Healthy Family
DR. LAUREN GOUIN, N.D. Ear Acupuncture for Addiction
ed with fine needles, magnets or other means, with the goal of balancing Qi, the body's innate energy. Auricular acupunc- ture is a specific subcategory, where only points on the ear are utilized. In tradition- al Chinese medicine, the ear is a map of the body, so that by stimulating points on the ear, the whole body can be affected. Addiction is a whole body experi-
A
ence, and so it seems intuitive that treat- ing the whole person with a systemic therapy like acupuncture could offer a lot of benefit. Addiction can often be to medications or other drugs, alcohol, caf- feine or cigarettes, but also to foods, par- ticularly sugar. Quitting any of these sub- stances can be difficult and in the case of some pharmaceuticals, dangerous,
cupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine where specific points on the body are stimulat-
without support. Auricular acupuncture has become a medically accepted way to support detoxification and promote compliance with abstaining from addic- tive substances without the aid of other medications. In the mid-1970s, Dr. Michael Smith,
a physician at Lincoln Memorial Hospi- tal in Bronx, New York, developed a set of auricular acupuncture points as a way to support drug detoxification. By 1985, the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) was founded to pro- mote the use of auricular acupuncture as a drug-less alternative for addiction treat- ment. Now there are over 10,000 health- care professionals, over 700 healthcare clinics in the United States and an esti- mated 2,000 sites around the world offer- ing the NADA treatments. The NADA protocol has developed
from Dr. Smith's study and research to be an excellent means of supporting detoxi- fication, using only five points on each ear. The treatments typically last about forty minutes and can be done with the patient sitting or laying down. All the patients receive the same treatment, 5 small acupuncture needles in each ear. Patients often report feeling “energized” and “lighter” after a treatment. Practitio- ners have found that the NADA protocol improves program retention, reduction in cravings, anxiety, sleep disturbances and need for other medications. The acupuncture points used in the
NADA protocol each have significance and facilitate balance in the body.
Shen Men
“Spirit gate” is known to help calm and relax. It is excellent to reduce anxiety and nervousness, often associated with with- drawal.
Sympathetic This point is named for one of the
42 August 2010
two aspects of the nervous system, sym- pathetic and parasympathetic. It supports balancing the nervous system and help-
www.naturalnutmeg.com
Dr. Lauren Gouin is a board certified naturopathic physician with a family practice in Manchester, CT. She is certi- fied in the NADA protocol and is accept- ing new patients and is in network with most insurance companies. For more information please call (860) 644-2437 or (860) 649-6944 or visit www.ctnhs. com. See ad on page 9.
ing with reducing pain. Kidney In Traditional Chinese medicine, the
kidney is a source of energy. This point is also used to support willpower and reduce fear as well as support detoxification.
Liver Imbalance in the liver in Traditional
Chinese medicine can be a source of an- ger and aggression. Also, supportive of re- pairing liver function and detoxification, the liver point is to help heal emotional and physical damage.
Lung The immune system as well as the
emotion of grief is associated with the lung. This point facilitates letting go as well as improving the whole system. Much research has been and contin-
ues to be done on the NADA points for detoxification. Yale recently did a study showing that patients receiving treat- ments had better compliance and were less likely to relapse when in detoxifica- tion programs for cocaine. While acupuncture is certainly es-
tablishing itself as a useful tool against addiction, the individual's attitude and behavior are equally as important as well as support, including counseling or self help groups. Supporting the body and es- tablishing balance helps break bad habits and promote better decisions.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56