Objective To analyze the compatible rules of acupoints in the treatment of migraine with acupuncture and moxibustion based on complex network technique so as to provide a reference for composing best acupoint recipes. Methods Clinical papers about acupuncture treatment of migraine published from January of 2010 to October of 2020 were searched from Chinese and English databases including CNKI

Wanfang

VIP and Pubmed by using keywords of acupuncture

moxibustion and migraine. According to our inclusive and exclusive criteria

the collected papers were screened out to set up a database. The SPSS Modeler 18.0 software was used to analyze the association rules of acupoints

and the Gephi 0.9.2 software was used to conduct a complex network analysis about the compatibility rules of acupoints and their application characteristics of moxibustion and needling methods in the treatment of migraine. Results In the end

572 articles meeting the conclusive criteria were selected

and a total of 1 091 acupoint prescriptions for the treatment of migraine were extracted

including 230 acupoints with a total appea-rance frequency of 7 902. Those acupoints most frequently used were mainly attributed to the Gallbladder Meridian

with Fengchi(GB20) being the highest in the cumulative frequency. The association rule analysis showed that the highest supporting degree acupoints was GB20-Taiyang(EX-HN5). The highest levels of confidence were EX-HN5-Touwei(ST8)

GB20-Baihui(GV20)

and GB20-ST8. The analysis of complex network topology showed that a total of 17 acupoints including GB20

EX-HN5

Shuaigu(GB8)

Taichong(LR3)

GV20

Ashi point

etc. were the core node acupoints for acupuncture treatment of migraine. Conclusion In the treatment of migraine

the acupoints selected are mainly distributed in the head region. When the specific acupoints chosen

the five Shu acupoints

Yuan(source) acupoints and the confluent acupoints of eight meridians are frequently used. In terms of composing acupoint recipes

the acupoints in the local and distant part of the body are often used in combination. These outcomes may have a certain guiding significance for clinical treatment of migraine.