Analysis of the prescription of auricular acupoint therapy for simple obesity based on complex network techniques

Objective: To explore the core acupoints and combination rules of auricular acupoint therapy for simple obesity, and to further analyze the characteristics of the prescription of auricular acupoint therapy for simple obesity. Methods: Relevant clinical study literature in recent 30 years in PubMed, China Biology Medicine disc (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan Fang Database, VIP Database and TCM Online Database was retrieved, and eligible articles were selected in order to build a prescription database of auricular acupoint therapy for simple obesity. On the basis of complex network techniques, the core acupoints and combination rules of auricular acupoint therapy for simple obesity were analyzed, and the characteristics of auricular acupoint therapy for simple obesity were analyzed comprehensively. Results: There were 46 network nodes of auricular acupoint. The top 16 core acupoints for auricular acupoint therapy for simple obesity included Neifenmi (CO18), Pi (CO13), Wei (CO4), Sanjiao (CO17), Jidian, Shenmen (TF4), Dachang (CO7), Pizhixia (AT(4)), Fei (CO14), Shen (CO10), Jiaogan (AH(6a)), Kou (CO1), Gan (CO12), Xiaochang (CO6) and Nao. The combination of auricular acupoints was mainly based on the main indications of acupoints. The analysis of auricular acupoints combination indicated that the combination of CO4 with CO18 was applied most frequently, which was followed by the combinations of CO13 with CO18 and CO13 with CO4. According to the analysis of auricular acupoint stimulation methods, ear point taping and pressing with Wangbuliuxing (Semen Vaccariae) seeds was used frequently, which was followed by magnetic beads taping and pressing and pyonex therapy. Auricular acupoint therapy combined with acupuncture for simple obesity was used most commonly, which was followed by auricular acupoint therapy combined with catgut embedment in acupoint and simple auricular acupoint therapy. Conclusion: In this study, the core acupoints and combinations of auricular acupoint therapy for simple obesity were explored effectively, and the pressing materials and major combined intervention methods were summarized and analyzed, thus providing references and treatment thoughts in terms of the point and prescription selection of auricular acupoint therapy for simple obesity. (C) 2018 World Journal of Acupuncture Moxibustion House. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.