To investigate the distribution of acupoint parts on the application of acupuncture prescription in Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion.

Acupuncture prescriptions contained in the medical records of Acupuncture and Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion were selected and compared with the study of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions. The frequency, ratio, intensity and average intensity of acupoints were compared by the method of prescription metrology.

(1) Acupoints used for acupuncture prescriptions was 112 acupoints (2 324 times) at most on the limbs, followed by 61 acupoints (748 times) on the trunk, and 53 acupoints (547 times) on the head, face and neck. (2) The most selected acupoints were in the hands, feet, forearms, upper arms, tibial ankles and femoral knees of the limbs. The abdomen and waist in the trunk were the most selected points, followed by the shoulder and back, and the chest midline and the axillary flank were the least. For the head, face and neck, there are more points selected on the head and face, but few on the neck. (3) The Hegu(LI4) and Sanyinjiao(SP6) of limbs were used most, followed by Quchi(LI11) and Weizhong(BL54). Shenshu(BL23) (56 times), Zhongwan(CV12) (55 times), Danzhong(CV17) (47 times) and Qihai(CV6) (46 times) were the most common in the trunk. Baihui(DU20) (72 times) on the head, face and neck part is the highest, followed by Renzhong(DU26) (47 times), Fengchi(GB20) (42 times), Shangxing(GV23) (36 times). The neck (4 acupoints) is the least. (4) There is not only a wide range of acupoints selected on the limbs, but also a high frequency of use of the total acupoints and individual acupoints. Although the acupoints of the trunk are widely selected, the frequency of single acupoint use is not high. Among the acupoints on the head, face and neck, Baihui, philtrum, Fengchi etc. are mainly used.

The acupoints selected in acupuncture prescriptions of Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion were mainly on the limbs, followed by the trunk, and relatively few on the head and neck. Specific points are selected from specific points below the elbow and knee of the limbs, and the acupoints selected in the trunk area were widely, but the frequency of use of single acupoints was not high.