Journal rankings · indicator year 2020
Choose a field to open its ranking, or a journal to find its row in its subfield’s list.
Subfield ranking · 2020
Complementary and alternative medicine journal rankings 2020
51 ranked journals · Subfield in Medicine
Complementary and alternative medicine has 51 ranked journals in 2020. The median journal has an OJR of 0.24, below the world average of 1.00, down 0.01 on 2019; Q1 starts at OJR 0.99. The top three are BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, and Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine.
Ranks and citation indicators: 2020. Journal access status and listed APC: source snapshot September 23, 2026.
Journals whose main subfield sits in this category and that published at least 30 citable documents (articles, reviews and conference papers) in 2017–2019, the window the 2020 score is computed on.
The OpenJournalRank Indicator (OJR) is a free, publicly available metric of a journal’s field-normalized citation impact, computed from open OpenAlex citation data. It compares citations to a journal’s papers from the previous three years with the world average for papers of the same subfield, year and type, so 1.00 is the world average and values can be compared across fields. It is computed with the NCI3 method.
The middle OJR among ranked journals in this category: half score higher, half lower. 1.00 is the world average for papers of the same subfield, year and type.
The dot is this category, the solid tick is the median of all ranked journals and the dashed line is the world average.
Share of ranked journals in this category that are fully open access, so every paper is free to read. Hybrid journals, which sell subscriptions and open single papers for a fee, are not counted.
Median list price of the article processing charge, in US dollars, among ranked journals in this category that list a price above zero. Journals with a listed APC of $0 and journals with no known price are left out of this median. The At a glance table below gives a second median that includes the $0 prices.
Subfields of Medicine (42)
- Surgery962
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine353
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health301
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine294
- Oncology238
- Infectious Diseases222
- Epidemiology196
- Neurology170
- Physiology163
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism161
- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging160
- Psychiatry and Mental health140
- Complementary and alternative medicine51
Show all 42 subfields
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine123
- Ophthalmology100
- Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health100
- Dermatology93
- Hematology79
- Obstetrics and Gynecology79
- Rheumatology69
- Nephrology58
- Pharmacology53
- Reproductive Medicine48
- Emergency Medicine44
- Geriatrics and Gerontology39
- Otorhinolaryngology37
- Rehabilitation34
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine30
- Hepatology26
- Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine24
- Genetics22
- Immunology and Allergy22
- Urology14
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine13
- Gastroenterology8
- Health Informatics5
- Internal Medicine5
- Family Practice3
- Transplantation3
- Biochemistry1
- Anatomy0
- Microbiology0
51 ranked journals
Filters
