Smoking cessation with counselling and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): A randomized controlled trial

Non pharmacologic interventions like counselling and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), have been shown to be effective for smoking cessation. In the present study we wanted to evaluate the effectiveness of counselling in smoking cessation combined with true or sham TCM. 477 smokers (172 men and 305 women) were randomized into 3 groups: group A (sham TCM and counselling), group B (true TCM and counselling) and group C (true TCM). TCM intervention included pharmacopuncture, plum-blossom needling and auriculotherapy. The main outcome measures were the percentage of non-smokers and the Fagerstrom nicotine addiction score in those still smoking at the end of treatment, and after 6 months and 1 year. At the end of treatment, the percentage of non-smokers was: 57.1% in Group A, 59.1% in Group B, and 49.4% in Group C. After 1 year, the percentage of non-smokers was significantly lower in group C (19.1%) than in groups A (30.1%) and B (32.7%) (p = 0.015). The Fagerstrom test in the subjects still smoking was not significantly different in the 3 groups at the end of treatment and after 1 year. TCM could be an effective treatment for smoking cessation when used as a single technique and especially combined with counselling. Further studies are needed to determine its efficacy.