Objective

2

To explore the characteristics and rules of the locations of acupoints selected in weight loss after syndrome differentiation of acupuncture and moxibustion

and provide quantitative evidence for the location specificity of acupoint selection in weight loss.

Methods

2

Clinical research articles on acupoint selection based on syndrome differentiation of acupuncture and moxibustion in weight loss were retrieved in China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)

from the inception to September 20th

2024

and the data about acupoints and differentiated syndromes were extracted. Based on graph theory

the acupoint-syndrome network was established and its topological parameters such as node degree

value of betweenness centrality

description length and number of community were calculated.

Results

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①The description length of the limbs was 4 255.592

and that of the trunk was 3 274.312. The information contained in the acupoint-syndrome network for the acupoints on the limbs was greater than that for those on the trunk. ②The value of betweenness centrality and node degree showed a nonlinear relationship

with

R

²of 0.812 1 for the trunk and 0.321 8 for the limbs. The values of betweenness centrality for the acupoints on the trunk were uniformly distributed

and the difference among these values was much smaller than that for the acupoints on the limbs. It suggested that the distance from each trunk acupoint to network center was similar

and the importance among these acupoints to network was similar

while the importance among acupoints located on the limbs was different significantly. ③The frequency proportion of acupoints on the trunk showed uniform distribution among different syndromes

while that of some acupoints located on the limbs such as Taichong (LR3)

Neiting (ST44) and Taixi (KI3) presented a correlation with the syndromes.

Conclusion

2

In weight loss with acupuncture and moxibustion

the correlation between the limb acupoints and syndromes is more diverse and specific than that between the trunk acupoints and syndromes. The differences in acupoint selection for simple obesity treated with acupuncture and moxibustion are mostly reflected in the acupoints on the four limbs rather than those on the trunk. It provides an approach to acupoint selection for "local weight loss" and "general regulation" in treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion.