Clinical regularities in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of cancer pain in recent 30 years

To explore the clinical regularities in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of cancer pain by reviewing the relevant studies published between 1985 and 2017. Based on the Chinese Medicine Acupuncture-moxibustion Information Database, quantitative analysis, correlation analysis and Chi-square test were applied to analyze the commonly used acupoints, meridian affiliations and body region distributions, commonly used methods and acupoint correlations, treatment method correlations, the efficacy of acupuncture- moxibustion plus the three-step analgesic ladder for cancer pain, and indicators. Zusanli (ST 36), Ashi point and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) ranked the top on the list of frequency; points from Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang and Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming were often used; points from the lower limbs and back had high frequencies. The most commonly used treatment method was acupuncture-moxibustion plus medication. Acupuncture-moxibustion plus the three-step analgesic ladder showed certain advantage compared with the two methods used separately, and among the integrated methods, acupoint application plus the three-step analgesic ladder produced the most significant efficacy. It took (44.77±55.54) min for the analgesic effect to act and the effect lasted for (12.81±14.59) h. Numerical rating scale (NRS), visual analog scale (VAS) and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scores all showed significant changes after interventions (all P 0.05). Zusanli (ST 36), Ashi point and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) are commonly selected in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of cancer pain; acupuncture and acupoint application are often used; acupuncture-moxibustion plus the three-step analgesic ladder can boost the treatment efficacy.