Historical development, frontiers of exploration, and disciplinary horizons of acupuncture research

On the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the founding of Acupuncture Research, this paper systematically reviews the milestone value of the journal in promoting the scientification, standardization, and internationalization of acupuncture-moxibustion medicine. Integrating the core research achievements of the authors’ team over the past sixty-odd years—particularly the classic literature published in Acupuncture Research over the last half-century—this article deeply analyzes the development characteristics of modern acupuncture research in its transition from “empirical verification” to “mechanism-driven” science. Furthermore, it elucidates four core pathways for the high-quality development of the acupuncture research field: first, emphasizing the neurochemical principles of acupuncture analgesia to drive theoretical and technological innovation through heritage preservation; second, harnessing translational medicine as a developmental catalyst to integrate basic medicine and clinical medicine; third, spearheading the evolution of the “Clinical+X” paradigm via brain-computer interfaces; and fourth, prioritizing the standardization and internationalization of acupuncture research, while strengthening the building of multidisciplinary talent teams to enhance China’s voice and leadership in the field of global acupuncture governance. Ultimately, this work provides a robust theoretical foundation and forward-looking horizons for constructing a modern acupuncture medical system with Chinese characteristics and advancing the cause of global health.