2.1 General Formatting

• Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt
• Line spacing: Double-spaced
• File format: Word (.doc/.docx) or PDF
• Page numbering: Consecutive, bottom right corner

2.2 Required Sections

Each manuscript should include the following components in order:

• Cover Letter
• Title Page
  • Full title of the manuscript
  • Full names, affiliations, and email addresses of all authors
  • Contact details for the corresponding author
• Abstract
  • A concise summary (150–250 words) outlining objectives, methods, key results, and conclusions
• Keywords
  • 4–6 relevant terms for indexing

Main Text Structure:

For original research articles:

• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion

Other article types (e.g., reviews, brief reports) may follow alternative structures appropriate to their format.

• Acknowledgments (if applicable)
• Conflict of Interest Disclosure
• Funding Statement
• References
  • Use Vancouver style; list references numerically in the order cited.
  • Include all authors unless there are more than six, in which case list the first six followed by et al.
• Figures and Tables
  • Figures: High-resolution, submitted as JPEG or PNG files
  • Tables: Editable Word format (do not embed as images)
• Supplementary Material
  • Submit any appendices, datasets, or additional files separately

Asian Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ACAM)
ISSN Online: 2347-3894 | Email: editor@acamjournal.com

At ACAM, we welcome a wide range of article types that reflect the diversity and depth of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) research. Whether you're presenting original findings, reflecting on trends, or exploring a unique clinical case, our goal is to ensure every submission upholds integrity, transparency, and scientific value.

All article types follow the ethical and editorial best practices recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Submissions should be clear, reproducible, and fully compliant with relevant ethical standards (e.g., IRB approval, informed consent, and conflict of interest disclosure).

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1. Original Research Article

Detailed reports of new research findings in CAM disciplines. These articles should be methodologically sound, ethically approved, and contribute original insights to the field.

Structure:

• Abstract
• Keywords
• Introduction
• Materials and Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion (optional)

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2. Review Article

Comprehensive overviews that synthesize existing literature on a specific topic. Reviews should offer critical insights, identify gaps, and avoid presenting new or unpublished data.

Note: We also accept Scoping Reviews, which must follow the PRISMA-ScR checklist and include protocol registration (e.g., OSF, INPLASY).

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3. Systematic Review

Rigorous reviews that follow a defined and reproducible methodology to answer a focused research question. Must comply with PRISMA guidelines and should be registered (e.g., PROSPERO).

Must include:

• Search strategy
• Selection criteria
• Bias assessment
• PRISMA flow diagram

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4. Brief Report

Concise studies or preliminary findings that offer value to the CAM field. These should include clear methods and maintain ethical standards.

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5. Case Report

In-depth descriptions of unique or educational clinical cases in CAM. Must include patient consent and ethical approval.

Structure:

• Abstract
• Keywords
• Introduction
• Case Description
• Discussion
• Conclusion

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6. Communication

Short articles that highlight noteworthy results or urgent findings. Designed for rapid communication while maintaining methodological transparency.

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7. Hypothesis

Presents a novel scientific hypothesis relevant to CAM. Should be clearly supported by existing evidence and distinguish theory from data.

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8. Protocol

Outlines research methods before data collection begins. Encouraged for clinical trials or complex studies. Protocols should be peer-reviewed and registered when applicable.

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9. Project Report

Describes the design, implementation, and outcomes of a project in CAM (e.g., public health interventions, educational initiatives). Transparent reporting of methods and limitations is required.

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10. Registered Report

Peer-reviewed study design evaluated before results are known. Aims to reduce publication bias and increase research transparency.

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11. Technical Note

Presents new techniques or adaptations to existing methods used in CAM practice or research. Must be detailed enough for replication.

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12. Essay

Reflective or philosophical discussions on theoretical, cultural, or historical aspects of CAM. Should be scholarly in tone and well-referenced.

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13. Opinion

Evidence-informed viewpoints on current issues in CAM. Clearly identified as opinion, without misrepresentation of facts.

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14. Perspective

Forward-looking articles that offer insight into emerging trends or challenges in CAM. Often invited, but unsolicited submissions are welcome.

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15. Book Review

Critical assessment of recently published books related to CAM. Authors must disclose any personal or professional connections to the book.

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16. Editorial

Written by editors or guest experts, editorials reflect on issues, policies, or emerging topics in the journal's scope. Should not present new research data.

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17. Interesting Images

Visually striking or instructive images with scientific or clinical relevance. Patient-identifiable features require written consent.

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18. Abstract / Proceedings Paper

Derived from academic conferences. Abstracts summarize presentations; proceedings offer more detailed accounts. Must include ethical disclosures.

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19. Conference Report

Summaries of notable academic events or conferences in the field of CAM. Should distinguish between reported facts and author interpretation.

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20. Commentary

Short, focused articles offering expert opinion or critique of a recently published paper or topic in CAM. Encouraged to maintain respectful, evidence-based tone.

Structure:

• Title
• Abstract (~150 words, unstructured)
• Keywords
• Main Text
• References

Ethics:

• Conflicts of interest must be disclosed
• If referencing a published article, original authors may be invited to respond

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21. Mini Review

Concise reviews focusing on a narrow aspect of CAM, ideal for fast-evolving topics. Covers recent literature (typically 3–5 years) without presenting new data.

Structure:

• Abstract
• Keywords
• Introduction
• Thematic Sections
• Optional: Discussion / Future Directions
• References

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Ethical Expectations for All Article Types

At ACAM, ethical publishing is not optional—it’s foundational. All article types must comply with the following:

• Ethics approval and informed consent where relevant
• Full transparency in methods, data sources, and funding
• Proper attribution to avoid plagiarism or duplicate publication
• Conflict of interest disclosure in every manuscript
• Commitment to correcting the record through retractions, corrections, or editorial notices in line with COPE procedures

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For questions or to submit your manuscript, please contact us at editor@acamjournal.com

All submissions undergo rigorous double-blind peer review, ensuring the anonymity of both authors and reviewers. Manuscripts are assessed on originality, scientific rigor, clarity, and relevance to ACAM’s scope. Authors may recommend reviewers, but final selection is at the editors’ discretion.

ACAM follows a gold open-access model, ensuring free access to all published content. An Article Processing Charge (APC) applies upon acceptance. Full fee details are available on our website.

We offer APC waivers or discounts for authors from low-income countries and for those without research funding; requests can be submitted during the submission process.

Upon acceptance, authors agree to transfer copyright to ACAM. Published articles are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0), allowing non-commercial reuse with appropriate attribution.

Authors must adhere to the highest standards of research integrity. Where applicable:

• Provide details of ethical approval for studies involving humans or animals
• Ensure datasets are made publicly available or accessible upon request
• Describe methods thoroughly to enable replication

Authors are expected to promptly inform the editorial office of any errors or inaccuracies identified after publication. Corrections, retractions, or notices will be issued in line with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines.

Submitting a manuscript or withdrawing is solely the interest of an author and we respect their decision. Withdrawal of a manuscript will be permitted only for the most unavoidable reasons, as it wastes the valuable resources and tremendous amount of effort made in processing the manuscripts by the editors, reviewers and the editorial staff.

Authors are entitled to change their mind regarding submitting or withdrawing their articles and they can withdraw their article at no charge - if withdrawn within 3 days of its initial submission only. If the author(s) requests a withdrawal of manuscript any time after the peer review process or in the production stage (Early release) or after it is published online- they will be subjected to payment of 60% of the original article processing fee.

For full submission instructions, templates, and access to the submission portal, please visit our website or contact us at: editor@acamjournal.com.