ObjectiveThis study aims to summarize the hotspots of acupuncture research in China and abroad in recent 10 years.

MethodsThe core collection of Web of Science was retrieved, and the literature on experimental and clinical research of acupuncture in China and abroad was collected from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2021. The included literature was visually analyzed using CiteSpace 6.1.R3. Statistical analysis was carried out in the annual number of papers, authors, countries, and journals. According to the author's country, the literature was divided into Chinese and global categories for keywords clustering analysis and co-citation references analysis independently to obtain hotspots and trends in acupuncture research.

ResultsThere are 1 215 articles in acupuncture experimental medicine, 3 805 articles in acupuncture clinical medicine in China; 551 articles in acupuncture experimental medicine, and 4 538 articles in acupuncture clinical medicine abroad. The number of articles on acupuncture abroad remains stable and flat, whereas the annual number of domestic papers shows a continuously growth trend. LIU Cunzhi from Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated to Capital Medical University in China is the author who has published the most articles in the field of acupuncture in the recent decade. China is the most productive country in publishing such research articles. Evidence-based Comprehensive and Alternative Medicine is the journal with the most published articles. The mechanisms of acupuncture on nerve regeneration or nerve recovery and research on the mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia are hotspots in experimental acupuncture research, and the treatment of neuropathic pain and dysfunctional diseases with acupuncture are hotspots in clinical acupuncture research in China. Research on the mechanism of protection of the cardiovascular system by acupuncture and research on the mechanism of analgesia by acupuncture are hotspots in experimental research on acupuncture abroad. Studies on the amelioration of inflammatory pain and psychological or psychiatric disorders by acupuncture also serve as hotspots in clinical research on acupuncture abroad.

ConclusionAcupuncture research in China focuses on the treatment of internal diseases and visceral pain, while acupuncture research abroad concentrates on the alleviation and improvement of cancer and psychological and mental diseases. Treatment of internal diseases and mental diseases with acupuncture is the trend of future research.