Actively Recruiting
Acupuncture for Long COVID - A Pragmatic Pilot Study
Led by Southern California University of Health Sciences · Updated on 2025-12-16
10
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are evaluating a flexible acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine protocol for people with long COVID. This pragmatic pilot study aims to see if these treatments are feasible, acceptable, and useful. Long COVID patients often experience multiple symptoms that are hard to manage with pharmaceuticals, and acupuncture may address several symptoms at once. The study will preliminarily assess effects of these treatments on symptoms, function, and quality of life. Ten participants will receive either acupuncture alone or acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine over eight weeks. Each patient will have 16 acupuncture sessions, twice a week, with each session lasting 30 minutes. The herbal medicine options are tailored based on traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis patterns. After the treatment period, there will be a follow-up at 12 weeks, four weeks after the last treatment. Participants will be monitored through various assessments including symptom questionnaires, health-related quality of life surveys, and laboratory blood tests at baseline, during, and after treatment. Researchers will track feasibility, acceptability from both patients and clinicians, and safety by recording any adverse events. The main outcome is the feasibility of carrying out this combined treatment protocol from enrollment through the final follow-up at 12 weeks.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine for Long COVID
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Adults 18 years of age or older
- Confirmed and documented COVID-19 illness by healthcare provider or test
- Experiencing at least one common long COVID symptom for at least 4 weeks after COVID-19 illness, such as fatigue, cough, brain fog, depression, anxiety, muscle or joint pain, or digestive issues
- Symptoms were not present before confirmed COVID-19 illness
- Willingness to comply with the treatment schedule
- Ability to read and understand English
- Ability to provide written informed consent
You will not qualify if you...
- Under 18 years of age
- Diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis or on continuous oxygen treatment
- Diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or showing onset of dementia
- Uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, or autoimmune conditions
- Other comorbid conditions that could mimic long COVID symptoms
- Currently undergoing cancer treatments
- Use of acupuncture or Chinese medicine in the past three months
- Involved in health-related litigation or legal claims
- Missing baseline visit and unlikely to comply with study protocol
- Pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to become pregnant
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 12 weeks
Participants receive acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine tailored to their specific long COVID diagnosis pattern.
Weekly visits for up to 12 weeks
Duration - Up to Week 12 post-enrollment
Participants are monitored for changes in health-related quality of life, symptom burden, and laboratory biomarkers after treatment.
Visits at Weeks 4, 8, and 12
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
SCUHS
Whittier, California, United States, 90604
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
S
S. Prasad Vinjamury, MD (Ayurveda) DACM, MPH
L
Leah Grout, PhD, MPH
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
1
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