Objective To analyze the regularities of selection of meridian acupoints for coronary heart disease(CHD)recorded in the ancient Chinese medical literature

in order to provide a reference for clinical application of meridian acupoint recipes to treat CHD nowadays.Methods Papers were retrieved from 1 156 ancient Chinese medical books collected in"Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine"(Fifth Edition)by using key words"Xin Tong"(cardiac pain)

"Zhen Xin Tong"(true heart pain)

"Jue Xin Tong"(precordial pain with cold limbs)

"Xiong Bi"(obstruction of qi in the chest)

"Zheng Chong"(severe palpitation)

"Xin Ji"(palpitation)

followed by establishment of a database.Then

the association analysis data mining technology was used to analyze the characteristics and regularities of application of meridian acupoints in the treatment of CHD.Results A total of 347 items of ancient document data were collected

containing acupoints of the 12 regular meridians

Conception Vessel and Governor Vessel

with a frequency of usage being 625 times.Among the involved meridians

the Conception Vessel was most frequently used

followed by the Pericardium Meridian.Zhongwan(CV 12)was the most frequently used acupoint

and Rangu(KI 2)and Taixi(KI 3)

CV 12 and Shangwan(CV 13)

and Quze(PC 3)and Daling(PC 7)were the top 3 frequently used auxiliary acupoint pairs.Conclusion In ancient China

in the treatment of CHD

the main acupoints of the Conception and Pericardium Meridian

and the auxiliary acupoints i.e.

five-shu points are most frequently used.PC 3 and PC 7 combination is suitable for the treatment of CHD with negative emotion.