Acupuncture for smoking cessation was highlighted as a promising non-pharmacological intervention at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Traditional Chinese Medicine Technology Development Forum, where experts promoted acupoint stimulation as a way to reduce nicotine cravings without medication. The forum, focused on standardizing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) technologies and strengthening primary healthcare, brought together specialists from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao to discuss scalable TCM practices.
Paulo do Lago Comandante, chairman of the Macau Association of Researchers, Practitioners and Promoters of Chinese Medicine, said such techniques are “simple, convenient, affordable, and effective,” and can help integrate TCM more deeply into frontline care. Speakers framed acupuncture-based cessation support as part of a broader push to formalize and expand TCM methods across community health systems in the Greater Bay Area.