Objective

2

To retrieve and collate the earliest recorded texts in ancient acupuncture-moxibustion prescriptions for chest obstruction and heart pain

and explore the acupoint composition principles.

Methods

2

The Excel 2016 software was used to build a data set of ancient textual records on acupuncture-moxibustion prescriptions for chest obstruction and heart pain. After the terminology related to etiology

pathogenesis

accompanying symptoms

acupoints

and treatment methods unified

the frequency statistical analysis and association rule algorithms were applied to analyze the implicit association patterns among various elements of syndrome differentiation

treatment selection

and acupoint selection in ancient prescriptions from multiple dimensions.

Results

2

The basic acupoints of high frequency in ancient acupuncture-moxibustion treatment for chest obstruction and heart pain were Daling (PC7)

Neiguan (PC6)

Taixi (KI3)

Taichong (LR3)

Shangwan (CV13)

Yongquan (KI1)

and Xinshu (BL15). The prescription was mostly composed of

yuan

-source points. Besides

the combinations of two of five-

shu

points

five-

shu

points with

luo

-connecting points

and

yuan

-source points with

luo

-connecting points were common. The high-frequency points were from the pericardium meridian of hand-

jueyin

conception vessel

kidney meridian of foot-

shaoyin

liver meridian of foot-

jueyin

and bladder meridian of foot-

taiyang

generally distributed on the

yin

part of the arm

abdominal region

the

yin

part of foot

the back

and the

yin

part of the leg. Zhigou (TE6)

Zusanli (ST36)

Baihui (GV20)

and Jiuwei (CV15)

as well as the specific acupoint combinations

were used for chest obstruction and heart pain due to

qi

stagnation. Moxibustion was more suitable for chest obstruction and heart pain caused by

qi

reversion

cold and

qi

stagnation. Shaohai (HT3) was invariably selected when hand tremor was accompanied; Zhongchong (PC9) combined with Daling (PC7) was selected specially for feverish sensation in the palms. Moxibustion was exclusively applied to Shangwan (CV13)

and Taixi (KI3) was often stimulated with moxibustion. At Neiguan (PC6) and Daling (PC7)

moxibustion was delivered in combination with acupuncture (high confidence was presented in acupuncture).

Conclusion

2

In ancient acupuncture-moxibustion treatment for chest obstruction and heart pain

the points of the pericardium meridian of hand-

jueyin

are predominant

coordinated with those of the liver meridian of foot-

jueyin

kidney meridian of foot-

shaoyin

conception vessel

and bladder meridian of foot-

taiyang

. It follows the principles of acupoint selection

"the pericardium acting on behalf of the heart"

"regulating

qi

as the priority"

"combination of

yuan

-source points with

luo

-connecting points"

and "selecting nearby points along the affected meridians".