ObjectiveTo explore the rules of acupoint selection of acupuncture and moxibustion for the treatment of chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) by using data mining technique. MethodsLiterature related to clinical research on acupuncture and moxibustion for the treatment of CGN was screened by retrieving the databases of China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database Knowledge Service Platform, VIP, China Biology Medicine disc, PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library, etc. The Microsoft Excel 2019 software was used to perform descriptive statistical analysis on the frequency of acupoint use, acupoint meridians, acupoint distribution, use status of specific acupoint, and intervention means. The SPSS Modeler 18.0 and SPSS Statistics 26.0 software were used to perform association rule analysis and cluster analysis on the high frequency of acupoint (frequency of use≥5 times). ResultsA total of 65 literature was enrolled, extracting 65 prescriptions, concerning 33 acupoints. The top three use frequency of acupoints were Shenshu (BL23), Zusanli (ST36) and Pishu (BL20), and the top three use frequency of acupoint meridians were mainly urinary bladder meridian of foot-taiyang, conception vessel, and stomach meridian of foot-taiyang, as well as the top three use frequency of location of acupoints involved were lower extremities, abdomen and waist; in addition, the top three use frequency of specific acupoints of acupoints belonged to were back-shu point, five-shu point and crossing point. The results of association rule analysis revealed that the top 5 acupoint combinations with the highest support degree were Zusanli (ST36)→Shenshu (BL23), Pishu (BL20)→Zusanli (ST36), Pishu (BL20)→Shenshu (BL23), Sanyinjiao (SP6)→Shenshu (BL23), Pishu (BL20)-Shenshu (BL23)→Zusanli (ST36). Three categories of acupoint combinations were obtained by cluster analysis as follows: (1) Taixi (KI3), Ganshu (BL18), Fuliu (KI7), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Qihai (BL24), Zhongwan (RN12), and Mingmen (DU4), (2) Shenshu (BL23), Pishu (BL20), Zusanli (ST36), Yinlingquan (SP9), (3) Guanyuan (BL26) and Shenque (RN8). ConclusionFor the treatment of CGN with acupuncture and moxibustion, the principle is to tonify liver, spleen, kidney, and to remove dampness. The core acupoints are Shenshu (BL23), Pishu (BL20) and Zusanli (ST36). Dialectic auxiliary acupoint selection should be conducted according to patients′ specific illness when employing acupuncture and moxibustion for the treatment of CGN in clinics.