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Cough is a common and distressing symptom experienced by people living with lung cancer, yet it is often inadequately managed with medicines alone. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of non-pharmacological approaches — including moxibustion, acupuncture therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, physical exercises, self-management strategies, psychoeducation support, mindfulness, and multicomponent interventions — in reducing cough and related symptoms in lung cancer patients.
Researchers searched nine databases from their inception through to December 2024, identifying 38 randomised controlled trials involving a total of 2,995 patients. Study quality was assessed using the Revised Cochrane Risk-of-Bias Tool. The pooled analysis found that non-pharmacological interventions as a whole produced positive effects on both cough severity and cough-related quality of life. Additional benefits were observed for expectoration, breathlessness, and overall quality of life. When individual approaches were compared, pulmonary rehabilitation demonstrated the greatest effect on reducing cough severity.
Moxibustion was among the traditional Chinese medicine therapies included in the review, contributing to the broader body of evidence supporting non-drug approaches. The authors note that future studies should incorporate objective cough measurement tools alongside patient-reported outcomes to strengthen the evidence base further.
Conclusion: Non-pharmacological interventions, including moxibustion, show meaningful promise in relieving cough and improving quality of life in lung cancer patients, with pulmonary rehabilitation emerging as the most effective single approach.
Source: Cao M, Cheng X, Lee VH and colleagues. Journal of clinical nursing (2026). View on PubMed (PMID 41834268) · doi:10.1111/jocn.70289
