Acupuncturists Without Borders

Acupuncture has been proven beneficial to veterans for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In fact, it is as useful or more useful than psychological counseling, without the patient needing to describe or relive painful memories. The specific treatment used is called the NADA protocol, which is ear acupuncture consisting of 5 specific points in each ear, and is also used in the treatment of addiction. This type of treatment has been used successfully in disaster situations as well as in veterans clinics across the United States. Acupuncturists Without Borders is a national non-profit organization that has provided a model and support for acupuncturists setting up veterans clinics across the country.

The NADA treatment protocol has been shown to reduce the affects of PTSD: reducing hyper-vigilance, improving sleep, providing a sense of calm, and helping patients deal with anger, hostility, and frustration. These improvements help the veteran in many areas of their life: within themselves and their family, in their job and in the community. Their health and wholeness helps us all.

The Philadelphia Area Veterans Acupuncture Project (PAVA) is a group of area volunteer acupuncturists and interested people that want to help veterans in our neighborhoods return home and return to wholeness. Acupuncture treatments will be given free of charge to veterans of all wars in a group setting.

In Conjunction with the Won Institute: The Acupuncture Clinics of the Won Institute have organized a Veterans Day fundraiser for Acupuncturists Without Borders, a group with nationwide clinics that bring the healing power of acupuncture to veterans. The event will be held at the Won Institute on Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11, from 1 - 6 p.m. with free acupuncture treatments in a group setting, as well as free meditation instruction and practice. Both meditation and acupuncture can help reduce stress and trauma and leave one feeling calm and with a sense of well being.

If you are interested in volunteering your services, please contact Marlene Burk at (m_burke@yahoo.org). You can also review information about our project at www.pavap.org. The website for Acupuncturists Without Borders is available at www.acuwithoutborders.org.

Please help us ensure that returning veterans can live the most normal lives possible – the best welcome home there is.