Proper combination of acupoints is one of the core issues of acupuncturology

and is also one of the factors affecting clinical outcomes.In the present paper

the authors make a review on the development of researches on the underlying mechanisms of acupoint combination for some clinical disorders from nerve system

humoral factors and immunological regulation.The neural mechanism involves both the peripheral nervous system(mainly the segmental innervation)and central nervous system(spinal cord

brainstem

hypothalamus

cerebral cortex and cerebellum)

while the humoral factors chiefly contain neurotransmitters and hormones of the endocrine system.The immunological mechanisms involve immunocytes and cytokines.Generally speaking

following acupuncture stimulation of different combined-acupoints or acupoint groups

some synergistic effects may be produced.In fact

the relatively specific clinical effect may be easy to be obtained at the peripheral segmental innervations level.