From tradition to evidence-based medicine: A two-decade bibliometric analysis of acupuncture efficacy, neural mechanisms, and therapeutic integration (2005–2024)

Background: Acupuncture has gained widespread recognition as a therapeutic intervention for various conditions, yet a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global research trends in this field remains lacking. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the characteristics, research hotspots, and emerging frontiers of acupuncture studies worldwide from 2005 to 2024. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection, focusing on highly cited articles. Data extraction included publication year, citation counts, research themes, author affiliations, and international collaborations. Statistical and network analyses were performed using VOSviewer and SPSS. Results: The top 100 most-cited articles were published between 2014 and 2021. The United States was the leading contributor (51 articles), followed by China (29 articles) and Germany (23 articles). Citation counts for these articles ranged from 127 to 757. The highest number of articles was published between 2005 and 2010. The average annual citation rate showed an increasing trend, while a negative correlation was observed between total citations and annual citation counts. Klaus Linde from the Technical University of Munich was the most prolific author. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews contributed the most papers (8) to the top 100 list. Research hotspots included acupuncture mechanisms (30%), particularly neural pathways for pain relief, and clinical applications (58%), such as chronic pain and mental health management. Conclusion: This study provides a bibliometric analysis of the 100 most-cited articles in acupuncture research, highlighting key trends, contributors, and research focuses. The findings offer valuable insights for future studies.