title: Analyzing the research in Integrative & Complementary Medicine by means of science mapping.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The research in the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) field is analyzed according to the journals indexed in ISI Web of Science. Science Mapping Analysis (SMA) is used to provide and overview of the conceptual evolution of the CAM field.
  
  
  METHODS
  The software SciMAT is used to detect and visualize the hidden themes and their evolution over a consecutive span of years. It combines SMA and performance analysis. Twenty one journals related to CAM were analyzed, in four consecutive periods from 1974 to 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Strategic diagrams and the thematic evolution of CAM, together with performance indicators (h-index), were obtained. The results show that CAM research has focused on seven main thematic areas: MEDICINAL-PLANTS, CHIROPRACTIC-AND-LOW-BACK-PAIN, ACUPUNCTURE-AND-PAIN, CELL-PROCESSES-AND-DISEASES, LIPID-PEROXIDATION and DIABETES-AND-INSULIN.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The research output could be used by the scientific community to identify thematic areas on which interest is focused.
authors.affiliation: Department of Library Science, University of Granada, Spain. Electronic address: jamoral@ugr.es.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Moral-Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Department Computer Science, University of Cádiz, Spain. Electronic address: manueljesus.cobo@uca.es.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cobo
authors.affiliation: Department of Library Science, University of Granada, Spain. Electronic address: epeis@ugr.es.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peis
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, University of Granada, Spain. Electronic address: marroyo@ugr.es.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arroyo-Morales
authors.affiliation: Department Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, CITIC-UGR (Research Center on Information and Communications Technology), University of Granada, E-18071 Granada, Spain. Electronic address: viedma@decsai.ugr.es.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Herrera-Viedma
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019295:Computational Biology; D057225:Data Mining / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D055048:Integrative Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012984:Software
keywords: Complementary therapy; Integrative therapy; Science Mapping Analysis