Complementary and alternative medicine journals by time to acceptance (2025)

9 journals with 2025 figures · median days from submission to acceptance, measured from PubMed dates · data as of Sep 15, 2026

Sorted by median days from submission to acceptance in 2025. Faster is not better — this is a planning aid, not a ranking of quality. Click a column to re-sort.

2025 figures only
Open access
EXPLORE79 (20–135)1011≈$2,0900.0
Integrative Medicine Research90 (51–145)861No fee (DOAJ)Open access (DOAJ)3.41
Complementary Therapies in Medicine99 (74–135)1622$3,390Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine107 (73–155)5919≈$2,7120.0
Chinese Medicine111 (80–148)25524$3,090Open access (DOAJ)0.0
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice125 (76–174)712≈$3,5300.0
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine206 (138–311)121130No fee (DOAJ)Open access (DOAJ)1.58
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies242 (161–340)48122$3,090Open access (DOAJ)1.56
Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine248 (181–322)9569≈$1,8000.0

Journals are listed where at least 25% of their articles' topics fall in Complementary and alternative medicine (OpenAlex).

Latest available year: 2024

1 journal without enough usable 2025 data. Their 2024 figures are shown separately so they are never compared with 2025 figures.

2024 figures only
Open access
Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine211 (160–287)1052No fee (DOAJ)Open access (DOAJ)3.08

Latest available year: 2023

1 journal without enough usable 2025 data. Their 2023 figures are shown separately so they are never compared with 2025 figures.

2023 figures only
Open access
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine157 (114–232)16323≈$2,550179.37

Latest available year: 2021

1 journal without enough usable 2025 data. Their 2021 figures are shown separately so they are never compared with 2025 figures.

2021 figures only
Open access
Global Advances in Health and Medicine118 (74–194)5730$1,500Open access (DOAJ)

Latest available year: 2020

1 journal without enough usable 2025 data. Their 2020 figures are shown separately so they are never compared with 2025 figures.

2020 figures only
Open access
Complementary Medicine Research130 (87–201)60744.42

Have a deadline?

Pick up to five journals and see whether a submission sequence can realistically reach acceptance before your defence, visa or job-market date. Free.

Open the submission planner

Frequently asked questions

Which Complementary and alternative medicine journals accepted papers fastest in 2025?

Among 9 Complementary and alternative medicine journals with enough dated articles in 2025, the shortest median time from submission to acceptance was 79 days (EXPLORE). The middle journal's median was 111 days. Speed is not a measure of quality; check scope, indexing and fees too.

How are these times measured?

From the submission and acceptance dates publishers deposit in PubMed, for accepted articles only. Each journal needs at least 50 dated articles in the year shown, and a table headed with a year contains only that year's figures.

Get the free Journal Submission Go/No-Go Checklist

The pre-submission checks from Write and Publish a Scientific Paper: journal fit, formatting, cover letter and reviewer suggestions. We’ll email you the download link.

One email with your download, then occasional research tips. One-click unsubscribe, anytime. We never sell your data.

Get Write and Publish a Scientific Paper

Data sources. Submission, acceptance and publication dates: Courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed, entries through Sep 15, 2026). NLM does not endorse Journal Clock, and these figures may not reflect the most current PubMed data. Journal fees and open-access listing: DOAJ (CC0, retrieved Sep 16, 2026). Fees paid by institutions: OpenAPC (Open Database License, retrieved Sep 16, 2026). Retractions: Retraction Watch Database via Crossref (retrieved Sep 16, 2026). Journal identifiers and topics: OpenAlex (CC0). Currency conversion: ECB reference rates (Sep 15, 2026). How these numbers are calculated · For organisations.