Background: Lung cancer, a leading cause of mortality, is often complicated by severe treatment-related side effects. Traditional herbal medicine (THM), particularly Fuzheng-Based Qi and Yin Therapy (FBQYT), has emerged as a promising adjuvant therapy to mitigate these effects and enhance immune response. This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy and safety of THM as an adjunct to palliative chemotherapy. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, ScienceON, RISS, KMBASE, OASIS, Cochrane Library, KISS, CNKI, and CiNii up to April 2025. Outcomes included tumor response, quality of life (QoL), adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and tumor markers. Eighty randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving stage III/IV lung cancer patients were analyzed using Review Manager Software 5.4.1. Results: Combining chemotherapy with THM significantly improved the objective response rate (ORR, RR 1.41) and disease control rate (DCR, RR 1.20). It also enhanced quality of life, increasing Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score (MD 8.53) and KPS improvement (RR 1.51), alongside improvements in Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) total score (MD 13.05). Tumor markers and most ADRs were reduced, except for neutropenia, liver injury, and diarrhea ( P > .05). Survival rates, progression-free survival (PFS), and median survival time (MST) were higher in the THM group. Conclusion: Integrating THM with palliative chemotherapy enhances tumor response, QoL, and survival rates while reducing adverse effects. Further rigorous RCTs are needed to confirm these findings and address methodological limitations. Registration: PROSPERO CRD 42024523418.

Advanced gastric cancer (AGC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with its treatment complicated by challenges such as high recurrence rates, severe side effects, and limited effectiveness of current therapies. Herbal medicine (HM) has emerged as an adjunct to palliative chemotherapy (PC), potentially improving tumor response and reducing side effects. This study conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of HM in palliative therapy for inoperable stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ AGC patients. Databases were searched until August 2023, encompassing 10 electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and ScienceON. The inclusion criteria focused on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) combining herbal medicine with palliative therapy for patients with AGC. Primary outcomes assessed were tumor response rates, overall survival, adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and patients' quality of life (QoL). In our analysis of 101 RCTs comparing PC alone to PC combined with HM, the meta-analysis demonstrated statistically significant improvements in overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), survival rates, as well as a reduction in adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and an enhancement in quality of life (QoL) for patients receiving HM in combination with PC (p < 0.00001, I² = 0 %). The combination of HM with PC significantly enhances tumor response and survival rates while reducing overall adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and improving quality of life (QoL) in patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ AGC. HMs not only improve the efficacy of PC but also help alleviate side effects, including myelosuppression, digestive symptoms, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, liver and renal injuries, and neurotoxicity.Protocol registration: PROSPERO, CRD 42022354133.

Purpose: This study investigated the validity of introducing a clinical skills examination (CSE) to the Korean Oriental Medicine Licensing Examination through a mixed-method modified Delphi study.Methods: A 3-round Delphi study was conducted between September and November 2022. The expert panel comprised 21 oriental medicine education experts who were officially recommended by relevant institutions and organizations. The questionnaires included potential content for the CSE and a detailed implementation strategy. Subcommittees were formed to discuss concerns around the introduction of the CSE, which were collected as open-ended questions. In this study, a 66.7% or greater agreement rate was defined as achieving a consensus.Results: The expert panel’s evaluation of the proposed clinical presentations and basic clinical skills suggested their priorities. Of the 10 items investigated for building a detailed implementation strategy for the introduction of the CSE to the Korean Oriental Medicine Licensing Examination, a consensus was achieved on 9. However, the agreement rate on the timing of the introduction of the CSE was low. Concerns around 4 clinical topics were discussed in the subcommittees, and potential solutions were proposed.Conclusion: This study offers preliminary data and raises some concerns that can be used as a reference while discussing the introduction of the CSE to the Korean Oriental Medicine Licensing Examination.

Background: Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, significantly impacting patient quality of life. Integrating Traditional Asian Medicine (TAM), such as acupuncture and herbal medicine, with standard cancer treatments may offer additional therapeutic benefits by improving efficacy and reducing adverse effects. However, the clinical evidence supporting this approach is inconsistent, necessitating a systematic evaluation. Methods: This study protocol outlines a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of TAM as an adjunctive therapy for lung cancer patients undergoing standard treatments. Eligible studies include randomized controlled trials published in English, Korean, or Chinese up to June 2024. Data will be extracted from domestic and international databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, and KMBASE. Primary outcomes will assess tumor response using RECIST criteria, while secondary outcomes include survival rates, quality of life, and adverse effects. Statistical heterogeneity will guide the choice of fixed- or random-effects models during meta-analysis. Discussion: This protocol aims to generate high-quality evidence supporting the integration of TAM in lung cancer care. Findings from this review may contribute to the development of clinical practice guidelines, enhancing patient outcomes and informing future research in integrative oncology. Trial Registration: This study has been registered in PROSPERO with the registration number CRD42024523418 on March 22, 2024.

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for 80% to 85% of cases. While surgery and chemotherapy are primary treatments, their side effects—such as nausea, vomiting, and immunosuppression—significantly impact quality of life (QoL). Acupuncture and moxibustion, commonly used in Traditional Asian Medicine (TAM), are proposed to alleviate these effects, though their efficacy in NSCLC remains uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated their impact on QoL, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), and immune function in NSCLC patients. Methods: Nine databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, OASIS, ScienceON, KISS, KMBASE, and RISS) were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published until April 2025. RCTs comparing acupuncture or moxibustion with standard care in NSCLC patients were included. Primary outcomes were QoL (QLQ-C30, KPS); secondary outcomes included CINV and immune markers (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 ratio, TNF-α). Data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.4, and risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB tool. Results: Thirty-nine RCTs (N = 3610) were included. Acupuncture and moxibustion significantly improved QoL (QLQ-C30 MD = 12.39; KPS MD = 8.22; both P < .00001), reduced CINV incidence (RR = 0.32, P < .00001), and enhanced symptom relief (RR = 1.16, P < .00001). Immune function markers, including CD3 (MD = 7.20, P = .0002), CD4 (MD = 4.89, P = .0003), and the CD4/CD8 ratio (MD = 0.22, P < .00001), were significantly increased, while TNF-α levels decreased (MD = −11.05, P = .04). Conclusion: Acupuncture and moxibustion improve QoL, reduce CINV, and modulate immune function in NSCLC, supporting their complementary role.