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Objectives. This study aimed to explore the characteristics and principles of acupoints, which were applied for treating tension-type headache (TTH). Methods. Four databases were searched for the literature studies of treating TTH with acupuncture and moxibustion up to September 1, 2020. Titles, journals, authors, key words, interventions, main acupoints, and outcomes of the included literature studies were extracted and inputted into the self-established Data Excavation Platform of Acupoint Specificity for analysis. Results. In total, 128 papers containing 137 prescriptions, 89 meridian acupoints, and 7 extraordinary acupoints of treating TTH with acupuncture and moxibustion were included. The total frequency of acupoints' application was 763 times. Fengchi (GB20), Baihui (GV20), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Hegu (LI4), and Taichong (LR3) were used most frequently. The acupoints in Yang meridians were utilized more than those in Yin meridians (66.1% vs. 17.8%), and the acupoints in the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot Shaoyang were applied most commonly. 59.9% (457/763) of the applied acupoints were on the head, face, and neck, and 31.7% (242/763) were on the four limbs. Additionally, the proportion of specific acupoints' application was 78.2% (597/763). Conclusions. The prescription of Fengchi (GB20), Baihui (GV20), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Hegu (LI4), and Taichong (LR3) might be relatively reasonable in clinical practices of treating TTH with acupuncture, which should be verified in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effectiveness of acupuncture for patients with chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) is controversial. In this article, we report the protocol for a randomized controlled trial aiming to evaluate the long-term effect of acupuncture for CTTH, in comparison with superficial acupuncture.Design: A two-armed, parallel-design, patient-assessor blind, randomized controlled trial is underway in China. A total of 218 participants with CTTH will be randomly assigned to the treatment group or the control group in a 1:1 ratio. Participants in the treatment group and control group will receive acupuncture or superficial acupuncture treatments in a fixed prescription of acupoints respectively, for a total of 20 sessions over 8 weeks. The posttreatment follow-up period will be 24 weeks. The primary outcome will be the proportion of responders assessed at week 16 after randomization. The secondary outcomes will include the number of headache days, the mean intensity of headache, the reduction of medication intake, results from the 36-item short form health survey, the Hamilton Depression Scale and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, the number of participants with adverse events, the expectation value of acupuncture treatment, and the intensity of deqi sensation. The first five secondary outcomes will be assessed or calculated at baseline, and at 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, and 32 weeks after randomization. Moreover, the expectation value will be collected at baseline and at week 8 after randomization, the intensity of deqi sensation will be assessed at 5 minutes after each treatment and adverse events will be summarized at the end of the follow-up period.Discussion: Results from this trial will provide evidence for the long-term effect of acupuncture for CTTH with a long follow-up period.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrial.gov NCT03133884 . Registered on 25 April 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acupuncture has been proved to be effective for chronic diarrhea. However, it is still unclear what types of patients with chronic diarrhea will benefit more from acupuncture treatment. This study aims to identify the characteristics and baseline measurements related to acupuncture response when treating chronic diarrhea. This is a secondary analysis of a previous published trial in which 448 patients were randomly allocated into 3 electroacupuncture groups and a medication group (control). The primary outcome was the change from baseline in weekly stool frequency at the end of 4-weeks of treatment. Responders were defined as patients who had a ≥ 30 % reduction in primary outcome. We screened potential factors by performing a univariate analysis and then applied a multivariable logistic regression model to explore the factors related to the acupuncture outcomes. We analyzed a total of 325 acupuncture treated participants and found that 49.2 % (160) had a reduction of over 30 % in weekly stool frequency. At baseline patients with higher weekly stool frequencies (P < 0.001), higher bodily pain scores of the MOS 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) (P = 0.004) at baseline, and receiving acupuncture treatment at the He acupoints (P = 0.030) reported better outcomes. Chronic diarrhea patients with higher weekly stool frequencies, less abdominal pain and receiving acupuncture treatment at He acupoints may be more likely to respond to acupuncture treatment. Our findings can contribute to the clinical prognosis for the acupuncture treatment to patient with chronic diarrhea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]