Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to ease long COVID symptoms
Acupuncture for Long COVID - A Pragmatic Pilot Study
This project will try acupuncture, with or without Chinese herbal medicine, in adults with long COVID to see if symptoms, function, and quality of life improve over eight weeks.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 10 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Southern California University of Health Sciences Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Whittier, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT07285707 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This pilot uses a flexible acupuncture protocol, with an option to add Chinese herbal supplements, delivered over an eight-week period to adults with long COVID. The main goal is to test feasibility, acceptability, and usefulness of the treatment in a pragmatic outpatient setting. The study plans to enroll about 10 participants who have documented prior COVID-19 and at least one common long COVID symptom for four weeks or more, with regular in-person treatment visits at SCUHS in Whittier, California. Patient-reported symptoms, functional measures, and quality-of-life questionnaires will be collected to generate preliminary estimates of effects.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (18+) with documented prior COVID-19 and at least one persistent long COVID symptom for four weeks or more who can attend treatment visits at SCUHS in Whittier, California.
Not a fit: People without documented COVID, with symptoms lasting less than four weeks, with symptom types not included in the protocol, or unable to attend in-person acupuncture visits are unlikely to benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the treatment could reduce long COVID symptoms and improve function and quality of life for some patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research suggests acupuncture can help symptoms similar to those of long COVID, but acupuncture specifically for long COVID is only beginning to be studied and evidence is limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
* 18 years of age or older
* We will include adults of any age in our study. Adults of all ages can experience long COVID symptoms, although it is more common in older adults
• Confirmed and documented COVID-19 illness (confirmed by healthcare provider or test; acceptable documentation includes but is not limited to a doctor's note or a photo of test result)
* COVID-19 illness is a necessary precursor to the development of long COVID
• Experiencing at least one of the following common long COVID symptoms for at least 4 weeks after confirmed COVID-19 illness:
* Fatigue or post-exertional malaise,
* Dyspnea, cough,
* Brain fog, sleep disturbance, depression, anxiety,
* Arthralgia, myalgia, or
* Constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain
* Over 200 different long COVID symptoms have been identified. The proposed study is a small pragmatic pilot study which only plans to enroll 10 participants. It is necessary to limit inclusion to some of the most common symptoms to ensure that the findings are broadly relevant across the long COVID patient population.
* The symptoms were not present prior to the confirmed COVID-19 illness
o If the symptoms were present prior to the confirmed COVID-19 illness, then they are most likely attributable to a cause other than long COVID
* Willingness to comply with the treatment schedule
o It is important that all those who qualify for the study are willing to comply with the protocol that is being adopted. If the patient is not willing to attend acupuncture treatment sessions or comply with the supplement schedule, then they may not be enrolled in the study.
* Ability to read and understand English o Informed consent will be in the English language. Inability to read and understand English will interfere with provision of informed consent. Moreover, compliance is a potential issue with herbal supplementation. Recruiting patients who are able to read and understand English instructions for supplement intake will help to improve compliance with the protocol.
* Ability to provide informed consent o It is important that participants are aware that they are required to provide written informed consent before they are allowed to participate. Some individuals who are eligible might be unwilling to sign the informed consent form.
Exclusion Criteria:
* • Under 18 years of age
* Pulmonary fibrosis or on continuous oxygen treatment
* Certain preexisting conditions:
* Diagnosed with Alzheimer's or demonstrating onset of dementia
* Uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, or autoimmune conditions
* Other comorbid conditions that might imitate long COVID symptoms
* Undergoing cancer treatments
* Use of acupuncture or Chinese medicine in the past three months
* Involved in health-related litigation or legal claims
* Missing either baseline visit and deemed unlikely to comply with the study protocol
* Pregnant or breastfeeding or trying to get pregnant
Where this trial is running
Whittier, California
- Scuhs — Whittier, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: S. Prasad Vinjamury, MD (Ayurveda) DACM, MPH
- Email: prasad@scuhs.edu
- Phone: 562-947-8755
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.