Ancient needles and herbal steam take on stubborn neck pain

NCT ID NCT07515690

Not yet recruiting Symptom relief Sponsor: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether adding Chinese herbal fumigation to acupuncture helps people with long-lasting neck pain more than acupuncture alone. 120 adults with neck pain for at least 3 months will receive five treatment sessions over three weeks. Researchers will measure pain, neck function, sleep quality, and quality of life to see if the combination offers extra relief.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: acupuncture and Chinese herbal fumigation
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a drug-free option for managing chronic neck pain with fewer side effects than conventional treatments.
What could go wrong: This is an early-stage trial with only 120 people, so results may not apply to everyone. The herbal fumigation is a traditional remedy not proven in large studies, and the sham control may not fully account for placebo effects.

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As listed by the trial registrant

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

CHRONIC NON-SPECIFIC NECK PAIN

Contacts and locations

Locations

M. Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Sungai Long Campus

Kajang, Selangor, 43000, Malaysia

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