AYUSH in Rural Healthcare: A Two-Decade Bibliometric Analysis of Research Trends and Policy Linkages (2000–2024)

Rural health continues to be a critical challenge in India, where the AYUSH systems [Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy, and Sowa Rigpa] offer culturally relevant and affordable healthcare options. Despite long-standing policy commitments, systematic evidence on their integration into rural health remains limited. This study presents a two-decade (2000–2024) bibliometric analysis of AYUSH research in rural health, based on data retrieved from PubMed and Scopus. Network visualization through VOSviewer was used to examine publication trends, authorship and institutional collaborations, keyword co-occurrence, and citation patterns. A total of 421 publications were identified (PubMed = 108; Scopus = 313), with a notable surge in output after 2014, concurrent with the launch of the National AYUSH Mission. India emerged as the leading contributor, while international collaborations, though limited, are growing with partners such as the USA, UK, and Australia. Ayurveda and Yoga dominated the research landscape, whereas Siddha and Unani received comparatively less attention. Collaboration networks revealed significant fragmentation, reflecting institutional silos. Overall, AYUSH scholarship in rural health is expanding but remains uneven. Addressing gaps through stronger cross-institutional collaborations, focus on underrepresented systems, and inclusion of cost-effectiveness and implementation research will be crucial. These findings are consistent with national and global frameworks such as the National Health Policy 2017, the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014–2023, and the Gujarat Declaration 2023, and they provide actionable insights for advancing evidence-informed rural health strategies.