Acupuncture, which involves inserting tiny needles into strategic points in the body, is now being used in a revolutionary new PTSD teaching clinic, emergency department and other clinical settings on the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center campus.
When Johnny Theisen, a Navy veteran and former surgical specialist, first started coming to the clinic seven months ago, he was using a walker and struggling with a variety of other issues. Since then, he has gone through a ‘transformation’ and speaks glowingly of how acupuncture helped him get there.
“A lot of the treatments you get at neurology and other clinics are great, but here they seem to target specific areas and make you feel better physically and mentally. It’s helped me in every aspect of everything I’ve done,” he said. “amazing.”
Theisen is just one of many veteran participants who credit Krieger and other acupuncturists with helping them heal.
What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is best known for treating pain, but it’s also applied to a variety of other conditions, from gastrointestinal issues to PTSD to reproductive health, and its origins date back nearly 3,000 years.
In 2018, VA announced standards to allow the employment of qualified acupuncturists at VA medical centers. Mr. Krieger and Dr. Kirsten Tillish, director of integrative medicine at VAGLAHS since 2013, have been at the forefront of the growth of acupuncture within the system since he was hired.
In 2020, the VA released an overview on the use of complementary and integrative health therapies, including acupuncture, stating that “there is growing evidence of the effectiveness of these therapies for many conditions, and as a result, acupuncture is also… These therapies are being expanded as a result of their inclusion. The development of national pain management guidelines and strategies, increasing demand from veterans, the growing need to provide non-pharmacological pain management strategies to combat the opioid epidemic, and significant support from Congress and VA leadership. support. ”
The science behind ancient traditions
So how can tiny needles help the body heal? Krieger explained that scientists are still studying how and why acupuncture works. , explained that there is evidence that acupuncture causes the body to release natural endorphins and opiates.
“It improves blood flow to the injured area,” he said. “It calms brain centers associated with pain and trauma, promotes neuroplasticity, and helps the brain create new, healthier pathways.”
Numerous studies have been published supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating a variety of conditions. Acupuncture has been proven to be effective in treating chronic pain, according to a 2018 study, “Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Updated Meta-Analysis of Individual Patient Data,” by Andrew J. Vickers and Emily A. Vertosik. The effect lasts for a long time. and George Lewis et al.
Earlier this year, doctors at Long Beach University in Virginia, along with other researchers, published “Acupuncture for Combat-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” showing that acupuncture is effective in treating PTSD symptoms. I discovered that.
“The adoption of acupuncture in the Veterans Health Administration demonstrates widespread acceptance of the value of this non-drug approach to managing pain and reducing the need for opioid use,” 2021 stated in the study “Pain and Opioid Use: Evidence for Integration.” Acupuncture to Treatment Planning” by Elizabeth Somers, Sivarama Prasad Vinjamuri, and Jennifer Noborikawa.
A year ago, Krieger launched a PTSD clinic on Tuesday afternoons. In this clinic, acupuncture doctoral students from Santa Monica-based Emperor’s College come to his West LA VA Medical Center campus to treat veterans. From noon to 4 p.m., the large room in Building 220 becomes a welcoming sanctuary, complete with calming sounds, comfortable chairs and tables to lie on, and a caring staff.
Krieger has witnessed some amazing results in these clinics and other settings at the West LA VA Medical Center. Dr. Krieger and Emergency Department (ED) Deputy Director Dr. Thomas Blair worked together to begin a program to use acupuncture in the emergency department.
There, Krieger has seen patients endure kidney stones without drug relief. Despite his initial heart failure, he regains the ability to breathe normally. He said it was all thanks to ancient practices that he was able to cope with the pain of metastatic cancer after taking opiates.
“It’s safe, painless, and has very good clinical results,” Krieger said. “This is a great way to solve health problems and is gentler and more curative than harsh treatments such as surgery or medication.”
Jeremiah’s journey
Krieger’s journey began when she was 7 years old. At that time, he suffered from painful headaches and chronic sinusitis, requiring regular visits to the pediatrician. After trying everything Western medicine could do, his father recommended acupuncture.
After 6 weeks, the 5-year illness was resolved with the prescription and treatment of herbal medicine. From then on, Krieger was hooked. “The more I researched it, the more I liked it,” Krieger said. “It’s a really beautiful and sophisticated medicine.”
At the age of 16, he entered medical school in China. However, his parents insisted that he continue with his traditional education, and he went on to UCLA and eventually Emperor’s College, graduating in 2003. He holds a PhD in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (DACM) and a Master’s degree in Psychology. .
Krieger ran a successful private practice for 17 years, but when a friend told him about a job opening at the Department of Veterans Affairs, he knew he had to apply. During his tenure, he has greatly expanded the scope of acupuncture, including his PTSD clinic, which was recently featured on FOX 11 Los Angeles.
“If a veteran knows you care and are doing your best, they are the most appreciative, loyal, wonderful, and appreciative people I have ever worked with. It’s a very rewarding group of people,” Krieger said. “Good medicine and kindness…it’s a miracle.”
Expansion of acupuncture
PTSD clinics and emergency departments are just a few examples of where acupuncture is used. A walk-in battlefield acupuncture clinic for pain held Friday in Building 220 on the West LA VA Medical Center campus was attended by many veteran patients.
Dr. Beverly Haas, director of mental health for the West LA VA Medical Center’s Domiciliary (DOM) Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program, has seen firsthand the effects of acupuncture on the veterans she works with.
“They really like going there,” Haas said. “They always look forward to returning home and find it greatly helps reduce stress and reduce anxiety and pain,” she wrote in a letter to Veterans Affairs leadership. , reported that many veterans described the treatment as “game-changing.”
In 2008, Haas and several colleagues started a special track for veterans at DOM, and many of her participants go to PTSD clinics for treatment.
“It’s important to remember that veterans can sustain all kinds of injuries, and not all can be treated directly,” she says. “Anything that helps them feel better is just a great accomplishment.”
Krieger’s clinic is fully booked two months in advance. He hopes the use of acupuncture continues to expand throughout his VAGLAHS, especially in the area of mental health. Acupuncture is done through consultation, so veterans can ask their doctor for a referral. For the acupuncture front desk please contact him at 310-268-3276.
Many veterans report that acupuncture can seem scary at first. But Theisen says it’s important to keep an open mind. “Really listen to them.”
“Give acupuncture a chance,” added Bradley Griffin, another clinic participant, an Army veteran and former infantryman. “It’s strange, but it works. Try it for yourself first and then decide.”
