The study analyzed 2,309 publications on acupuncture for herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) from January 1, 2015 to October 1, 2025 from databases such as CNKI, Web of Science, Scopus. Of these, 2,165 were Chinese and 144 English; Chinese publications peaked in 2018, English publications exceeded 20 per year after 2022. Chinese studies came exclusively from China, English studies from 21 countries, mainly China, USA, Australia and South Korea. The most productive institutions were Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine and Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Chinese publications focused on PHN, acupuncture, cupping, fire needle, TCM and Jiaji point, English on HZ, PHN, neuropathic pain and management. Early studies emphasized traditional techniques and clinical efficacy, later mechanisms, patient outcomes, and evidence synthesis. Research is moving towards accuracy and evidence; the Chinese literature emphasizes the clinical applications of TCM, the international one on methodology and mechanisms, with the need for international collaboration and multicenter trials.