Form of acupuncture used by US Air Force for pain relief

05 Jan 09

Source: Liebert publishers, Medical Acupuncture

Dr Richard Niemtzow has developed a form of 'Battlefield acupuncture' which will be used by the US Air Force in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Richard Niemtzow is Editor in Chief of Medical Acupuncture, a peer reviewed journal and the official journal of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture.  He has developed a form of medical acupuncture for pain relief .

The journal reports that 'Battlefield acupucture' can relieve severe pain lasting several days.

This method of acupucture involves inserting very tiny semi-permanent needles into very specific acupoints in the skin on the ear to block pain signals from reaching the brain. This method can lessen the need for pain medications that may cause adverse or allergic reactions or addiction.

'This is one of the fastest pain attenuators in existence,' said Dr. Niemtzow  'The pain can be gone in five minutes.'