Objective: To analyze the diseases and effects of the manipulations to promote qi by filiform needles, with the help of data mining technique.
Methods: Literature about different manipulations to promote qi by filiform needles in recent 60 years was collected in China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI). Then databases were established to mine the relativities among the diseases, subjects, acupoints selection law,routes and directions of meridian qi and effects.
Results: ①Total 489 articles were included. The basic manipulations with the frequency of 630 were on the top. The auxiliary and four methods of Feijingzouqi respectively appeared 70 times. The diseases in the internal medicine were treated with the basic and auxiliary methods of the higher frequencies, 311 and 44 times separately. While the four methods of Feijingzouqi were mostly used in the surgical area, 37 timestotally. ②The diseases treated from high to low by lifting, thrusting and twirling represented retention of urine, sequelae of stroke, pain in waist and lower limbs, of which the effect for retention of urine was better than those of the other two, and the lifting and thrusting method was superior to twirling. ③As for the auxiliary methods, 25 times were found about vibration needling; 18 times, twisting. The highest frequency of 6 times for the vibration needling was on the sequelae of stroke; while 4 times for the twisting, stranguria. ④As to the four methods of Feijingzouqi, Cangguitanxue was most frequently applied, and its highest frequency of 18 was on bi syndrome.
Conclusions: Manipulations to promote qi by filiform needles are crucial to achieving the effects of acupuncture. The basic methods are widely used in clinic and have been seen good efficacy. While the auxiliary means assist to promote qi to stimulate the body,among which the four methods of Feijingzouqi are mainly to smooth the meridians and drive qi of patients with surgical diseases and take meridian blocking the priority.
Keywords: clinical characteristics; disease category; filiform needle; manipulations to promote qi.