Urban nature plays a pivotal role in fostering a healthy living environment, directly or indirectly affecting the physiological and psychological well-being of the population by providing various ecosystem services. Examining the relationship between natural environment and health through the lens of ecosystem services stands as one of paramount issues. To comprehensively grasp the current research landscape on urban nature and human health, this paper utilizes Web of Science Core Collection and CNKI as data sources and employs CiteSpace for visualization and analysis from 2003 to 2023. Key findings include that: (1) The quantity of literature on urban nature and human health, both domestically and internationally, exhibits a consistent increase. (2) Foreign research institutions demonstrate close collaboration and high intensity, contrasting with the need for greater collaboration among research institutions and disciplines within China. (3) Cluster analysis of main keywords highlights research concentrations on urban nature’s effects on mental health, urban heat island phenomena, ecosystem services, and natural accessibility. (4) Statistical analysis of emerging terms in recent years indicates a shift focus in China from merely exploring the health impacts of urban nature in the past to the promoting mechanisms of urban green spaces on health. Moreover, the passage delineates pathways through which urban nature influences human health effects, distinguishing between direct paths (ecological regulation services and ecological support services) and an indirect path (ecological cultural services). The regulatory mechanism of nature use is analyzed in terms of usage opportunities, motivations, and ease. Urban nature assumes a significant role in urban planning and landscape design, with its health-promoting functions serving as a foundational pillar for sustainable urban development and the creation of healthy human environments, supported by interdisciplinary evidence.