Advances in the Clinical Efficacy and Mechanism of Action of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Chronic Cough

Abstract

Objective: To systematically review the clinical research findings and mechanism exploration progress of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic cough in recent years, analyze its efficacy advantages and research deficiencies, and propose future research directions. Methods: Through literature review, the selection rules of acupoints, treatment methods, efficacy evaluation indicators, and application in different populations of acupuncture in chronic cough were summarized. Modern research was combined to summarize its mechanisms of neural regulation, immune inflammation regulation, and signaling pathway regulation. Results: Numerous clinical studies have shown that acupuncture has significant efficacy in relieving cough symptoms, improving lung function, and reducing recurrence rate, with high safety and good compliance. Mechanistic studies show that acupuncture exerts a comprehensive intervention effect by regulating the cough reflex arc, reducing the expression of inflammatory factors, improving airway hyperresponsiveness, and regulating multiple signaling pathways. Conclusion: Acupuncture, as a safe and effective non-pharmacological intervention, has broad application prospects in the treatment of chronic cough. Future research should focus on strengthening high-quality clinical trials and multi-dimensional mechanism studies to promote the standardization and scientific development of acupuncture therapy.