Research Hotspots and Frontiers of Ischemic Stroke and Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Knowledge Mapping and Text Mining Analysis

Background and Objective: Ischemic stroke is a complex neurological disease with poor prognosis, resulting in significant economic burdens for patients, their families, and society at large. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers unique advantages and has been utilized for thousands of years in the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke. However, there is currently a lack of bibliometric analysis and knowledge mapping regarding TCM treatments for this condition. To identify the key areas and future directions of TCM treatment for Ischemic Stroke. Methods: We extracted articles on TCM treatments for ischemic stroke from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database, spanning from January 1, 1990, to March 20, 2025, and conducted a bibliometric analysis. Data processing was performed using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Origin2024b. Results: We collected 506 published papers, with China accounting for the majority of these publications (97.0 %, 418 articles). The Journal of Ethnopharmacology and Frontiers in Pharmacology were the two most frequently published journals. The leading institutions contributing to this research included the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, and Peking Union Medical College (now known as Capital Medical University). The primary research hotspots in TCM treatment for ischemic stroke focused on protective effects, brain injury, and neural regeneration. Notably, network pharmacology, molecular docking, and metabolomics were identified as the commonly used research methods. Among them, network pharmacology was the most frequently used research method. Additionally, we summarized the TCM remedies that have been extensively researched and cited in the context of ischemic stroke, including catalpol, angong niuhuang wan, buyang huanwu decoction, jeo-dang-tang, yiqifumai powder injection, and gualou guizhi decoction. Conclusion: The work highlights the key topics and recent research frontiers, providing valuable resources for scholars interested in the role of TCM in treating ischemic stroke.