Rank is the position by OJR within the list on screen; 1 is the highest. | OJR is field-normalized 3-year citation impact: 1.00 is the world average for papers of the same subfield, year and type, so values compare across fields. The badge is the journal’s quartile in this list. | Citations per paper over a two-year window, counted from OpenAlex. It is not field-normalized, so compare it only between journals of the same field. ▲ or ▼ is the change from 2019. This is OpenJournalRank’s own count, not Clarivate’s Journal Impact Factor. | Citable documents (articles, reviews and conference papers) published in 2017–2019, the window the 2020 OJR is computed on. A journal needs at least 30 to be ranked. | Share of the journal’s 2017–2019 papers that are free to read in any open-access form. The green OA tag next to a title marks a fully open-access journal. | List price of the article processing charge in US dollars. “$0 listed” means the listed price is zero; a dash means no price is listed. | The line is the journal’s OJR from 2011 to 2020. | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1BMC Complementary and Alternative MedicineOABioMed Central · United Kingdom | 1.80Q1 | 4.74 0.97 up from 2019 | 1,250 | 100% | $2,990 | ||
2Journal of Traditional and Complementary MedicineOAElsevier BV · Taiwan | 1.68Q1 | 3.32 0.31 down from 2019 | 209 | 100% | $0 listed | ||
3Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative MedicineOASAGE Publishing · United States | 1.63Q1 | —no 2019 value | 66 | — | $1,200 | ||
4Journal of Chinese Integrative MedicineElsevier BV · China | 1.60Q1 | 3.64 0.74 up from 2019 | 193 | 21% | $1,800 | ||
5International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork Research Education & PracticeOAMassage Therapy Foundation · Canada | 1.59Q1 | 3.25 2.51 up from 2019 | 34 | 100% | — | ||
6Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative MedicineOASAGE Publishing · United States | 1.43Q1 | 3.49 1.51 up from 2019 | 74 | 100% | $2,000 | ||
7EXPLOREElsevier BV · United States | 1.40Q1 | 2.78 1.35 up from 2019 | 213 | 28% | $2,090 | ||
8Integrative Medicine ResearchOAElsevier BV · Netherlands | 1.29Q1 | 2.60 0.31 down from 2019 | 145 | 100% | $1,700 | ||
9Complementary Therapies in Clinical PracticeElsevier BV · United Kingdom | 1.21Q1 | 3.67 1.14 up from 2019 | 372 | 25% | $3,530 | ||
10The Journal of Alternative and Complementary MedicineMary Ann Liebert, Inc. · United States | 1.18Q1 | 2.75 0.55 up from 2019 | 469 | 27% | — | ||
11Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative MedicineOAElsevier BV · India | 1.15Q1 | 2.58 0.82 up from 2019 | 218 | 100% | $1,800 | ||
12Journal of pharmacopunctureOAKorean Pharmacopuncture Institute · South Korea | 1.02Q1 | 1.99 0.06 up from 2019 | 88 | 100% | — | ||
13Complementary Therapies in MedicineOAElsevier BV · United Kingdom | 0.99Q1 | 3.24 0.59 up from 2019 | 611 | 34% | $2,760 | ||
14Journal of Dietary SupplementsTaylor & Francis · United States | 0.94Q2 | 2.46 0.69 up from 2019 | 205 | 23% | — | ||
15Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian StudiesElsevier BV · South Korea | 0.87Q2 | 1.86 0.43 up from 2019 | 121 | 100% | — | ||
16Acupuncture in MedicineSAGE Publishing · United Kingdom | 0.87Q2 | 2.06 0.01 down from 2019 | 170 | 13% | $4,150 | ||
17HomeopathyThieme Medical Publishers (Germany) · Germany | 0.77Q2 | 2.05 0.04 up from 2019 | 112 | 14% | — | ||
18Holistic Nursing PracticeLippincott Williams & Wilkins · United States | 0.74Q2 | 1.28 0.04 down from 2019 | 154 | 6% | — | ||
19Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental MedicineSpringer Science+Business Media · Netherlands | 0.68Q2 | 1.90 1.16 up from 2019 | 158 | 8% | $4,090 | ||
20European Journal of Integrative MedicineElsevier BV · Germany | 0.60Q2 | 1.67 0.36 up from 2019 | 369 | 21% | $2,430 | ||
21Complementary Medicine ResearchKarger Publishers · Switzerland | 0.56Q2 | 1.16 0.28 up from 2019 | 179 | 48% | — | ||
