Veterans & Acupuncture – Treating Chronic Pain and Opioid Addiction
Holistic healing modalities, such as acupuncture, have emerged as vital integrative modalities for the treatment of veterans suffering from chronic pain and opioid dependency.
The Perfect Pairing: Veterans & Acupuncture
by Dr. Catherine Browne, DAOM, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac (NCCAOM), RH (AHG)
In 2016 42,249 people died as a result of an overdose of opioid pain medication, opioid analgesics, heroin or illicit synthetic opioids in the U.S. While it may seem unlikely that natural medicine and mindfulness can play a large part in the solution to this national crisis, scientific studies are disproving this assertion. The unique experience of veterans makes for a perfect case-study to demonstrate how holistic healing modalities have recently emerged as vital integrative modalities in medical setting such as the Emergency Room and surgery recovery.
Many veterans have experienced trauma resulting in chronic pain due to service; the Veterans Administration (VA) reported back in 2013 that more than 50% of veterans receiving care from the VA experienced chronic pain. Additionally, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) due to modern warfare render veterans psychologically vulnerable to depression and suicide. Some estimates indicate that our veterans are nearly twice as likely to die from an overdose, intentional and unintentional, then the general population. These bleak facts, as detailed in my recently published book Natural Therapies for Overcoming Opioid Dependency, inspired the armed forces to search for non-pharmacological solutions for pain reduction.
A few years back, the VA began compensating licensed acupuncturists in the community for services. More recently, VA facilities began offering acupuncture on-sight, and the military is rapidly incorporating acupuncture for all service members and qualified veterans. This action followed many scientific studies that were conducted by the armed forces, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other researchers. One of these studies concluded that acupuncture significantly decreases the use of opiates and other pain medications among military personnel: opioid prescriptions decreased by 45%, muscle relaxants by 34%, NSAIDs by 42%, and insomnia is often considered to reflect heightened autonomic arousal, acupuncture’s ability to down-regulate such physiologic functions may play a role in reinstituting improved sleep, this being especially true in a veteran population with [mild] TBI and PTSD overlay.”
Acupuncture is not the only natural therapy shown to reduce the need for opioids. In early 2017, the American College of Physicians published evidence-based guidelines for lower back pain treatment, strongly suggesting the use of acupuncture, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, and mindfulness-based stress reduction, such as tai chi, yoga, etc. before prescribing painkillers.
Many hospitals and doctors’ offices now incorporate a pop-up question on computer screens when MD’s try to prescribe opioids; it asks something like, “Have you tried acupuncture first before medications?” Modern science is finally catching up to ancient beliefs about wellness and healing, and the Veterans Administration is largely responsible for opening the door to a wider acceptance of holistic medicine in their effort to provide improved evidence-based healthcare to our veterans.
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About the Author
Dr. Catherine Browne has over 30 years’ experience using natural therapies for treating pain and addiction. She holds a doctorate in acupuncture and Oriental medicine and is a board-certified acupuncturist and a registered professional herbalist. She co-founded the Southeastern School of Herbal Studies and lives and practices in Hamptonville, North Carolina. She recently published her first book, Natural Therapies for Overcoming Opioid Dependency: Control Pain and Recover from Addiction.
DrCatherineBrowne.com and https://www.inharmonywellnessclinic.com/
