Home›Urology› Chinese herbal medicine research for cancer pain management shows steady growth in publication volume
Chinese herbal medicine research for cancer pain management shows steady growth in publication volumeResearch on Chinese herbal medicine for cancer pain grows steadily
Frontiers in MedicinePublished July 24, 2026Study authors: Ning Lu, Jianhua Li, Shanshan Jiang, Qing Hou, Lanfang Shen, Lu Zhang, Junfan WeiDOI ↗Editorial oversight: Dr. Lars van Dijk, PhD · Surgical, Procedural & Diagnostic
AI-generated summary of the cited source, checked by automated accuracy review.
How we work
Share
Key Takeaway
Note that this bibliometric analysis tracks research trends and publication volume rather than clinical efficacy.
This bibliometric analysis maps the research landscape regarding the use of Chinese herbal medicine specifically for cancer pain management. The scope of the study focuses on identifying trends in publication volume, geographical leadership, international collaboration patterns, and emerging research hotspots within the literature.
The analysis identifies a steady increase in research output over time. China is identified as the leading country in terms of publication volume. Conversely, the United States demonstrates strong international collaboration. The primary research hotspots identified through keyword analysis include network pharmacology, mechanism studies, and meta-analyses.
As this is a bibliometric analysis of literature rather than a clinical trial or systematic review of medical outcomes, it does not provide data on patient safety, efficacy, or specific clinical outcomes. It serves to provide a comprehensive overview of the knowledge structure and development trends in the field. Clinical application should be interpreted with caution as these findings reflect research trends rather than direct evidence of therapeutic efficacy.
How this fits prior evidence
This bibliometric analysis addresses a gap in understanding the research landscape for Chinese herbal medicine in cancer pain management. While not directly related to the previously covered topics regarding paraptosis, FTO-targeted strategies, or parasite-derived molecules, it provides an overview of the knowledge structure and development trends in herbal medicine for oncology patients.
Managing the intense physical toll of cancer is a constant challenge for patients and doctors alike. New data highlights a growing body of research focused on using Chinese herbal medicine to help manage this specific type of pain.
This analysis looked at thousands of published papers to see where the field is heading. It found that the amount of research on these herbal treatments has been increasing steadily over time. While China leads in the total number of publications, researchers in the United States are showing strong international collaboration in the field.
Scientists are currently focusing on specific areas like network pharmacology and the underlying mechanisms of how these herbs work. It is important to note that this study analyzed existing research trends rather than testing the medicine directly on patients. Because it is a review of literature, it does not provide clinical evidence on safety or effectiveness for individual patients.
What this means for you:
Research into Chinese herbal medicine for cancer pain is growing and focusing more on how these treatments work.
Common questions
Is there more research being done on herbal medicine for cancer pain?
Yes, the data shows that the amount of research output regarding Chinese herbal medicine for cancer pain management has increased steadily over time. This suggests a growing interest in how these traditional medicines can help manage the physical discomfort associated with cancer.
What specific areas are researchers focusing on?
Researchers are currently focusing on several key areas, including network pharmacology, the underlying mechanisms of treatment, and meta-analysis. These topics represent the current hotspots in the scientific literature regarding herbal medicine for cancer pain.
Chinese herbal medicine has been increasingly used as a complementary approach for cancer pain management. However, the global research landscape, collaboration patterns, and emerging trends in this field have not been systematically characterized.
Publications related to Chinese herbal medicine for cancer pain management were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus databases. Bibliometric analyses were conducted using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix to evaluate publication trends, country and institutional collaborations, author networks, co-citation relationships, and keyword co-occurrence patterns.
Research output increased steadily over time, with China leading in publication volume and the United States demonstrating strong international collaboration. Highly cited publications formed the intellectual foundation of complementary pain management and evidence-based integrative oncology research. Keyword analysis identified major research themes in cancer pain management, quality of life, integrative oncology, and evidence-based medicine, while “network pharmacology,” “mechanism,” and “meta-analysis” emerged as recent research hotspots.
This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the knowledge structure, research hotspots, and development trends in Chinese herbal medicine for cancer pain management. The findings highlight the intellectual foundation and emerging themes of this research field, and may provide useful insights to guide future evidence-based and collaborative research in integrative oncology.
