US Military Using Acupuncture for Pain Management

The United States Air Force recently announced a program that surprised, and thrilled, many acupuncturists.

Apparently, a military physician has been using auricular (ear) acupuncture on soldiers with pain conditions with great success. They have nicknamed the protocol “battlefield acupuncture,” because it is simple enough to do in just about any situation. Doctors at Andrews Air Force Base use it as an adjunctive treatment when traditional painkillers don’t provide enough relief. While being extremely effective for many people, it doesn’t have the side-effects that can go along with pain medication.

This program has been well-publicized (several of my patients have mentioned it to me), and I think that the exposure will help more people learn about the benefits of acupuncture. The protocol also shows one of the exciting aspects of acupuncture for pain management– the needles do not have to be inserted into the painful area in order to get results.

You can read more about the program in this article the Baltimore Sun. For more information about acupuncture for pain relief and other conditions, I suggest contacting a Licensed Acupuncturist.

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