacent and distal acupoints are combined according to the location of headache. The acupoint prescription is composed in terms of the etiology and pathogenesis. The techniques of acupuncture and moxibustion are optimized in consideration of the sites where acupuncture and moxibustion are operated.