Abstract

Background: The vagus nerve serves as a critical conduit between the central nervous system and visceral organs, integrating sensory inputs, maintaining physiological homeostasis, and playing a role in the pathogenesis and treatment of various disorders. Recent years have witnessed growing interest in the clinical and mechanistic aspects of acupuncture and acupressure in modulating vagal activity.
Objective: This study aimed to conduct a bibliometric visualization analysis to outline the evolution, current landscape, research hotspots, and emerging trends in studies on the association of acupuncture with the vagus nerve, thereby offering insights for future investigations.
Methods: We retrieved publications from the Web of Science core database from its inception until April 6, 2024. Using CiteSpace, we analyzed publication outputs, authorship, institutional and national contributions, journal and subject distributions, co-citation networks, and keyword trends.
Results: Research in this field commenced in 1991 and has exhibited a fluctuating yet overall upward trajectory. China leads in publication volume, followed by the United States, with prominent institutions predominantly located in China. The research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary characteristics, particularly integrating complementary and Western medicine. Current hotspots focus on mechanisms and therapeutic applications related to inflammation, gastrointestinal motility, pain management, and depression.
Conclusion: Acupuncture-mediated vagus nerve regulation represents a promising area of research. Future efforts should prioritize elucidating underlying mechanisms, refining acupuncture protocols, and fostering international collaboration to advance the field.

Keywords

Acupuncture, vagus nerve, CiteSpace, visual analysis