Objective To analyze the rules of acupoint selection in acupuncture treatment of essential hypertension. Methods All randomized controlled trials regarding acupuncture for essential hypertension are collected during the time of establishment of each database and September 2021. A database is established with Microsoft Excel 2021. The frequency of acupoints and meridians is analyzed by Microsoft Excel 2021. The systematic cluster analysis of acupoints is analyzed by SPSS statistics 21. The association rules of acupoints are analyzed by Apriori algorithm in SPSS modeler 18. Results A total of 110 articles is included, involving 103 acupoints and the total application frequency of 601. Among them, there are 14 acupoints with frequency ≥10， and most frequent acupoints used are Taichong (75 times). The frequent meridian used is yangming and liver meridian. Cluster analysis show that acupoints can be divided into two effective groups. One is Taixi, Taichong， Quchi, Zusanli, Renying and Hegu, and another is Baihui, Sanyinjiao, Fengchi and Taixi. Through the analysis of association rules, Quchi and Taichong have the greatest support. Conclusion Acupuncture treatment of essential hyperten-sion mostly selects acupoints of Yangming Meridian and liver meridian, mainly Taichong, Quchi, Zusanli, Hegu, and so on. The compatible application of Taichong and Quchi is primary. These acupoints pay attention to regulating qi and blood. The main acupoints of excess syndrome prescription are Taichong, Quchi, Zusanli, Renying and Hegu. The main acupoints of deficiency syndrome prescription are Baihui, Sanyinjiao, Fengchi and Taixi. This study can provide corresponding reference basis for clinical treatment.