Objective To collate the spatial-temporal distribution characteristics and re search hotspots of international moxibustion researches by knowledge map analysis.Methods Taking the papers with the subject of "moxibustion" in Chinese Science Citation Database as the sample

the knowledge map was established by Cite space Ⅲ software.It was mapped that time zone visualization knowledge map of publication date

nation/institute distribution

research hotpot and research front of related papers on international moxibustion researches.High-frequency keywords of research hotpots and mutant words of research fronts were extracted.The frequency was calculated.Results The first English paper on moxibustion research was published in 1976 abroad.During 1977 to 2006

the average annual volume was less than 4 papers.After 2007

the international volume of moxibustion research increased rapidly; the average annual volume was 36 papers.The top 5 nations （regions） with high international volume of moxibustion research were China （231 papers）

South Korea （69 papers）

the United States （65 papers）

Japan （59 papers） and China Taiwan （20 papers）.The top 5 research institutes with high publication were Shanghai University of Chinese Medicine （44 papers）

Beijing University of Chinese Medicine （25 papers）

South Korea Kyung Hee University （22papers）

Fudan University （20 papers） and China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences （19 papers）.The top 3 keywords with high frequency in the hotpots knowledge map were "randomized controlled trial" （43）

"rat" （42）

"pain" （18） and"Meta-analysis" （18）.In the fronts knowledge map

mutant words of years were distributed as below.In 2007

the words were "moxibustion"

"randomized controlled trial"

"rat"and "apoptosis".In 2009

the words were "cancer"and"irritable bowel syndrome".In 2010

the words were"pain"and"inflammatory bowel disease".In 2011

the words were "neutral regeneration"

"ulcerative colitis"and "arthritis".In 2012

the word was"suspended moxibustion".In 2013

the words were "neurodegeneration"and "meta-analysis".There were no new mutant words in 2008

2014

2015 and 2016.Conclusion In recent 30 years

the international volume of moxibustion research showed an increasing trend year by year.The research institutes were concentrated in China and South Korea.The research hotpot spectrum of disease was focused on intestinal diseases

while cancer

irritable bowel syndrome

inflammatory bowel disease and other diseases

as well as suspended moxibustion

moxibustion analgesia and meta-analysis seemed to be new hot focus.