Quite a number of readers have loved ones serving with the Armed Forces in Iraq/Afghanistan at this hour. Of course — and despite what we think of the war itself — we support the troops 100% and wish their safe return to us.
Unfortunately, there’ve been many wounded, and, beyond the operations, x-rays, medications and standard therapies, there hasn’t been much done to help them.
Until now. Here’s a report from the Baltimore Sun’s David Wood (I share it here for those of you who have relatives and friends wounded over there):
“The Air Force will begin teaching ‘battlefield acupuncture’ early next year to physicians deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. ‘The initiative marks the first high-level endorsement of acupuncture by the traditionally conservative military medical community,’ officials said.”
Now, acupuncture’s nothing new on the market; in fact, many in the medical profession endorse the procedure. It originated in China about 5,000 years ago, and even the WHO (World Health Organization) has cited 104 different conditions that it can treat. Today, between 9 and 12 million Americans swear by its effectiveness.
So, if it can help our valiant forces who are wounded, why shouldn’t they use it, right??
Another concept they’re beginning to use, for those vets who have PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), is yoga. This helps ease the condition and, in conjunction with therapies recommended by competent psychiatrists, can help the vet live a full and normal life!
Any thoughts or comments (or even other suggestions)?