22Medical AcupunctureMary Ann Liebert, Inc. · United States | 0.55Q2 | 1.24 0.67 down from 2019 | 170 | 83% | — | ||
23Chinese Journal of Integrative MedicineSpringer Science+Business Media · China | 0.54Q2 | 1.82 0.53 up from 2019 | 384 | 11% | $4,190 | ||
24AYU (An International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda)Medknow · India | 0.38Q2 | 0.80 0.44 up from 2019 | 116 | 100% | — | ||
25Advances in Integrative MedicineElsevier BV | 0.34Q2 | 0.77 0.06 down from 2019 | 102 | 26% | $2,340 | ||
26Ancient Science of LifeOAMedknow · India | 0.24Q2 | 0.03 0.10 down from 2019 | 68 | — | — | ||
27Current Traditional MedicineNetherlands | 0.22Q3 | 0.49 0.39 up from 2019 | 113 | 13% | — | ||
28Digital Chinese MedicineOAElsevier BV · Netherlands | 0.22Q3 | 0.71 0.26 up from 2019 | 51 | 100% | $980 | ||
29World Journal of Traditional Chinese MedicineOAMedknow · India | 0.21Q3 | 0.63 0.34 up from 2019 | 72 | 100% | — | ||
30Journal of Natural RemediesOAInformatics Publishing Limited · India | 0.21Q3 | 0.60 0.06 down from 2019 | 65 | 100% | — | ||
31Journal of Clinical Exercise PhysiologyUnited States | 0.20Q3 | 0.49 0.30 up from 2019 | 51 | 15% | — | ||
32Herbal Medicine Open AccessUnited States | 0.17Q3 | 0.18 0.08 up from 2019 | 51 | — | — | ||
33Medicina dello SportEdizioni Minerva Medica · Italy | 0.16Q3 | 0.34 0.10 up from 2019 | 111 | 5% | — | ||
34Alternative and Complementary TherapiesMary Ann Liebert, Inc. · United States | 0.16Q3 | 0.25 0.07 up from 2019 | 147 | 11% | — | ||
35Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical SciencesOAElsevier BV · China | 0.16Q3 | 0.61 0.04 up from 2019 | 129 | 100% | $1,400 | ||
36Traditional Medicine and Modern MedicineOAWorld Scientific · United States | 0.14Q3 | 0.39 0.09 down from 2019 | 49 | 100% | — | ||
37Journal of pharmacology & clinical researchOAUnited States | 0.11Q3 | 0.10 0.11 down from 2019 | 140 | 100% | — | ||
38Alternative Complementary & Integrative MedicineOAUnited States | 0.09Q3 | 0.25 0.06 up from 2019 | 57 | 100% | — | ||
39Journal of Complementary Medicine & Alternative HealthcareOAUnited States | 0.09Q3 | 0.22 0.06 up from 2019 | 233 | 100% | — | ||
40Deutsche Zeitschrift für AkupunkturSpringer Science+Business Media · Germany | 0.09Q4 | 0.07 0.15 down from 2019 | 149 | 32% | $3,390 | ||
41Current Research in Complementary & Alternative MedicineOAUnited States | 0.07Q4 | 0.33 0.33 up from 2019 | 33 | 100% | — | ||
42Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina ScienceSpringer Science+Business Media · China | 0.07Q4 | 0.25 0.13 down from 2019 | 213 | 1% | $3,790 | ||
43Research in Health ScienceOAUnited States | 0.06Q4 | 0.13 0.08 down from 2019 | 69 | 100% | — | ||
44Nanfang huli xuebaoUniverse Scientific Publishing · China | 0.05Q4 | 0.18 0.15 up from 2019 | 44 | 0% | — | ||
45Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Ganzheitsmedizin / Swiss Journal of Integrative MedicineOAKarger Publishers · Switzerland | 0.03Q4 | —no 2019 value | 110 | — | — | ||
46Journal of Clinical and Nursing ResearchAustralia | 0.02Q4 | 0.05no change | 109 | 87% | — | ||
47Alternative & Integrative MedicineOMICS Publishing Group · United States | 0.02Q4 | 0.02 0.04 down from 2019 | 375 | 0% | — | ||
48Revista Internacional de AcupunturaElsevier BV | 0.02Q4 | 0.08 0.08 down from 2019 | 56 | 22% | $1,870 | ||
49Frontiers in Medical Science ResearchPublisher not listed | 0.00Q4 | 0.00no 2019 value | 36 | 0% | — | — | |
49Clinical Research CommunicationsTMR publishing group · New Zealand | 0.00Q4 | 0.00no change | 30 | 100% | — |
Subfields of Medicine, with Complementary and alternative medicine highlighted.
