Mapping scientific progress on essential oils for dysmenorrhea (2001–2024): Insights from scopus-based bibliometric and mechanistic analysis

This study presents a bibliometric analysis of essential oil research related to dysmenorrhea from 2001 to 2024, based on Scopus data and visualized using VOSviewer. A total of 137 relevant documents were analyzed, revealing that Iran, China, and India are the most active contributors, with Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences as leading institutions. Key authors such as Mahboubi, Ostad, and Xiao have shaped the field through both preclinical and clinical studies. Top-cited documents include investigations into the antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties of fennel oil, β-caryophyllene, and Rosa damascena. Co-occurrence keyword analysis highlighted dominant themes such as “analgesic,” “aromatherapy,” and “randomized controlled trial,” but also revealed a lack of integration between phytochemical analysis and clinical application. The network map further showed fragmented research clusters, indicating limited interdisciplinary linkage. Based on these findings, future research should focus on elucidating the molecular mechanisms of action, standardizing chemical composition and dosing, and conducting rigorously designed RCTs to evaluate efficacy and safety. This approach would support the development of essential oil-based interventions with validated therapeutic potential for managing dysmenorrhea.