Available online 20 July 2022

: Acupuncture has been recommended as a nonpharmacological intervention for managing cancer-related symptoms. However, there are few bibliometric analysis-based studies concerning the overall trends and characteristics in acupuncture therapy for cancer management. This study aims to summarize the status and bibliometric characteristics of acupuncture as an intervention for cancer-related symptoms.

: All clinical research papers on acupuncture for the management of cancer-related symptoms published up to October 1, 2020 were collected from the PubMed and Web of Science databases. Data on the included studies were extracted to reflect the following items: publication year, journal, country or region, institution, clinical indications, and acupuncture prescriptions. Characteristics were analyzed using bibliometric methods.

: A total of 226 papers were included. The number of such publications has increased steadily since 2004. The 226 articles were published in 94 English journals, with Integrative Cancer Therapies (18 articles) and Acupuncture in Medicine (14 articles) being the most prolific. The included studies are distributed across 20 countries and regions, among which the top two are the United States of America (68 articles) and China (60 articles). The types of cancer the studies addressed include breast, gastric, head and neck, etc. Acupuncture is mainly employed in the treatment of complications and side effects, among which nausea and vomiting, pain, hot flashes, and fatigue are the most frequently treated cancer-related symptoms. Acupuncture is the most commonly used treatment therapy, and the four most frequently used acupoints used are Neiguan (内关 PC6), Sanyinjiao (三阴交 SP6), Zusanli (足三里 ST36), and Hegu (合谷 LI4). The specific acupuncture prescription depends on individual patients’ symptoms.

: Research on acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy for cancer-related symptoms is developing steadily, with results being reported in a growing number of mainstream medical journals. Hence, this field is expected to receive more attention in the future.

Acupuncture

Moxibustion

Cancer

Clinical trials

Bibliometric characteristics

© 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of World Journal of Acupuncture Moxibustion House.