Illuminating Insomnia: A Scientometric Exploration of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Treatment Research.

Abstract

Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, resulting in significant daytime impairment and frequently co-occurring with depression and anxiety. Although cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia is the standard intervention, its accessibility remains limited. Consequently, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies including yoga, Ayurveda, acupuncture, and melatonin have gained interest, despite the lack of robust supporting evidence. This study provides a scientometric evaluation of global research on CAM for insomnia, mapping publication trends, major contributors, and emerging research themes. A total of 2,204 articles and reviews published between 1970 and August 2024 were retrieved from the Scopus database. Data were analyzed using Scopus analytics, R, and VOSviewer to assess publication growth, subject areas, international collaborations, and contributions from journals, authors, and institutions. Publication output has steadily increased, with a marked rise since 1998. Research activity is primarily concentrated in medicine, pharmacology, and nursing. The USA leads global output and maintains extensive collaborations with the United Kingdom, China, and India. Harvard Medical School is a key institution, while the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine serves as a major outlet. Emerging research foci include Ayurveda, yoga, and acupuncture, particularly in relation to cancer and chronic pain management. Overall, CAM research for insomnia continues to expand and shows potential; however, rigorous, high-quality clinical trials are still needed to establish efficacy and safety. Enhanced collaboration and increased funding are essential to further advance this field.