Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Motor Symptoms in Early Parkinson's Disease

Effect of "Qi-Tonifying, Yang-Warming, and Water-Resolving" Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Motor Symptom Improvement in Early Parkinson's Disease (WARMED): A Randomized Controlled Trial

Not applicable Interventional Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences · NCT06874803

This study is testing a special acupuncture method to see if it can help improve movement problems in people with early Parkinson's Disease.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment60 (estimated)
Ages30 Years to 80 Years
SexAll
SponsorGuang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Academic / other
Locations1 site (Beijing, Beijing Municipality)
Trial IDNCT06874803 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of a specific acupuncture method, termed 'Qi-Tonifying, Yang-Warming, and Water-Resolving', in improving motor symptoms in patients with early Parkinson's Disease. It employs a randomized, triple-blind, controlled design with 90 participants, comparing the acupuncture treatment to a sham procedure. The study will assess changes in motor function using the UPDRS scores and explore the underlying mechanisms through functional MRI. The trial aims to provide insights into the clinical benefits of acupuncture for this condition.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 30 to 80 diagnosed with mild to moderate Parkinson's Disease.

Not a fit: Patients with Parkinson-plus syndromes or severe systemic organ dysfunction may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could offer a non-invasive treatment option to improve motor symptoms in early Parkinson's Disease patients.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with acupuncture for Parkinson's Disease, suggesting potential efficacy for this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

Participants must meet all of the following criteria:

1\. Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD) according to the 2016 Chinese 2. Diagnostic Criteria for Parkinson's Disease.

3\. Hoehn-Yahr stage \<3 (mild to moderate PD). 4. Age between 30 and 80 years (inclusive). 5. Signed informed consent indicating voluntary participation.

Exclusion Criteria:

Participants meeting any of the following criteria will be excluded:

1. Diagnosed with Parkinson-plus syndromes or other secondary parkinsonism.
2. Prior history of deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery.
3. Severe cerebrovascular disease, brain trauma, or history of craniotomy.
4. Severe dementia or psychiatric disorders that prevent cooperation with study procedures.
5. Severe coagulation disorders.
6. Presence of severe systemic organ dysfunction (cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, endocrine, or metabolic disorders).
7. Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
8. History of allergic reaction to acupuncture or moxibustion.
9. Prior treatment with acupuncture or moxibustion within the past three months.
10. Participation in another clinical trial within the past three months.

Where this trial is running

Beijing, Beijing Municipality

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Parkinson's DiseaseAcupunctureMoxibustionMotor SymptomsRigidity
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.