Global research trends and insights in acupuncture randomized controlled trials: a bibliometric analysis.

Researchers analyzed 1,908 published studies on acupuncture conducted between 2010 and 2024 to understand global research trends and identify what conditions are being studied most. This analysis looked at where research is happening, who is conducting it, and what topics are receiving the most attention. The number of acupuncture studies grew steadily, peaking at 205 studies in 2022 before stabilizing. China led the world in acupuncture research with 1,096 studies, followed by the United States with 263 studies and South Korea with 216 studies. The most frequently studied topics were electroacupuncture (a technique using mild electrical stimulation), pain management, and treatment approaches for various conditions. Recent emerging areas of interest included sleep disorders and developing better guidelines for acupuncture practice. The researchers identified three important directions for future acupuncture research: first, identifying which medical conditions might benefit most from acupuncture treatment, including those where conventional medicine has limited options; second, understanding exactly how acupuncture works, including which acupuncture points are most effective and optimal treatment doses; and third, ensuring research quality by using rigorous scientific methods. For patients, this analysis suggests acupuncture research is expanding and maturing, with scientists working to better understand how, when, and for whom acupuncture works best. This growing evidence base can help patients and doctors make more informed decisions about using acupuncture as part of a treatment plan. If considering acupuncture, seek a licensed and qualified practitioner with appropriate credentials in your area.

This bibliometric analysis examined 1,908 acupuncture RCTs published between 2010-2024 from Web of Science and Scopus databases, utilizing CiteSpace and VOSviewer for visualization. Publication volume peaked at 205 articles in 2022, with China producing 1,096 articles (57% of total), followed by the US (263) and South Korea (216). Beijing University of Chinese Medicine led institutional output (166 articles; 2,084 citations). Keyword frequency analysis identified "Electroacupuncture" (409 occurrences), "Management" (291), and "Pain" (277) as primary research foci, with "guidelines," "sleep," and "diagnosis" showing burst activity (2021-2022). The authors recommend three research priorities: (1) identifying appropriate clinical applications through systematic condition classification; (2) investigating acupuncture efficacy factors including acupoint prescription optimization and dose-response relationships; and (3) enhancing methodological rigor through proper control group selection and standardized outcome measures. This analysis provides practitioners with evidence-based insight into current research directions and emerging clinical applications, particularly highlighting pain management and electroacupuncture as dominant investigation areas.