Battlefield Acupuncture Eases Pain

Serving as a consultant for complementary and alternative medicine to the Surgeon General of the Air Force, Col. Richard Niemtzow introduced the benefits of battlefield acupuncture in 2001. The treatment consists of introducing small needles in the skin of the ear in order to stop the pain in a matter of minutes which can lasts for several days or even longer. Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) had the chance to experience it in 2008. Wounded military men as well as local patients got significant reduction of their pain.

Battlefield acupuncture is applied to war-wounded servicemen but does not necessarily mean changing the normal medical attention given to them. Its purpose is ease the pain and in most cases, to get rid of chronic and acute pain medications. The recipient of this therapy must complete the series of treatment and can expect good results in a matter of minutes. There were no reports of discomfort or complications.

Reports have it that approximately about 75% got reductions from their pain while 15% of patients did not respond to this treatment. Therapy can be done twice a week or once month or a bit longer. The duration of relief differ in each patient as well as the regularity of the treatment. Longer therapy may be required in some cases.

Semi-permanent gold needles are introduced directly into the points which fall out on its own in one or two days. An acu-pak (a small sphere stimulus attached by skin-tone colored adhesive) is used and is left for a number of days.

It is fast, easy and proved to be effective. This therapy is not just limited to chronic or acute pain but is also tremendously useful in any stress-related diseases.

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