Objective: This review aimed to investigate the current trends of auricular acupuncture (AA) research in the U.S. and its future direction from recent journal publications. Methods: AA relevant articles published by authors from the U.S. were collected from PubMed database from 2014 to 2018. Results: The following categories were analyzed: 1) publication years, 2) AA topics, 3) article types, 4) research collaborators by country, 5) AA tools and combinations of other therapeutic methods with AA, 6) NADA protocol and BFA protocol, 7) p-values, 8) number of subjects, and 9) animal model experiments. Top four AA article topics in the U.S. were pain management, psychological disorders, addiction, and U.S. military health care. The journal article types were primarily clinical study, review, and research supported by the U.S. government. Other therapeutic methods combined with AA treatment were electroacupuncture, body acupuncture, guasha, tuina, relaxation technique, antiemetic medication, and botulinum toxin A injection. U.S. authors wrote articles in collaboration with authors mainly from China and Hong Kong. Conclusions: Recent AA research in the U.S. may underscore the current major health care needs and concerns in American society – pain management, psychological disorders, addiction, and military and veteran’s health care. U.S. military department has supported AA research and clinical practice in order to respond to these health issues. Further AA research projects with international collaborators may advance in AA intervention.
