Our Mission
Acupuncture Care Alliance (ACA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to public‑interest research that evaluates acupuncture, herbal medicine, and related alternative medicine practices in community settings. Our mission is to generate noncommercial, transparent evidence—so educators, collaborators, and communities can consider real‑world findings when discussing access, equity, methods, and policy, including supporting informed expansion of insurance coverage for acupuncture where evidence indicates benefit.
- Focus on community‑based, real‑world study designs
- Emphasis on standardized documentation and open methods
- Commitment to equity, inclusion, and reproducibility
- Policy and coverage: generate practical, transparent evidence that can inform payers and policymakers and support responsible expansion of insurance coverage for acupuncture
- Nonclinical orientation: participation is for research and evaluation only
ACA does not provide individualized medical care or medical advice. Individuals should consult licensed clinicians for health decisions.
What We Study: Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, and Alternative Medicine
ACA studies traditional practices as they are used in community contexts. Research questions emphasize participant‑reported outcomes, feasibility, protocol fidelity, and transparent methods—not individualized recommendations or services. Modalities in scope may include:
- Acupuncture research: pragmatic vs standardized protocols; session‑level documentation and timing
- Herbal medicine research: documentation of standardized botanical formulas, adherence patterns, and safety reporting
- Gua sha and cupping: feasibility, protocol consistency, and participant‑reported experience
- Moxibustion and acupressure: standardized notes and outcomes tracking in real‑world settings
- Related practices: inclusion based on research questions, data quality goals, and ethics
- Open science: pre‑registration and preprints where appropriate; reproducible reporting
ACA does not offer personalized prescriptions or clinical advice. All activities are limited to research, evaluation, and public‑benefit education.
Core Research Questions and Objectives
- Feasibility of standardized data collection in community environments
- Participant‑reported outcomes over time (e.g., pain interference, function, sleep, stress, perceived recovery, quality of life)
- Adherence, retention, and data completeness in real‑world workflows
- Protocol fidelity and documentation needed for reproducibility
- Inclusive recruitment strategies that improve representation
- Transparent reporting to inform education and policy dialogue
Study Designs, Methods, and Measurement Framework
Study designs
- Observational cohorts: prospective tracking in community settings
- Pragmatic designs: workflow‑aligned procedures and session‑level documentation
- Implementation research: feasibility, fidelity, and quality improvement
- Mixed methods: quantitative outcomes with optional qualitative feedback
Measurement
- Participant‑reported measures (e.g., pain interference, daily function, sleep, stress, activity readiness, quality of life)
- Feasibility metrics (adherence, retention, protocol fidelity, data completeness)
- Session‑level fields (timing, standardized notes, documentation of methods)
- Equity and inclusion metrics (representation tracking and recruitment pathways)
Instruments and analysis plans are pre‑specified when feasible. Results are shared to support replication and public‑interest learning.
Ethics, Governance, and Open Science
- Oversight: independent review (e.g., IRB) as applicable; privacy‑by‑design approaches
- Data protection: de‑identification and secure handling of research data
- Conflict of interest: see our FCOI Policy (PDF)
- Open science: protocol transparency, preprints, publications, and sharing of summaries
ACA is a nonprofit research organization and does not provide medical treatment or individualized advice; participation is for research and evaluation only.
Current Research Initiative
The Acupuncture Care Alliance (ACA) is conducting a community-based study to evaluate the effects of a standardized protocol combining acupuncture and gua sha for chronic pain management. This research uses carefully designed measures and timelines to ensure consistency, reliability, and meaningful results. While herbal use may be documented when relevant, ACA does not provide individualized prescriptions or medical advice.
Study Goals:
- Measure changes in pain intensity and pain interference using validated tools.
- Assess quality of life and functional outcomes over the course of treatment.
- Monitor feasibility, protocol adherence, and data quality in real-world community settings.
Our Latest Project:
Gua Sha Plus Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain
This study explores whether combining gua sha with acupuncture improves outcomes for adults with chronic low back pain. The research is designed to generate data that could inform future clinical trials and guide evidence-based integrative care.
Looking Ahead:
ACA is actively developing additional research initiatives. Updates will be shared here as new studies launch.
Note: Participation is for research and evaluation only. Individuals should consult their own clinicians for medical care and decisions.
Inclusion, Community Partnerships, and Impact
Community‑based research benefits from partnerships that reduce barriers to participation. ACA works to improve representation by using mobile data‑collection strategies, plain‑language materials, and practical scheduling when feasible. Results are shared to inform education, methodology, and policy discussions.
- Recruitment collaborations with community organizations
- Participant‑centered documentation workflows
- Accessible summaries to support public‑interest learning
Why Nonprofit, Community‑Based Research Matters
Evidence generated under real‑world conditions helps stakeholders understand practical questions around access, feasibility, and data quality. In areas like acupuncture, herbal medicine, and alternative medicine practices (e.g., gua sha, cupping, moxibustion, acupressure), everyday factors such as timing, transportation, and documentation influence outcomes reporting. By sharing open methods and transparent findings, ACA contributes to reproducible, public‑benefit knowledge.
- Real‑world feasibility and participant‑centered workflows
- Inclusive sampling and representation across communities
- Transparent methods to aid replication and policy dialogue
- Noncommercial goals focused on public interest
Support Nonprofit Research Through Donation
Acupuncture Care Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your donation is tax‑deductible to the extent allowed by law. Tax ID (EIN): 33‑4684226
Contact the Research & Development Team
For research partnerships, participation interest, media, or donations:
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ACA provide medical treatment, herbal consultations, or medical advice?
No. ACA is a nonprofit research organization. We do not provide individualized medical care, prescriptions, or medical advice. Participation is for research and evaluation only. Individuals should consult their licensed clinicians for care decisions.
Which practices are included in ACA’s research scope?
Our scope includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, and related alternative medicine practices such as gua sha, cupping, moxibustion, and acupressure. Studies emphasize measurement and feasibility in community settings.
How does ACA ensure research quality and ethics?
ACA uses pre‑specified protocols, validated measures, independent oversight (e.g., IRB), privacy protections, and open‑science dissemination when feasible.
Where does ACA conduct research?
Primarily across Southern California using mobile, standardized data‑collection strategies in community environments.
How are donations used?
Donations support study design and operations, privacy/security practices, open‑science publication and preprints, and community inclusion partnerships.