Needles vs. stress: can acupuncture help military members?

NCT ID NCT06044714

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: United States Naval Medical Center, San Diego Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether adding acupuncture to a short mindfulness program could lower stress in 86 active-duty military members and veterans. Participants either received four weekly acupuncture sessions plus mindfulness therapy, or mindfulness therapy alone. Researchers measured changes in perceived stress and sleep quality to see if the combination worked better.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: acupuncture
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a simple, drug-free way to lower stress for military members and veterans.
What could go wrong: This is a small, completed trial with no phase designation, so results may not apply broadly. Acupuncture effects can vary, and the study combined it with another therapy, making it hard to isolate benefits.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

PERCEIVED STRESS

Contacts and locations

Locations

Naval Medical Center, San Diego

San Diego, California, 92134, United States

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