Published online Mar 14, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v32.i10.115549
Revised: December 10, 2025
Accepted: January 4, 2026
Published online: March 14, 2026
Processing time: 134 Days and 0.3 Hours
Cancer-related incomplete bowel obstruction presents a significant challenge in oncology, with conventional palliative treatments often proving insufficient in alleviating symptoms and controlling inflammation. In this issue, Wu et al report that bottle gourd moxibustion combined with umbilical therapy (BGM-UT) leads to notable improvement in gastrointestinal recovery, reduced opioid dependency, and lower key inflammatory cytokine levels. These findings suggest that BGM-UT may help interrupt the cycle of pain, opioid side effects, and bowel dysfunction, and could be associated with systemic anti-inflammatory effects. Beyond its clinical implications, this work highlights the possibility that evidence-supported traditional therapies may be integrated into modern oncology care. However, the retrospective, single-center design highlights the need for future prospective, multicenter trials and mechanistic studies. If validated in future studies, BGM-UT may emerge as a promising complementary treatment, offering a potentially less invasive and patient-centered approach that warrants further scientific evaluation.
Core Tip: Cancer-related incomplete bowel obstruction remains a major challenge in palliative oncology. Wu et al demonstrate that bottle gourd moxibustion combined with umbilical therapy can enhance gastrointestinal recovery, reduce opioid dependence, and modulate inflammatory cytokines in patients with advanced malignancies. By integrating traditional Chinese medicine with modern oncology, this low-risk and holistic intervention may provide a potential strategy to improve symptom control and quality of life. These findings suggest that external therapies targeting inflammation and neuroimmune pathways may expand supportive care options in palliative cancer management.