- Surgery962
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine353
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health301
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine294
- Oncology238
- Infectious Diseases222
- Epidemiology196
- Neurology170
- Physiology163
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism161
- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging160
- Psychiatry and Mental health140
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine123
- Ophthalmology100
- Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health100
- Dermatology93
- Hematology79
- Obstetrics and Gynecology79
- Rheumatology69
- Nephrology58
- Pharmacology53
- Complementary and alternative medicine51
- Reproductive Medicine48
- Emergency Medicine44
- Geriatrics and Gerontology39
- Otorhinolaryngology37
- Rehabilitation34
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine30
- Hepatology26
- Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine24
- Genetics22
- Immunology and Allergy22
- Urology14
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine13
- Gastroenterology8
- Health Informatics5
- Internal Medicine5
- Family Practice3
- Transplantation3
- Biochemistry1
- Anatomy0
- Microbiology0
Journals
Citations made in 2020. Corpus-wide, 86.1% of core-journal articles and reviews published that year have at least one matched reference; the share varies by journal and field.
25 additional Complementary and alternative medicine journals with metrics are unranked under this release’s eligibility rules: a journal needs at least 30 citable documents in 2017–2019, at least 80% of them with a subfield, and a positive world-average expectation. Ranks are within the whole category; filters hide rows without re-ranking. OJR excludes self-citations.
At a glance
Indicator year: 2020. Publication window: 2017–2019. How these summaries are calculated
- Ranked journals
- 51
- Window papers (baseline)
- 35,638 -47.1% from indicator year 2017
- Median OJR
- 0.238 -42.7% from indicator year 2017
- Rising journals (2025)
- 3
Window papers are the baseline paper population: citable papers (articles, reviews and conference papers) from 2017–2019 in all journals of the world-average baseline, including non-core journals, counted by each paper’s own subfield. They are not the papers of the ranked journals alone.
| Measure | Year series | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranked journals | 13 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 31 | 34 | 36 | 37 | 39 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 47 | 54 | 54 | 51 | 50 | 51 | 54 | 59 | 58 | |
| Window papers (baseline) | 10,081 | 12,572 | 16,878 | 21,623 | 26,753 | 31,706 | 37,684 | 43,890 | 50,771 | 57,287 | 63,712 | 70,340 | 76,880 | 82,138 | 84,954 | 84,743 | 79,392 | 67,381 | 51,618 | 40,222 | 35,638 | 38,286 | 44,112 | 53,446 | 58,255 | 63,352 | |
| Median OJR | 0.09 | 0.1623 | 0.303 | 0.302 | 0.17 | 0.256 | 0.242 | 0.21 | 0.1617 | 0.27 | 0.3159 | 0.31 | 0.390 | 0.40 | 0.53 | 0.59 | 0.43 | 0.42 | 0.263 | 0.25 | 0.238 | 0.391 | 0.408 | 0.407 | 0.3165 | 0.37 |
How to read these rankings
- OJR, the OpenJournalRank Indicator
- A field-normalized 3-year citation impact, computed from OpenAlex with the NCI3 method. It divides the citations a journal’s papers received by the world average for papers of the same subfield, year and type, so 1.00 is the world average and 2.00 means twice as many citations as expected. Because it is normalized, it can be compared across fields. Read the methodology
- Quartiles
- Q1 to Q4 split the ranked journals of the list you are viewing into four equal groups by OJR. A journal’s quartile depends on the list: the same journal can be Q1 in its subfield and Q2 among all journals.
- Impact factor (2-year)
- Citations per paper over a two-year window, counted from OpenAlex. It is easy to compare with familiar impact factors but is not field-normalized, so compare it only within a field. It is not Clarivate’s Journal Impact Factor. Why it differs from the Journal Impact Factor
- Rank ranges
- Each rank in the latest year carries a likely range from 1,000 resamples of the journal’s papers. Where two journals’ ranges overlap, the data cannot tell them apart, so treat neighbouring ranks as ties.