Objective To explore the research current status and hotspots of Chinese Zhuang Medicine external treatment techniques for the treatment of Qiaowu disease (encephalopathy) based on CiteSpace. Methods Relevant collected literature related to Zhuang Medicine external treatment techniques for the treatment of Qiaowu disease (encephalopathy) was retrieved from the establishment of China National Knowledge Infrastructure database to 21st February, 2024. The CiteSpace 6.2.R3 software was employed to perform visualized analysis on annual number of publications, authors, research institutions, and keywords of literature, etc. Results A total of 121 literature was enrolled, therein from 1987 to 2012, the annual number of publications was very small, from 2013 to 2023, the annual number of publications depicted a dynamic development trend. There were 28 core authors, and a core group of authors represented by Huang Jinming and Luo Benhua were initially formed. The top 6 research institutions in the number of publications were Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, International Zhuang Medicine Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical Science, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, and Guilin Municiple Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The research hotspots of Zhuang Medicine external treatment techniques for the treatment of Qiaowu disease were insomnia, acupuncture, clinical observation, migraine, inner umbilical ring acupoint, etc. Qiaowu disease, stroke-related sequelae, picking and needling of meridians, and lotus acupuncture had become new concerns. Zhuang medical thread moxibustion and Zhuang medical acupuncture were popular characteristic techniques in this field. Conclusion At present, the research on the treatment of Qiaowu disease by Zhuang Medicine external treatment techniques is still in the development stage. Although a research team has been initially formed, there is little cooperation among the teams, and most of the research is clinical research, and the basic research is relatively weak. In the future, cooperation between different research teams and research institutions should be strengthened to promote the progress and development of this field.