BATTLEFIELD ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture can be Efficacious in treating almost Anyone with ANY Pain Symptoms.
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What is acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an effective form of healthcare wellness treatment. It was discovered in China over 5000 years ago and involves inserting thin needles strategically along the meridians or pathways to balance the flow of energy or life force AKA chi (chee).
According to the Air Force Acupuncture Center, Battlefield Acupuncture reduces pain symptoms in approximately 80% of people treated.
What is Battlefield Acupuncture?
Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) is a form of ear acupuncture that is a nonpharmaceutical pain intervention in which a sequence of tiny semi-permanent needles are placed on the surface of one or both ears. It can be introduced in conjunction with other pain treatments or as a stand-alone treatment. This style of acupuncture can provide rapid and highly effective pain relief for nearly all types of pain. It was developed by Dr. Richard Niemtzow, MD while he was serving in the United States Air force back in 2001.
The human ear has five powerful "auricular" or ear acupuncture points that can substantially reduce or remove pain completely when connected into.
Is Battlefield Acupuncture right for you?
If you are one of the 100 million+ Americans that suffer from chronic pain, the answer is yes with the exception of a few unique circumstances.
Who are good candidates for BFA?
- People with migraines
- Athletes in pain.
- Veterans in Pain or with PTSD
- Chemotherapy-induced and postoperative nausea and vomiting.
- Dental pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches, including tension headaches and migraines
- Labor pain
- Lower back pain
- Neck pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Menstrual cramps
- Respiratory disorders, such as allergic rhinitis
- Tennis elbow
- Arthritis
- Post surgery
Who should avoid BFA or consult with their doctor first?
- Women who are pregnant or might be pregnant.
- People that have Trypanophobia (intense fear of needles)
- People with bleeding disorders or that are taking blood thinners.
- Rated pilots or active military special mission programs (such as Flight Status) need to coordinate treatment with their flight Surgeon
- People with a pacemaker. Acupuncture produces electrical pulses to the needles that may possibly interfere with the way a pacemaker operates.
*As with any medical procedure, it’s important that you consult with your doctor and disclose any preexisting medical conditions and medications that you are consuming.*
Is Battlefield Acupuncture just for people that served or are serving in the military?
Answer: No, ANYONE with ANY kind of chronic pain can BENEFIT from BFA.
According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, BFA has the potential to help decrease the dose of opioids a patient needs.
How is your pain based on the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating scale?
What are the possible side effects of Battlefield Acupuncture?
What are the risks of BFA?(All are EXTREMELY UNCOMMON)
- Discomfort or pain at the needled sites
- Bleeding, bruising, or Inflammation
- Infection
- Broken needles
- Feeling dizzy or nauseated, Fainting,
- Feeling euphoric or lightheaded.
- Drowsiness can also occur. After several treatments, temporary discoloration may occur on the treated area of the ear.
BFA is extremely safe and effective for almost all patient demographics to manage and treat pain.
Dr. Jeff Leggit, a professor and medical acupuncturist at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences stated "BFA is highly effective and markedly alleviates acute or chronic pain in approximately 80-85% of patients," regardless of the underlying cause.
Does it hurt?
Pain is subjective and really depends on the individual. The initial insertion of the needles may cause patients to experience some very minor discomfort. Don worry! It’s only for a short duration. Patients always tell us they ” forget they even have these small needles in their ear.”
According to a study of 11406 Veterans, they reported BFA is safe and effective with intervention for decreasing short-term pain intensity.
How long does it last?
Every patient is unique and the duration in which they experience relief will vary. Needles will be worn for 4-5 days. They will typically fall out on their own, or you can remove them easily yourself. Pain relief can be permanent or last anywhere from 2 weeks to several months, depending on the severity of the pain and your medical condition. Some patients only need one treatment while others need several. Most patients get pain relief within several days and several more treatments maybe are necessary for longer-term pain relief.
The Department of Veterans Affairs trained primary-care providers to deliver Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA)and in their study they found BFA can be effective for immediate relief of pain.
Aftercare
After your needles have been placed, your doctor will discuss aftercare instructions and send you home with easy tips to successfully care for your acupuncture treatment.
- Monitor for any symptoms of infection.
- Look for any inflammation
- No sex or alcohol within six hours of treatment. (we know this is a tough one)
- Continue taking prescription medications as directed.
- Avoid strenuous exercise
- Pay attention to any physical or mental changes and discuss them with your provider to help optimize your ongoing care.
Discuss any concerns or out-of-the-ordinary health changes with your BFA provider.
There were 12 BFA studies published and analyzed between 2016-2019 with a total of 12,326 patients enrolled. All of them produced positive outcomes for alleviating or eliminating pain.
Holistic Evaluations
Pricing
First Session
First Treatment-
First session including 10 placements of ASP needles
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+ 1 Free follow-up Visit within 3 months.
Returning Sessions
Returning Treatment-
Patients seeking additional BFA treatment.
