Battlefield Acupuncture

Self Cite

A 27-year-old woman presented with severe chronic postoperative occipital neuralgia and myofascial pain syndrome occurring after revision of the middle ear due to a cholesteatoma removal. Acupuncture began 6 months after the onset of pain and relief was obtained immediately. The patient decided not to continue acupuncture after 2 treatments and wished to pursue other therapeutic modalities. A follow-up conversation with the patient many months later found her still in pain and pursuing possibly a spinal stimulator.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acupuncture for Severe Postoperative Occipital Neuralgia/Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Andrews

Niemtzow

2009

Self Cite

“…The students were provided with a copy of Dr. Niemtzow's article detailing the BFA technique. 7 BFA, a form of auricular acupuncture, was chosen for demonstration purposes as it is fast, easy, safe, and effective. In addition, its training, credentialing, and privileging is now standardized within the DoD, and BFA is also a recommended pain-management treatment in the Defense and Veterans Center for Integrative Pain Management.…”

Section: Curriculum Changesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Introduction of Integrative Health and Acupuncture to Pre-Clerkship Medical Students

Leggit

2014

Background: Pain is a common diagnosis in both the civilian and military community. Integrative health practices, such as acupuncture, are often used to treat pain as well as other medical conditions. Medical schools must ensure that their students are aware of what patients are using and how the tools of Integrative Health can be used together with the conventional medical model. Methods: The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), The United States' military medical school, is heeding this call in innovative ways. The USUHS uses several means to teach Integrative Health throughout the 4-year medical school experience. A new component, Battlefield Acupuncture, was introduced into the second-year curriculum and was particularly relevant to service personnel. Conclusions: Integrative health modalities introduced to medical students early in their education has been well-received and will prepare them for their medical careers.

“…In the meantime, this kind of ear acupuncture has also been investigated scientifically, and first results have been published in a joint article, with contributors from the Malcolm Grow Medical Center (Andrews Air Force Base, MD), the Helms Medical Institute (Berkeley, CA), and the TCM [Traditional Chinese Medicine] Research Center, Graz (at the Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria). 2 In that article the first brain-function spectroscopic measurement during electrical stimulation of battlefield acupuncture points was described. 2 Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive optical technique for assessment of functional activity in the human brain.…”

Section: Introduction B Attlefield Acupuncture Was Developed Bymentioning

confidence: 99%

Battlefield Acupuncture and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy–Miniaturized Computer-Triggered Electrical Stimulation of Battlefield Ear Acupuncture Points and 50-Channel Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Mapping

Litscher

Bauernfeind

Gao

et al. 2011

Self Cite

Background: Battlefield acupuncture was developed in the course of researching a more-efficient auriculotherapy system for rapid relief of pain. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate possible changes in near-infrared spectroscopic (NIRS) parameters in the frontal area of the brain during electrical stimulation of battlefield acupuncture points. Design and Setting: One channel recordings and, for the first time, 50-channel NIRS recordings were performed to obtain new insights into the possible cerebral effects of ear acupuncture. Subjects: The test subjects were 11 healthy volunteers (8 female, 3 male; mean age -standard deviation: 27.6 -4.6 years) and 1 subject for the 50-channel NIRS recording (female, age 24). Intervention: Electrical ear stimulation was performed using a constant current 1 mA, with a duration of 1 ms at a frequency of 1 Hz. Main Outcome Measures: The main outcomes sought were concentrations of oxyhemoglobin (O 2 Hb) and deoxyhemoglobin (HHb) in brain tissue. Results: There were no significant changes in the 1-channel measurement. Regional decreases of O 2 Hb were seen in the frontal area in the 50-channel recordings, with a maximum within 100 seconds of stimulation onset. Conclusions: Effects of the stimulation of battlefield acupuncture points in the brain are measurable.