Visualization analysis of the current status and emerging trends in cross-cultural research on traditional Chinese medicine using CitesPace

Abstract

Objective

This study aims to investigate the trends and emerging areas of interest in cross-cultural research related to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted across several databases, including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The retrieved articles were manually screened. Bibliometric analysis and visualization techniques were employed using CiteSpace software, with a focus on six key areas: annual publication volume, authorship, institutional contributions, keyword co-occurrence, keyword clustering, and burst terms.

Results

The analysis revealed a generally increasing trend in annual publication volume, with a peak observed in 2020. The network of core authors was found to be relatively dispersed. A significant proportion of the publications originated from universities specializing in TCM. Six distinct keyword clusters were identified, along with 25 burst terms, which were predominantly associated with TCM, cross-cultural studies, and cultural communication. The five most prominent terms in terms of intensity were “TCM,” “Guasha,” “reliability and validity,” “cross-cultural,” and “cultural communication.”

Conclusions

Present research focal points in this domain encompass the translation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) classics, cultural disparities, and TCM English education. Future investigations should enhance collaboration among research institutions and scholars, concentrating on cross-cultural communication pathways and strategies, the translation of TCM philosophical and cultural concepts, and translation into less commonly taught languages. The objective is to foster innovative practices in cross-cultural TCM research.