Acupuncture Treatment for PTSD?

Acupuncture treatment has long been associated with pain relief and is now really coming into awareness as a safe healing method that has many other applications. Other than for pain relief acupuncture was really meant to be a form of preventative care, but what is not well known is that it is also great to balance the emotions. Acupuncture can help those suffering with depression and anxiety disorder, even PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) which is a form of anxiety.
According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, Osteopath and authority on Natural Health, many of our Iraqi soldiers are already experiencing anxiety disorders from repeated and prolonged combat tours and are already taking antidepressants while on combat duty to calm their strained nerves. As of November 2007, 12 – 20% of Iraqi veterans returned home with PTSD as reported by Medscape Today. If diagnosed with PTSD, the soldier is often prescribed harsh sedation drugs to help them cope with the depression, tremors, hypervigilance, irritability and anger outbursts, nightmares, and flashbacks. In addition to these symptoms, the veterans can also feel isolated, emotionally detached, have memory gaps, poor concentration, and be easily startled. Basically most of these medications (such as Prozac, Ambien, and Zoloft to name a few), are really just suppressing the PTSD symptoms and not healing the root cause of the physical and emotional imbalance.
Not only are these medications suppressing symptoms, but some of the side effects closely mimic the symptoms of what is being treated. For example, Zoloft which is used to treat depression, panic-disorders including anxiety and PTSD can have some of the following severe side effects: seizure, tremor, agitation, confusion, and fast heartbeat. Whereas Prozac, used to treat depression and anxiety can cause insomnia, anxiety, nervousness and tremor.
A balanced treatment strategy in the terms of Oriental Medicine would be to aid the body’s own ability to heal itself (so that these meds can be weaned off safely over time under medical supervision) through the aid of acupuncture and herbs. With PTSD there are several patterns of imbalance that an acupuncturist can see and address with treatment. These patterns include Blood Stasis, Kidney Qi (Energy) depletion, Liver Fire and Liver Yang Rising, along with Heart Yin Deficiency and Heart Fire. Blood Stasis which results from physical and emotional trauma can be cleared without the patient having to relive the traumatic episode over and over as is seen in talk therapy which is often combined with medications as a traditional form of PTSD treatment. Kidney Qi (Energy) depletion, which is diagnosed as adrenal fatigue in Western Medicine, can also be addressed with acupuncture points and herbs that build the qi or energy of the Kidneys. Liver Fire or Liver Yang Rising, which is related to angry outbursts and irritability, can be treated by clearing the heat in the Liver and building the yin of the body so that the Yang of the Liver does not rise and cause irritation. Heart Blood and Heart Yin (Fluid) Deficiency with heat in the Heart can cause such symptoms as nightmares and anxiety. By building the blood and yin in the Heart and clearing heat, a calmer state of being can be created that allows for better sleep and anxiety relief. These are just some of the patterns that Oriental Medicine can provide effective relief for in the PTSD sufferer. Acupuncture and herbs can help to clear the emotional and physical trauma from the body as well as supporting the major organ systems and vital qi of the body so that the patient naturally feels less anger, anxiety, depression and hypervigilant.
In addition to acupuncture being a safe healing method, the side effects are so minimal as to not even matter. After an acupuncture treatment, some brief reactions such as nausea, headaches, or sudden bowel movements may occur which are actually positive signs that the body is detoxing so that it can transition into a healthier state. Also the patient may experience minor pain (equivalent to a mosquito bite), occasional minor bruising and/or bleeding in the area of insertion. Overall the natural health benefits and sense of well-being that acupuncture treatment provides far outweighs the possible agitation, seizures, tremors and more that come with traditional Western treatment.
What a relief it is to know that there are options available to our soldiers other than just taking psychotropic drugs that can have harmful side effects.