Ear needles for back pain? new study tests battlefield acupuncture
NCT ID NCT06874959
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This completed trial tested whether adding battlefield acupuncture (a quick ear-needle technique) to standard electroacupuncture and pain medication can better relieve chronic low back pain caused by spine degeneration. Sixty adults in Vietnam with moderate to severe pain for at least 3 months took part. Researchers measured pain levels and medication use to see if the ear needles made a difference.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- battlefield acupuncture (ear acupuncture needles)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a fast, safe, and drug-free option to ease chronic low back pain for millions of people.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, single-site trial with only 60 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The added benefit of battlefield acupuncture over standard care alone is still uncertain.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Traditional Chinese Medicine faculty - Thống Nhất Hospital
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
-
University medical center HCMC branch 3
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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