In Chinese medicine, the history of acupuncture dates back more than 2000 years.
The Military Health System has developed a modern version of this ancient treatment called Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA).
Military medical personnel have found that auricular acupuncture, in which small needles are inserted into different places in the ear, is effective in relieving pain for injured or ill service members.
“BFA is highly effective and significantly reduces acute or chronic pain in approximately 80 to 85 percent of patients, regardless of the underlying cause,” says Dr. Jeff Leggitt, a medical acupuncturist and professor at the Uniformed Services University. [https://www.usuhs.edu/]In Bethesda, Maryland.
Leggitt described it as an “invaluable tool.” Healthcare workers can administer BFA quickly and safely, with virtually no risk of drug interactions or side effects, he said.
BFA can also reduce the need for narcotics. “Protocol modifications could also be very useful in treating migraines and tension headaches,” Leggitt says.
Nearly every military hospital or clinic has at least one person trained in the BFA, added USU associate dean and medical acupuncturist Dr. Arnis Pock, “Furthermore, the use of the BFA in particular and acupuncture in general is becoming increasingly common in the United States.” [Department of Veterans Affairs] The same goes for facilities,” she said.
20 Years of Evidence
Retired Air Force Colonel Dr. Richard Niemtsou developed BFA to provide fast and effective pain relief in combat and other military situations in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Dr. Niemtsou was a radiation oncologist before becoming the military’s first full-time acupuncturist.
Leggitt and Pock are now part of a team that teaches the BFA to military medical students, physicians, nurses and others across MHS.
The course will be up to four hours long and include lectures and lab work, Leggitt said.
In March, Leggitt and Pock taught a BFA course to military nursing graduate students at USU, which trains medical professionals who are not physicians or acupuncturists, such as advanced practice nurses, to offer the BFA for patient pain management.
“USU recognized the importance of having graduates receive BFA training as a valuable tool in their pain management ‘toolbox,’ regardless of what specialty they go into,” Pock said. “Being able to effectively treat pain is something all physicians need to have.”
How does it work?
The BFA protocol involves inserting a single tiny gold needle into one or more of five key points in the outer ear, Leggitt said.
The practitioner inserts each needle one at a time. “Patients are typically asked to walk a short distance after each needle insertion,” Pock says. “This movement appears to activate neural pathways associated with pain relief.”
After inserting the needles, the acupuncturist assesses the patient’s pain level. If the patient is satisfied, or the pain has decreased to a zero or one on a 10-point scale, the acupuncturist will pause treatment. The needles remain in for three to four days, then fall out on their own, Pock says.
Your acupuncturist can continue treatment for as long as necessary.
“In some situations, depending on the underlying condition, one or two treatments may be sufficient,” Leggitt says. “Patients with chronic conditions may require regular or repeated long-term treatment. Some may only require regular maintenance treatments, say once or twice a month.”
advantage
BFA can treat any type of pain, acute or chronic, and the effects are very fast, usually within seconds to minutes, Pock says.
“The only caveat is that a traditional diagnosis must be made first so that your clinician can understand the underlying cause of your pain,” Leggitt says. “In other words, it’s important to not just manage symptoms like pain, but to treat the underlying cause as well.”
According to these experts, BFA is especially valuable in providing care in challenging environments.
Demand for BFA has been steadily increasing, Pock added.
For more information, please consult your healthcare provider.
Video: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/835259/battlefield-acupuncture-training-usu
