The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association protocol, auricular acupuncture to support patients with substance abuse and behavioral health disorders: current perspectives

Abstract

The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA)-standardized 3- to 5-point ear acupuncture protocol, born of a community-minded response to turbulent times not unlike today, has evolved into the most widely implemented acupuncture-assisted protocol, not only for substance abuse, but also for broad behavioral health applications. This evolution happened despite inconsistent research support. This review highlights the history of the protocol and the research that followed its development. Promising, early randomized-controlled trials were followed by a mixed field of positive and negative studies that may serve as a whole to prove that NADA, despite its apparent simplicity, is neither a reductive nor an independent treatment, and the need to refine the research approaches. Particularly focusing on the last decade and its array of trials that elucidate aspects of NADA application and effects, the authors recommend that, going forward, research continues to explore the comparison of the NADA protocol added to accepted treatments to those treatments alone, recognizing that it is not a stand-alone procedure but a psychosocial intervention that affects the whole person and can augment outcomes from other treatment modalities.

The Science of Auricular Microsystem Acupuncture: Amygdala Function in Psychiatric, Neuromusculoskeletal, and Functional Disorders

“…According to Stuyt and Voyles, auricular therapy has been implemented extensively in hospitals, and prisons worldwide despite limited published research evidence of its effectiveness. 4 These researchers referenced Hong Kong neurosurgeon Wen's 1972 discovery: Needles inserted on the ear intended for preoperative anesthesia resulted in diminished withdrawal symptoms from opium. In 1973, Wen and Cheng published their successful findings when using ear and body acupuncture to treat 40 patients who had heroin and opium addictions.…”

“…6 The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association protocol was established as an auricular-acupuncture support for patients with substance abuse and behavioral health disorders. 4 At the Liebell clinic, treating amygdala auricular projections can be an effective complement to established auricularacupuncture protocols for treating addiction. Semipermanent ear acupuncture needles are inserted on a case-specific basis, as indicated by the presence of electrical activity in any or all 3 amygdala projection zones.…”

Thoracic Spondylodiscitis Epidural Abscess in an Afebrile Navy Veteran: A Case Report

“…It is a standardized 5-point ear acupuncture protocol: shen men, sympathetic, liver, kidney and lung. 32 Acupuncture was not applied to the thoracolumbar paraspinal regions. The patient exited with a verbalized pain score of 2 of 10.…”

Getting Well Is More Than Gaining Weight – Patients’ Experiences of a Treatment Program for Anorexia Nervosa Including Ear Acupuncture

“…The standardized ear acupuncture protocol National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) was developed as an adjunct in addiction care. NADA is nowadays used as an adjunct also in psychiatric care (Stuyt & Voyles, 2016). NADA has shown effect in community mental health settings (LaPaglia, Bryant, & Serafini, 2016) and was highly utilized by psychogeriatric patients with major depression (Geib, Rieger, Joos, Eschweiler, & Metzger, 2017).…”