Battlefield Acupuncture Coming to Iraq and Afghanistan

U.S. Air Force to Use Medical Acupuncture Early in 2009

I’ll feel better knowing the pilot of this F-15E Strike Eagle isn’t on pain meds, won’t you?

The U.S. Air Force will begin training physicians being deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in the techniques of “Battlefield Acupuncture” beginning early next year.  The treatment that uses very tiny needles in the skin of the ear to block pain in as few as five minutes can last for several days.

According to a release issued yesterday, the key benefits of the program include reduced dependence upon drugs that may cause allergic reactions or addiction.  The results also happen very rapidly.

“This is one of the fastest pain attenuators in existence,” said Richard Niemtzow, MD, PhD, MPH.  Niemtzow is a consultant for complementary and alternative medicine to the Surgeon General of the Air Force and is affiliated with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD.  He’s also the Editor-in-Chief of the peer-reviewed journal, Medical Acupuncture.

Medical acupuncture differs from traditional acupuncture, because it’s taught to physicians trained in Western-based medicine and incorporates modern knowledge of neurophysiology.   Based upon the contents of the press release, it appears that the technique is only used for pain control and the area of the body is limited to the ear.  Several phone calls to confirm the above statement were unanswered.

By contrast, traditional acupuncture may involve the use of needles over many areas of the body in an effort to regulate “chi energy” to relieve a broad range of illnesses.  The needles are generally removed after treatment, but for some issues they may be in place for an extended time.  It’s not uncommon in China to find hospitals that practice both Western medical techniques, traditional acupuncture and other historically proven Asian practices.

Niemtzow’s technique has nothing to do with chi energy, but his modified technique does block pain signals from reaching the brain.

I was attracted to this story, because I have direct experience with Shiatsu which is a Japanese version of acupuncture that uses pressure instead of needles.  Some call it acupressure, but I regard the title as both inaccurate and confusing. 

I personally cured my ex-wife of PMS with Shiatsu. (How much is that worth to you, gentlemen)?  I haven’t used pain medications for more than 20 years, because Shiatsu relieves the pain faster and better.  I’ve also engaged the technique for a wide spectrum of other maladies for close personal friends, and just as Dr. Niemtzow has found, the results are both faster and longer lasting than traditional pharmacopoeia with no side effects whatsoever. 

The Chinese are probably quite chagrined their 5,000-year-old secret is finally out, but that’s what a top-notch intelligence operation like ours can do.  Brilliant stuff guys, but I hear the Chinese have another secret they call “paper.”  Let’s get on top of that one too.